With an eye to Memorial Day, East End restaurateurs are closing deals as they gear up for the all-important summer season.
A new restaurant, with the working name of Fresh, will take over the space occupied by well-known Bridgehampton eatery Southfork Kitchen at 203 Sag Harbor Turnpike, Side Dish has learned.
The chef is Todd Jacobs, formerly of the Allegria Hotel at Long Beach.
Southfork Kitchen, a foodie destination known for its local produce and sustainable fish, closed amid lackluster sales.
Owner Bruce Buschel is now on the prowl for new space to open another restaurant in Brooklyn or Manhattan.
“I’m currently Google Earth walking through the neighborhoods,” he told Side Dish. “The new restaurant location could be anywhere.”
This is in addition to Arthur on Smith, which Buschel opened in Brooklyn 11 months ago with Michelin star chef Joe Isidori, who made a name for himself at Southfork Kitchen.
In other East End news, Nobu will not be returning to its pop-up spot in Southampton’s Capri Hotel, Nobu’s Richie Notar told Side Dish.
Last week, we brought you news that Tony Fortuna’s T-Bar, of the Upper East Side, was opening an East Hampton outpost where Beaumarchais once stood. Now we can report that Beaumarchais is in talks to take over the Nobu space.
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Andrew Zimmern, an award-winning chef and TV personality, will be honored at the James Beard Foundation’s Annual Chef’s & Champagne event.
The July 20 tasting event and fund-raiser will take place at the Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack.
Zimmern currently stars in the Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern” and “Bizarre Foods America.”
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Chef David Burke, who launched trends like cake pops, has teamed up with venture capitalist Jimmy Lee to create a low-calorie line of salad dressings and dips.
The “Serendipity” brand, including blue cheese, ranch and creamy Italian, will be available in retail outlets and online next month.