Lucky us: Eating something amazing is kind of a daily occurrence in these parts. So when a dish calls to you even months later, you know it’s something truly special. Below are the bites the northforker staff has loved best this year. We’re almost jealous you get to try them for the first time.
Lobster Roll
I’ve loved Barrow Food House ever since they opened — the food, the atmosphere, the people. When everything shut down with the quarantine, they pushed along with their drive-thru pick-up window, still managing to keep things fun (and safe) during quarantine. Pulling up and grabbing a fresh lobster roll with one of their fun drinks from the bar was absolutely one of the highlights of this crazy summer!
–Kaitlyn Ferris, Contributing Photographer
Everything
Every time I go to Italy, I shout: ‘Why in the name of all that is holy, can’t Italian food in America taste like this?’ Il Giardino’s Sicilian chef John Gambino has answered my challenge. Garden-harvested baby eggplant in fresh tomato sauce is southern Italy on a plate, while a portobello mushroom stuffed and roasted with yellow squash, zucchini, onions, tomatoes, and breadcrumbs might make me a vegetarian yet!
–Lauren Parker, Contributing Writer
Arthur Avenue Gourmet Sandwich
How special could two slices of bread with some stuff in the middle really be? Let me tell you, the Arthur Avenue gourmet sandwich from Lombardi’s Love Lane Market is out-of-this-world amazing. The toasted garlic bread hero is layered with incredibly thin and crispy breaded fried eggplant, melted homemade fresh mozzarella, fire-roasted red peppers and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. It doesn’t get better than this, folks!
–Michelina Da Fonte, Associate Content Director
BLT
That’s BLT as in bacon lobster taco, which kind of says it all. These tacos are packed with a surprisingly generous amount of butter-poached lobster and sprinkled with smoked applewood bacon. And right around Cinco de Mayo, when my family had been stuck inside for rainy weeks on end, a fortuitous order of them was exactly what the doctor ordered for our cabin fever. It tasted like happy summer memories wrapped in a warm tortilla.
–Sara Austin, Editorial Director
Seafood Platter
It’s so hard to pick just one thing but a recent standout was Braun’s seafood platter — fresh shrimp cocktail, oysters, clams, lobster tail and crab claws. Summer on a platter!
–Debbie Schultz, Advertising Account Executive
The All-American Sandwich
I know, it’s just a sandwich. But it really isn’t just a sandwich — it’s more of a Sandwich, with a capital S. A full meal made of cold-cut turkey (wildly under-rated), bacon (need I say more?), Swiss cheese (sharp, and it has holes!), honey mustard (my condiment of choice), and ciabatta (my preferred sandwich vessel).
–Felicia LaLomia, Lifestyle Reporter
Tuna Poke Salad
I felt like I’d been hearing about the tuna poke salad special from Southold Fish Market for months before I tried it. It’s a special and not on the regular menu, so it was a bit hard to come by — but totally worth the wait and all of the hype. Super fresh and amazing ingredients. Large chunks of tuna, seaweed salad, edamame, diced mango, avocado, sriracha mayo and more! I can’t wait to see this on the specials board again.
–Kaitlyn Burke, Sales & Marketing Assistant
Morning Glory Muffin
A Morning Glory muffin from D’Latte in Greenport will never disappoint. As I was enjoying one recently I realized I would be happy if that was my breakfast every single day!
–Cerria Orientale Torres, Production Manager
Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Jennie’s at Drossos isn’t quite off the beaten path but it is one of Greenport’s (not so) secret favorite spots. As a Greenport resident, summer hasn’t started until I ride my bike to Jennie’s for a crispy chicken sandwich, a side of tots and a round of mini-golf. It’s a great traditional fried chicken sandwich but it’s the spicy kimchi aioli that really makes it stand out.
–David Benthal, Contributing Photographer
Burrata with Grilled Peaches
This meal is de-freakin’-licous. The burrata and beautifully done peaches pair really well with the baby watercress and cucumber basil vinaigrette. It’s served with homemade flatbread crisps that make it a perfect meal!
–Tina Contento, Advertising Account Executive
Filet Mignon Sliders
The filet mignon sliders have been on the menu at Noah’s for a while — and there’s a reason for that. We order them every time we go to the restaurant and they are delicious each and every visit. I also love the sharing concept at Noah’s. I’m a big food sharer and that way I can try a lot of different things on the menu without committing to one dish.
–Sarah Olsen, Special Projects