Dan's Papers -July 10, 2009

In an effort to fill the empty shelves at local food pantries, John Kowalenko and Cheryl Stair of Art of Eating and Hampton Event Management International (HEMI) present "Ladles of Love," a concert fundraiser benefiting the East End Food Pantry Network. The event will be held on Monday, August 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Principi Farm on 551 Montauk Highway in Amagansett. There will be feature performances by Bastards of Boom, Great Caesar's Ghost, The Surf Dogs and a surprise headliner act. VIP and VVIP ticket holders are invited to a pre-show food and wine tasting from 5 to 7 p.m. featuring signature dishes from East End restaurants paired with local wine and beer. Participating vendors include: Art of Eating Catering, Babette's, Dark Horse Catering, Exquisite Food, Foody's, Gurney's, Hampton Coffee Company, Runaways, The Seafood Shop, Southampton Publick House, Stuart's Seafood Market, Taste of the North Fork, Thyme & Again, Wildthyme and Wolffer Estate Vineyards. Leftover food will be donated to the pantries and the public is encouraged to donate non-perishable foods at the door. Ladles of Love will benefit pantries including Sacred Heart Church, Mother Theresa Outreach Center, East Hampton Food Pantry, Sag Harbor Food Pantry, St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Wainscott Food Pantry, Amagansett Food Pantry and Springs Community Presbyterian Church.

Tickets go on sale starting July 11 and levels include VVIP Table ($10,000), VIP ($250), Preferred Admission ($75) and General Admission ($50). Tickets may be purchased at all Bridgehampton National Bank branches and Art of Eating Catering at 74 Montauk Highway in Amagansett. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, call 631-267-3312 or visit ladlesoflove.com.

Fresno in East Hampton offers nightly dining deals for summer. A 30/30 prix fixe, offered every Sunday, includes a $30 three-course meal with choice of any appetizer, entrée and dessert off the regular menu and 30-percent off every bottle of wine. A $28 prix fixe is also offered every night until 6:30 p.m. in the dining room and all night at the bar. It includes a three-course dinner with selections from the regular menu. Sample items include: Grilled Moroccan lamb and beef skewers with carrot-chick pea salad and cucumber raita; Mezzi rigatoni with Bolognese sauce, shaved piave cheese and white truffle oil; Cazuela roasted halibut with gigante beans, shiitake mushrooms, pancetta and saffron; and Key lime tart with graham cracker crust and blackberry coulis. Call 631-324-8700 for details.

Red/bar brasserie in Southampton also offers a nightly summer prix fixe until 6:30 p.m. every night except Saturday and holidays. The menu features a selected appetizer and entrée for $26 or an appetizer, entrée and dessert for $29. Sample items include: Beef carpaccio with baby arugula, shaved Parmigiano Reggiano and white truffle oil (+$2); Pappardelle pasta with lamb and vegetable ragu, fresh ricotta and mint; and apricot and almond tart with raspberry coulis and vanilla ice cream. For reservations, call 631-283-0704.

Desmond's Restaurant and Lounge at East Wind in Wading River presents nightly dinner specials through Labor Day. On Tuesday, there is a $19.95 Prime Rib Dinner from 4 p.m. that includes prime ribs with garden salad, baked potato and steamed vegetables. On Wednesday, there is a $19.95 Barbecue Blast from 4 p.m. featuring baby back ribs and grilled barbecue chicken, garden salad, corn on the cob, baked beans and a bakery basket with cornbread. On Thursday, there is a $29.95 Lobster Festival from 4 p.m. offering quarter-pound steamed lobster, mussels, clams and shrimp, corn on the cob, Red Bliss potatoes and a bakery basket with cornbread. A $19.95 three-course prix fixe menu is offered nightly, except Saturday, from 3 to 9 p.m. For more information, call 631-846-2335.

Stonewalls Restaurant in Riverhead now hosts "Nine & Dine" every Sunday and Monday throughout the summer. Tee times start at 3 p.m. The promotion includes nine-holes with golf cart for $50, tax and gratuity included, and a three-course prix fixe for $27.50, plus tax and gratuity. The menu features: Assorted crudités platter salad, fresh farm vegetable, assorted vinaigrette; Fricassée of organic chicken Basquaise, red and green pepper, Vidalia onion, tomato, rice pilaf; and Tahitian vanilla caramel custard. For reservations, call 631-506-0777 x4.

Tierra Mar in Westhampton Beach is offering an early bird prix fixe everyday from 4 to 7 p.m. The prix fixe includes soup or salad, entrée and dessert. The cost of the meal is determined by choice of entrée and ranges from $24 to $32. Summer menu items include: Corn chowder with scallions and cilantro; Local organic mesclun greens and crisp endive; "Roland" crab cake with organic carrot puree; and charbroiled Austrailan Waygu beef burger. For more information, call 631-288-2700.

The Grille at Fisherman's Rest is offering a new lunch special for their burger-lovin' clientele. A Burger & Soda combo is now available for just $5. A Burger & Coors is only $6. This special is available seven days a week at the bar. Call 631-765-3474.