A longtime Hollywood Hamptons hangout, Nick & Toni’s has the feeling of a Tuscan farmhouse, comprised of three dining rooms with a big beautiful wood burning oven in the center. Chef Joe Realmuto changes the menu seasonally making use of the restaurants organic garden and local fisherman and farmers.

Getting a table at this haute hotspot is not easy, but KDHamptons has good news~ if you can’t score a table next to Kelly Ripa or Alec Baldwin, you can at least eat like a star at home! We were able to score the recipe for Nick & Toni’s famous Chocolate Lavender Ganache Cake~ one of our favorite sweet treats on the East End. This cake will make your date fall in love with you, and send your dinner guests swooning!

So slide on your apron and get baking Betty!

Chocolate Lavender Ganache Cake

[makes one 10 inch cake]

Ingredients:

Cocoa Powder 4 ½ oz

*Instant Espresso 4 tsp

*Boiling Water 2 cups

*Vanilla Extract 4 tsp

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*Butter (softened) 12 oz

*Sugar 1# 3 oz

*Eggs 4

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*Cake Flour 12 oz

*Baking Soda 1 tsp

*Salt 1 tsp

To Prepare:

• Place the cocoa powder and espresso powder in a bowl.  Pour the boiling water into the bowl and whisk to combine.  Allow to chill to room temperature.  Whisk in the vanilla extract.
• Beat butter and sugar until creamed.  Add eggs one at a time.  Beat well.
• Sift together the dry ingredients.  With mixer on low, alternate adding the dry mixture and the cocoa mixture until all is added and the batter is smooth.
• Pour into a greased and lined 10 inch cake pan.  Bake in a 350* oven for 18-20 minutes.

How to make the Lavender Ganache:

Ingredients:

*Corn Syrup ½ cups

*Cream 3 cups

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*Lavender 2 ½ T

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*60% Chocolate 1 ½ #

To Prepare:

• Bring the corn syrup and the cream to a boil.  Steep that mixture with the lavender 5-10 minutes.
• Pour the lavender mixture over the chocolate, let it stand for 2-3 minutes, and whisk it all together.

Now serve and send your guests to chocolate heaven!!

**Be sure to compare your skills with the real deal: Nick & Toni’s Location:  136 North Main St, East Hampton, 631-324-3550, www.nickandtonis.com]