The Hamptons Wine & Food Classic returns to Stony Brook Southampton University for its second year on Saturday, July 19, combining live music with culinary offerings for an evening organized by Taste Long Island Events.
Chefs from approximately 25 restaurants are expected to participate, offering a range of signature tastings. Attendees can also sample craft beers, wines and other beverages. VIP admission begins at 6 p.m., with general admission starting at 6:30 p.m.
All tickets include food, beverages and entertainment. The event is rain or shine, with a large tent on the baseball field in place to avoid disruption from weather.
“We make it so it's fun for everybody,” said Steven McKenna, CEO and president of Taste Long Island Events. “So, we obviously have food, and we have every beverage you can think of. The restaurants put together signature tastings that everybody can walk around tasting. We're shooting for 20 to 25 different restaurants, and we get local wineries, local breweries, as well as large sponsorships from Manhattan Beer (Distributors) with Corona Modelo and Blue Moon.”
Entertainment will be provided by Rubix Kube, a New York City-based 1980s tribute band with a performance history in the Hamptons and internationally, according to the band’s website. The group is known for surprise appearances by original artists, including Bonnie Tyler, Bret Michaels, MC Hammer and Debbie Gibson.
“They’ve been around in the Hamptons for a long time, but they are also highly regarded as one of the best bands on the planet — you can quote me on that,” McKenna said.
Additional attractions include a golf challenge using a swing simulator. The first person to make a hole-in-one on a simulated version of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club will receive a $5,000 prize.
“We picked the course, which is actually going to be Shinnecock across the street, and you get three swings to do it,” McKenna said, noting the contest’s popularity at his previous event, The Taste of Westhampton Beach. There will also be a 360-degree photo booth offering full-circle videos.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports first responders and veterans through initiatives such as housing and education assistance.
“I just love everything they do and they continue to be my beneficiary,” McKenna said.
McKenna recently celebrated a milestone with the Westhampton Beach Classic, which drew 900 attendees on June 14. He noted that the Hamptons Wine & Food Classic holds particular significance for him.
“I've always wanted to do an event at Southampton College (now Stony Brook Southampton), where I went to school back in 1988. As a high school student, I took college accounting there, and my dream was to do an event there,” he said.
McKenna recalled the last major event at the venue being a Jimmy Buffett concert in 2002 and said he hoped to fill a gap with the Classic. Last year’s inaugural event attracted 850 attendees, and McKenna expects to reach 1,000 this year.
A Manorville resident, McKenna worked for 18 years at Newsday as retail ad director and formerly served as publisher and CEO of Dan’s Papers. He said his work with Taste Long Island Events helps local restaurants reach new customers.
Tickets for the Hamptons Wine & Food Classic can be purchased online. More information on upcoming events is available at the Taste Long Island Events website.