What’s Cookin Smithtown?

By Nancy Vallarella

Grillin – n – Chillin

Summer 2012 is upon us. Time to embrace the great outdoors and fire up the barbie!  Before your enthusiasm wanes, start out by cleaning the grill and checking the gas connections for leaks. Remember to store a backup gas tank in a safe place. 

Once the grill is in order, get your grilling menu repertoires sparking!   The standard hamburger and hot dog feasts get old fast. Get your creative juices following…

The Kings Park Farmers Market opens June 24^th.  It is located in the Municipal Lot on 25A across from the Kings Park Firehouse. Take a look at their Facebook page for vendor announcements. There will be more there than veggies!

Check out The Crushed Olive of Stony Brook. They offer over 18 different flavor infused extra virgin olive oils and over 20 balsamic vinegars to enhance your grilling ingredients.  Items can be purchased on their website but I recommend visiting the store. There you can sample the evoos and vinegars.  The store also carries other gourmet items. While visiting in June, ask for the details of their Grilling Recipe Contest.  Winners will receive a $50.00 gift certificate to The Crushed Olive and an embroidered Crushed Olive apron.

Feeling a little intimidated around the grill?  No worries, there is plenty of help in town. Elegant Eating of Smithtown offers cooking classes. The July BBQ class and Luau class are wait list only but if you hurry, The Thrill of the Grill class in August is open.  Reference their website: www.eleganteating.com for class details.

 Go to Smithtown Matters Food and Restaurant Directory and click on Sequa Deli. Click their Catering Menu and select Picnics.  There you will find Sequa’s gamut of outdoor dining options. All American Picnic and BBQs, Pig Roast, Aloha Hawaiian Luau, Southern BBQ, Long Island Clam Bakes – it’s all there!

Do you fear the etymologist’s predictions that we will pay for our mild past winter with an insect population explosion this summer?  Concerned your guests will be carried off by armies of ants or annoyed by nipping mosquitos?  We have solutions!

The newest culinary establishment to join Smithtown Matters Food and Restaurant Directory: Butterfields of Hauppauge. This cameleonesque establishment is hidden on the boarder of Hauppauge’s industrial complex.  Its unassuming exterior gives way to an impressive 40 foot mahogany bar, a surprisingly chic dining area with high back loveseats serving lunch, dinner and catering for up to 140 people. Owner Mike Shalley and Executive Chef /Owner Jerry Suppa magically morph Butterfields from lunch to dinner to late night entertainment establishment seven days a week.  Lunch is not served on Saturdays and Sundays but Butterfields is open for private catered events. How do they do it? Let’s just say Mr. Shalley’s savvy hospitality business experience and Chef Suppa’s culinary expertise (Johnson and Whales University College of Culinary Arts, Garden City Hotel and the Oyster Bar) makes a dynamic duo.  Do some chillin at Butterfields. Saturday night DJ and dancing to the 70’s and 80’s. Friday night live bands until the end of June.  On June 27^th, Butterfields will host a four-course California Wine Pairing dinner for $65/ pp.++.  Reservations are recommended.