RESTAURANT CAPITAL OF LONG ISLAND: We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, the town of Huntington is home to more fine restaurants than any place between Manhattan and the Hamptons. We are fortunate to have the choices offered. The Foodies recently had the pleasure of experiencing tasting menus at two of Huntington’s dining emporiums offering most spectacular experiences.

MARONI MENU: It doesn’t get better than this. If you are adventurous and hungry, Maroni’s Cuisine (18 Woodbine Ave., Northport, 631-757-4500) tasting menu is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Mike and Maria Maroni’s tiny, tiny unique dining place offers an endless culinary experience, which on the weekend runs about $100 per including wine. A table on the weekend is really hard to come by and reservations are only accepted a month in advance. So try it during the week or call exactly a month in advance to reserve your table. Tell them Gary Weiss sent you – really. Our recent dinner with regulars Gary and Nancy Weiss included: Mongolian Beef, Prosciutto de Parma, Raw oysters, Stone crab claws with mustard sauce, Million dollar potato chip with caviar and creme fraiche, Shumai – pork dumpling, Tuna Tataki, Tuna Sashimi, Tuna Spring Roll, Lobster Bisque with 10-year-old cognac, Pasta with truffles & truffle oil, Pastrami on Rye Eggroll, Scallops Scallopini, Memphis style barbecue ribs, Kobe Beef Sliders, Chicken Milanese with mozzarella, Tangerine Chicken, Meatballs. Wine. Desserts: Chocolate Mousse with marshmallow, Homemade Dove Bar, Cheesecake, Banana Cream Pie, Creme Brulee, Ice Cream Sundae. We’ll be back.

PANAMA HATTTIE’s: Matt Hisiger five-star restaurant on Jericho Turnpike has been the home of extraordinary cuisine for two decades. And it keeps getting better. Rated “Excellent” by Joanne Starkey of the New York Times, Panama Hattie’s (872 E. Jericho Turnpike, (631-351-1727, www.panamahatties.com) is in a class by itself. The three course lunch tasting menu at $21 per (according to the Web site) is absolutely the “best fine dining buy” anywhere. The dinner menu offers a selection of cheeses and seafood as starters. We saved our appetite and had the five course tasting menu ($85). There is also a three-course tasting menu at $69. Both tasting menus end with a sampling of three desserts – each better, more tempting and memorable than the next. We’ve had it three times in the past year and whatever the assortment offered, you won’t be disappointed. We rave about everything we’ve eaten here. Included in our favorites are: Pan Seared Diver Sea Scallops with black lentils, applewood smoked bacon, Brussels sprouts and champagne cream; A Tasting of Tuna – rare seared peppered tuna, bigeye tuna tartare, white tuna confit; Long Island Duck Breast with French beans, black trumpet mushrooms, crispy duck spring roll and toasted cashews; Truffle Stuffed Chicken Breast with green zucchini, butternut squash, roasted turnips in Madeira jus roti. Panama Hattie’s is the single most memorable dining experience you’ll have.

ITALIAN PEASANT NIGHT: Try Ruvo (63 Broadway, Greenlawn, 631-261-7700, www.ruvorestaurant.com) on Thursdays for an “Italian Peasant Night” with a menu that highlights rustic cuisine from the Puglia region of Southeast Italy. Four course meal with unlimited wine included featuring four different wine selections, $45 per.
BLACK & BLUE: What’s Black & Blue and New All Over? Owner Luigi Aloe and Executive Chef Steve DeLima’s latest endeavor. It’s a Black & Blue Seafood-Chophouse, formerly Off The Wall, is scheduled to open at the end of March at 65 Wall Street, 631-395-9255. When these two creative forces unite, we anticipate the best in dining. We wish them well and await an invitation for the opening party.

LIVE MUSIC: Mac’s Steakhouse (12 Gerard Street, 631-549-5300 www.macssteakhouse.com) presents live music in the bar every Tuesday night beginning at 6:30 p.m. The rotating lineup of performers include: guitar and vocalist Mike D’Orio, rat pack artist Tony D’Vil and singer and Huntington native Lisa Michaels.

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