SHELL-SHOCKED: Legal Sea Foods (160 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station, 631-271-9777, www.legalsea foods.com) has mastered the clam chowder – it’s been served at every Presidential inauguration since 1981 – and now, they’re taking on the oyster. The restaurant is hosting its Oyster Festival through Oct. 17, an homage to the bi-valve delicacy. Every two weeks, Legal Sea Foods will highlight different oyster dishes, from pickled and fried oysters to Po’Boy sandwiches, oyster stews, and au natural on the half shell. To wash it down, the restaurant is featuring a “Belvedere Deadrise” cocktail, named after the type of boat used to fish the flats for oysters.

STEAK & LOBSTER: Can’t decide? You don’t have to at The Clubhouse (320 W. Jericho Tpke. Huntington Station, 631-423-1155) where owner Jeffrey Bies is celebrating the restaurant’s 47th anniversary with a steak and lobster special. Enjoy sliced ChateauBriand and Nova Scotia lobster tails for $30 per person now through Sept. 30. The offer’s good for lunch or dinner, every day but Saturday.

YOU DINE, THEY DONATE: The Cheesecake Factory is inviting guests to support Long Island Cares. - The Harry Chapin Food Bank with their “You Dine, We Donate” event. On Wednesday, Sept. 30, all guests who bring in two cans of soup when they dine at Cheesecake Factory in Walt Whitman Mall or Smith Haven Mall will have 10 percent of their guest check donated to Long Island Cares, along with the donated cans of soup. “We are very grateful that The Cheesecake Factory has chosen to work with Long Island Cares in an effort to raise awareness about hunger on Long Island and to provide both food and financial donations to support our mission,” said Paule Pachter, executive director of Long Island Cares. “They are providing an excellent opportunity for everyone to join in the fight to end hunger in our communities.” Long Island Cares provides emergency food where and when it is needed, and sponsors programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency. The organization was founded in 1980 by the late singer/activist Harry Chapin and is continued today by his wife and partner Sandy Chapin, a dedicated board of directors and staff working out of their 35,000 square-foot facility in Hauppauge.

FIRE ISLAND BEER LAUNCHES: Fire Island Beer Company has launched with the release of Lighthouse Ale, the first official offering from the craft brewers, headquartered on Fire Island. The American style ale will be the first of several craft beer recipe styles inspired by the Fire Island experience. Lighthouse Ale is the handiwork of two brothers and a cousin who developed their taste for craft beer and home brewing during the summers they spent on Fire Island. “We really wanted to make a beer that captured the laidback spirit and awesome character that you find on Fire Island, and Lighthouse Ale is that beer,” said Jeff Glassman, Fire Island Beer Co. president and marketing director. “After many years spent perfecting the recipe and sharing our beer with the community on Fire Island, we couldn’t be more thrilled to share it with the world.” The product of four types of malts and three varieties of domestic hops, Lighthouse Ale is brewed to have a soft carbonation and light caramel finish that make it easy to drink, yet with the toasty round body of a sturdy American ale. Truly easygoing with a lot of character, or as co-founder and head beer maestro Tom Fernandez likes to say, “…the kind of beer you want to have a beer with.” To bring the ale to market, Fire Island Beer Co. turned to an established craft beer brewer, Olde Saratoga Brewing Company. Local design boutique rocketdog created innovative branding that features original artwork and copy. You’ll recognize the Fire Island Lighthouse in the background, and one of the Island’s year-round residents – a deer – grazing in the foreground. Look for it at Southdown Market, area beer distributors and supermarkets, and at fine pubs and restaurants. Learn more at www.fireislandbeer.com.

IT’S GREEK TO ME: If Greek food’s your thing, you’ll want to head to St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church (1 Shrine Pl., Greenlawn 631-261-7272) for their food festival, Oct. 2 – 4 (11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Fri. and Sat., noon – 5 p.m. Sun.) for a whole menu of homemade Greek specialties: gyro, souvlaki, mousaka, spanakopita, and loukoumade, Greek pastries, Greek beer, wine and tyropita. Feast while enjoying traditional Greek music and dance, and take a tour of their beautiful church. More at www.stparaskevi.org.

SUGAR-FREE WINE: These days, it’s not too hard to find sugar-free options. Ice creams, desserts, cookies, soft drinks – you name it, there’s a sugar-free version. When it come to wine, though, the pickings are pretty slim. In fact, the makers of a new wine called Slender claim to be the makers of the world’s only sugar-free sweet wine. You may have heard of it – Slender got worldwide attention when it was included in the Oscar gift bags at the 81st Annual Academy Awards. The zero-sugar wine is now available in New York State. Slender has been pleasantly sweetened with the new natural sweetener Erythritol, which is produced from sugar and tastes like sugar. Slender is produced by Chateau Thomas Winery in Plainfield, Ind. and is available in white, blush and red. Learn more at www.slenderwine.com.

Send news of the food
world to Foodie@LongIslandernews.com

Main Menu