The Hamptons and Long Island Homegrown Cookbook: Local Food, Local Restaurants, Local Recipes (Homegrown Cookbooks)

This review is a bit overdue as I’ve had the cookbook for a few years now. That said, the delay has given me time to become very familiar with the work and to try multiple recipes. I can honestly say that I love this book. It is as attractive as a coffee table book, but it is still an excellent cookbook with a wide range of recipes – something for everyone. While I’m from New Jersey and have family on Long Island I had no idea of the rich culinary tradition of the area. This book was an education for me and would certainly be for anyone who has an interest in local culinary culture in general and/or this part of the US in particular.The recipes include some that are very easy (so someone like me can get it right the first time) to some that require some culinary skill – but are still approachable to the armature chef. Among my favorites are the zucchini-pepper soup, pizza with local fresh vegetables, Black Angus sliders with tomato jam, and peach and seasonal berry cobbler.I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates good food and/or a good read about local traditions.

This is not your traditional cookbook. While the book contains recipes it also tells the stories behind the recipes with profiles of the chefs, farmers, and gardeners who create the ingredients for the recipes and have a passion for local food. I decided to make the ratatouille because, well, I never made ratatouille before and because it is just so fun to say - ratatouille, ratatouille, ratatouille. I served it at a party this summer and it was a hit! Looking forward to trying another recipe.

Just moved to Long Island and starting to visit local restaurants. This cookbook is defiantly one to have if you want to come home and cook dishes you sampled at local restaurants. Recipes are easy to follow and history of restaurants make it an enjoyable read.

the least desirable and/or simple recipe from all the restaurants in the book- shame because some of the restaurants are excellent and perhaps could have shared something special

I am a kitchen-centric interior designer who truly believes the kitchen is the most important room in the home. The kitchen is where we share our intimate stories while creating comfort foods for family and friends. I also believe that this is the most important cookbook in my kitchen and have given 26 of them out to kitchen design clients to enhance their experience in their new kitchens. The movement to slow food is a great one and it is embodied here with garden inspiration to creating a superb tasting local menu. Cooking from the recipes is great fun and my results have been fabulous. Clients have reported many culinary successes as well. Even if you are not inclined to turn on the oven, eating at the featured restaurants is a great way to travel through Long Island. But for me, the most important take way from this great book is the inspiration to go to the family farms and local markets cropping up and eat more local, fresh food. In addition to the recipes, Leeann has written loving tales of gardens, and of the chefs creating seasonal menus that truly showcase the Long Island seasonal produce. I highly recommend this book and will continue to gift it to all my foodie clients.Toni Sabatino ToniSabatinoStyle.com

This is a gorgeous book, wonderfully written. Leeann Lavin writes in a lovely voice. You can tell she loves getting to know the chefs and the farmers she profiles. Her love comes through in her words and I fell in love with the chefs and farmers too. I wanted to know their stories. and I wanted to make their recipes. The recipes are easy to follow, clearly written and the food is delicious ! Buy this book !