My venture to The Hamptons led me to lots of amazing food, but my rock-steady was the delicious and delightful Harbor Market and Kitchen. Right in the heart of Sag Harbor, and just off the beaten path, is where I found my local kitchen, pantry and coffee shop. We’d pick up food in the morning, most days, to take out to the beach with. Although there were several choices for me it came down to freshness, quality, taste, and variety. Oh, and did I mention the coffee was the kindest brew ever?!

Now, knowing how serious I am about my coffee, you’ll believe me when I tell you that the brew is made to perfection. They use Aldo’s Coffee, roasted and blended for the Market on the North Fork. This blend is not only served at the counter, but sold in bags on the grocery shelves. The same goes for the eggs from Eight Hands Farm in Mattituck, which are pasture-raised, organic, and selected by hand. They’ll make you an omelette or sell you a dozen eggs, all excellent quality. They really try to focus more on locally made, small-batch products and specialty foods. For many customers, though, the big draw is the pizza made with San Marzano tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, which is baked in the Market’s wood-burning oven. In addition to a traditional Margherita, the pizza menu includes variations like wild mushroom, sweet Italian sausage, and wood-roasted cauliflower. When I ran into co-owner Abbey Warsh, she was telling me how obsessed she had become with making great pizzas.

They just opened last fall and are staying open all year, not just for “the season.”  I’m betting the pizza business will explode in the fall when most of us tourists have gone away and the locals will be ordering in.

The beauty of this market/kitchen is that it can act as your local pantry. Many times I would run there for milk and homemade granola or their fresh muffins for the morning. My kids loved the corn muffins and the chocolate croissants. So I say, when in The Hamptons get over to the small fishing town, with lots of style and taste, Sag Harbor, and visit Harbor Market and Kitchen. They are so warm and friendly. They’ll make you feel right at home and you taste buds will be glad you did.