Huntington’s Prime Ready For The Holidays
By The Foodies./ foodie@longislandernews.com

Huntington’s Prime is one special spot for holiday dining.

Prime – An American Kitchen and Bar, as it more formally calls itself, is an architectural gem on Huntington Harbor with an executive chef who measures up to the setting. Add in a tradition of fine service and a world-class wine list, and Prime heads to the top of many a foodie’s list of places to enjoy a festive holiday get-together with family and friends.

They take the holidays seriously at Prime and showtime is now. From the moment the last Thanksgiving meal is served, the holidays are in high gear. It starts this Friday, Nov. 25, when the annual lighted boat parade passes in review. Beginning at 6 p.m., the Huntington Harbor Parade of Lights (more at www.huntingtonboatparade.com) is a 60-plus caravan of vessels decked out for the holidays on parade through Huntington Harbor. The event is a fundraiser for the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society and features vessels of all shapes and sizes decked and decorated in a holiday theme. Prime’s patio and boardwalk offer some of the best viewing spots.
The promenade below Prime will be accessible to the public, and if last year’s parade is any indication, it will be packed. Sales of hot chocolate, Lighthouse hats and T-shirts will benefit the Lighthouse Preservation Society.

A VIP experience is available as well for $65 a person, of which $10 will be donated to the Lighthouse Preservation Society. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., under the covered and heated outdoor area on Prime’s porch, guests will enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres plus a Prime signature hot chocolate and cocktail.

No sooner is the parade over when Prime hosts its second annual tree lighting. That’s this Sunday, Nov. 27, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The community is welcome to help Prime owners Michael Bohlsen and family, along with special guest Clark Gillies of NY Islanders fame, light the 20-foot balsam fir that will stand majestically over the harborfront throughout the holiday season. The evening will feature caroling, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and plenty of hot chocolate and cookies.

It all culminates with the tree-lighting. Gillies, an NHL Hall-of-Famer, will flip the switch to illuminate the 20,000 white lights and kick off the holiday season. Gillies represents the evening’s charity of honor, The Clark Gillies Children's Emergency Care Center at Huntington Hospital, and he will be joined by Robert Mottola, vice president of development and community relations at Huntington Hospital. Gillies’ foundation provided financial support to help build the hospital’s state-of-the-art emergency center.

“We are delighted to support Huntington Hospital and particularly the children’s unit,” said Prime owner Michael Bohlsen. “In addition to being the place of both my and my brother Kurt’s birth, Prime is a neighbor and the Bohlsen Family Foundation has a special interest in community healthcare.”

Prime – An American
Kitchen and Bar
117 New York Ave., Huntington
631-385-1515
www.restaurantprime.com