Breathe
Southforker’s 2nd annual Taste of WHB ushers in Summer 2024
by southforker
It was blue skies and a bounty of delicious food and drink at Southforker magazine’s 2nd annual Taste of Westhampton Beach. The summer kick-off event, held on the Great Lawn in Westhampton Beach Saturday night, June 15, drew hundreds from all over the East End and beyond to celebrate the upcoming season in the Hamptons.
“We are very fortunate to live in one of the premier food and wine regions in the country,” said Times Review Media Group publisher Andrew Olsen. “Our Southforker events are designing to reflect and showcase our talented local chefs, winemakers and brewers here in the Hamptons and on the East End.”
The celebration was also special for Times Review, as it marked the second summer season in the Hamptons for Southforker magazine under the direction of editor-in-chief Amy Zavatto.
“We set out just 18 months ago to bring a new media platform to the Hamptons,” said Olsen of the nascent magazine, which launched in November 2022. “Our brand, which consists of both a daily digital and print platform, has been incredibly well-received because it brings the stories of the Hamptons to life.”
The crowd of over 800 revelers danced to In the Groove, performing vintage ’70s sounds on an outdoor stage, while others lined up for selfies at the 360 Photo Booth brought to all by our Presenting Sponsor California Closets.
Dozens of area restaurants, chefs, winemakers and brewers, along with specialty cocktails and brews from Platinum sponsor Campari America and Silver sponsors Manhattan Beer who brought the quench with Corona, Blue Moon, Montauk Iced Tea and Stateside and Surfside canned cocktails; water sponsor Nestle who brought the hydration with AquaPanna and San Pelligrino; as well as security staffed by TAK to keep party-goers safe.
Local chefs brought their A-game, including Fauna, Grace & Grit, Insatiable Eats, Justin’s Chop Shop, La Volpe Restaurant, Oysterponds Shellfish Company, Shock Ice Cream, Taylor’s Sushi Suite, Aki’s Kitchen, Canoe Place Inn and many more.
Regional wineries and brewers showed up to pour with aplomb, too, with sips from Westhampton Beach Brewery, Übergeek, Kidd Squid, and grape crusadors Paumanok Vineyards, Palmer Winery, Sannino, Borghese.
Special sponsors included California Closets, Intelli-Tec Security, Point 32 Investment Partners, Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, Ace Party & Tenet Rentals, M&T Platinum, Long Island Ice & Fuel, Audio Command Systems, Goldsmith’s, Mercedes Benz of Southampton, Lexus of Southampton, Riverhead Ford GMC, and Modern Yachts.
Stay tuned for more events during the year, including Northforker’s Wine & Food Classic in Cutchogue at Borghese Vineyards on Thursday, August 29. Grab your tickets for that event — which was a sold-out success last year — by clicking here. See you on the dance floor!
