KDH and Dr. Kot love the The Living Room Restaurant, at c/o The Maidstone Inn in East Hampton. This is our romantic date night spot in the fall/winter when I feel like slipping into my stilettos and little black dress.  The Living Room offers a menu committed to the Slow Food philosophy featuring fresh seasonal and organic foods. Superstar Executive Chef James Carpenter uses the Slow Food process to “cook with the seasons,” coming up with mouth-watering menus he calls, “New American with a Scandinavian twist.”  The result? The cuisine is fresh, delicious, fancy, with a hint of comfort food by the fire.  Joanne Starkey of The New York Times says, “Mr. Carpenter is turning out fare that is well-executed, if not groundbreaking.”

Carpenter is very deliberate in his menu planning at The Living Room. He identifies the freshest and most naturally produced foods and creates selections primarily from items that can be purchased through local, organic purveyors. As the fare changes with the seasons, there are a few signature dishes that remain year- round, including the Swedish Smörgåsbord tasting of homemade gravlax, herring, shrimp skagen and grain mustard sauce; Scandinavian ‘Toast Skagen’ with baby shrimp, lemon scented crème fraiche, dill from the garden on toasted brioche with Swedish caviar; and “Köttbullar and Klimp” Swedish lamb meatballs with Mecox Bay Dairy ricotta dumplings, tomato broth, cavolonero kale and Västerbotten cheese.

Don’t have such an international palette? Non-Swedish dishes include roasted heritage chicken (an exceptional breed of poultry rarely found on menus in its purist form) with Satur farm organic root vegetables and rosemary jus; Black Angus Delmonico steak with baby spinach, potato leek gratin and bordelaise sauce; and seared Atlantic salmon with local savoy cabbage, roast beets and mustard dill sauce.

Desserts are all homemade and feature seasonal crisps, homemade ice cream and the sumptuous sticky toffee date cake which is a KDH favorite!

The Living Room takes pride in its wine program headed by Sommelier Kelly Matis.  The extensive wine cellar houses more than 400 wine labels and offers over 20 wines by the glass. From local Long Island varietals to organic Oregonian boutique blends and standards from Europe, there is a wine for every mood & food at The Living Room! Oenophiles are encouraged to join the wine club offering private bins in the cellar with exclusive opportunities to new vintages. More liquid refreshment is found at the bar, which stocks a variety of local microbrews, a wide array of top-shelf spirits and offers a creative cocktail list including the signature Stockholmapolitan.  Pop by the Swedish happy hour for complimentary hors d’oeuvres and half priced cocktails. Thirsty yet?

Also, be sure to look out for specials such as a chef’s tasting menu, prix fixe and the now famous Smörgåsbord Wednesdays,

Being located in the full service Maidstone Inn, The Living Room offers breakfast, lunch and dinner year round and also caters to little ones with a kids menu as well as to furry friends, with a woof menu featuring doggie themed items; last winter my Yorkie Ted loved to order everything on the menu just for fun! During the winter months the Inn usually offers special rates to local residents so be sure to plan a romantic surprise for your special Hamptons heartthrob. During the height of dust and noise during our farmhouse renovations, Dr. Kot & I stayed in the suite pictured above and felt like we were away on vacation!

*Location:  207 Main Street, East Hampton; 631.324.5006

or go to http://www.careofhotels.com/maidstone/