From Hamptons-based celebrity chefs like Martha Stewart to personal chefs like Julia Dudley, each chef is crafting a signature summer dish for their clients. If you’re wondering who those clients are, they’re you! Each Hamptons chef knows that their dishes or plates influence even the most experienced culinary master, and one right move can create the hit meal of the summer.
If you’re looking for inspiration, this list is for you. The diverse set of chefs ranges from the personal to those working at famous restaurants in the Hamptons. Dabble a little this summer and discover what your favorite Hamptons chefs are creating.
Meredith Hayden
Meredith Hayden is many things. She’s a personal chef, an influencer, and now one of Joe Jonas’ friends. Living in New York, this frequent Hampton visitor (and chef) started the summer strong with global influences. She worked as Jonas’ chef in the Hamptons and even hosted him at her home in New York. Due to his travels in Europe, she began crafting dishes based on his seasonal preferences. Enter tapas. Easy and light, these shareable treats from Spain consist of croquettes, pa amb tomàquet, and much more.
Martha Stewart
Needing no introduction, any dish from Martha Stewart gets branded popular. This summer, she’s all about the desserts. Everything from pies to mini pavlovas is in her wheelhouse at the moment. One particular dessert dish caught our eye. The raspberry crisp, featured on her Instagram recently, is a quick 10-minute prep dessert perfect for most outdoor activities. It’s a simple recipe consisting of rolled oats, sliced almonds, brown sugar, and raspberries.
Julia Dudley
Based in Southampton, Paris, and beyond, Julia Dudley is a rising star in the culinary world. Her frequent ‘Day in the Life’ videos on Instagram and TikTok garner millions of views. They inspire would-be chefs all around the globe. This summer, working as a personal chef for an unlisted client, she’s cooking tons of Chilean sea bass. The pan-seared dish (also known as Patagonian toothfish) is a favorite among her clients due to its buttery and fresh taste. This makes the fish dish perfect for a hot summer day.
Ronica Copes
Ronica Copes is a crab cake master, and quickly becoming a summer must-have. Garnering top reviews, it’s no surprise Copes is winning awards and gaining a reputation. Her signature crab cakes are becoming a summertime favorite, and we can’t hide how delicious they are. Her company, Five Star Crab Cakes, is available Saturday and Sunday during the summer. Copes’ crab cakes are also available at Claude’s Restaurant at the Southampton Inn. Make sure you get a bite before the season finishes.
Alex Guarnaschelli
You would expect this famed celebrity chef to have an extremely complicated summer dish. But alas, that’s not the case. The ‘Alex vs. America’s Food Network star (who has a home in Bridgehampton) is cooking corn this summer, and it’s not that simple. She’s teaching us how to grill corn the proper way. If you’re interested in Guarnaschelli’s charred sweet corn recipe, check out her Instagram.
Kara Fauerbach
This Hamptons personal chef is focusing on fresh flavors. Kara Fauerbach, an upcoming Hamptons culinary celebrity, is crafting fresh for her clients. Plates range from grilled summer squash to tasty, whipped ricotta crostinis. Each dish has one focus: viridity. Other standouts include a lemon olive oil cake and little gem salads.
Ina Garten
The Barefoot Contessa is celebrating summer with florals and more. Ina Garten is known as a Food Network celebrity and lives in East Hampton has recently released a few recipes for a summer menu that might shock you due to its simplicity. Not only is she forgoing the typical hot dogs and burgers, but she’s also keeping it Northeastern. Warm lobster rolls, paired with homemade marshmallows and lemonade, are her idea of the perfect summer meal. We think the summer should be effortless and agree with her.
Rob Li
Another personal chef in the Hamptons, Rob Li is taking social media by storm. Li’s focus this summer is on Mediterranean dishes like grilled octopus salad, pita and baba ganoush, falafel and tzatziki, and much more. His TikTok videos are amassing millions of views, making this chef more influential than you might think.
Jorge Espinoza
Jorge Espinoza is considered one of the Hamptons’ favorite chefs. Heading the LDV at the Maidstone, he is becoming a well-known name in the global culinary scene. This summer, he’s crafting dishes like spaghetti alla Nerano, short rib and bone marrow agnolotti, and much more. We’re excited to see what he comes up with next.