Guest celebrity Chef Rocco DiSpirito has taken to Sag Harbor Kitchen for the month, adorning his jacket for a limited time only. After authoring a cookbook, he found himself back in the kitchen in a deal made via a close companion. Now, locals enjoy his culinary creations one bite at a time as they satisfy their craving for seafood before the end of the month.
Sag Harbor Kitchen is scenic, sharing waterfront space with the American Legion on Bay Street. Beautiful views will enchant the diners as they feast upon a seafood-inspired menu. Savory experiences await in his sumptuous seafood pot pie. Grilled lobster, swordfish, and a Lafrieda strip also grace the menu.
The celebrity chef has gone above and beyond to serve his diners exceptionally fresh seafood. Utilizing the open-format kitchen, DiSpirito enjoys working with fish locally sourced from Goasman’s and steamers from Multi Aquaculture (the ‘Fish Farm’) in Amagansett.
“It’s been enjoyable to cook for what I believe is – as a person who’s lived here and NYC for gotta be close to thirty years – a community that yearns for great seafood,” DiSpirito noted, “and it gets more and more difficult every year to find fresh great seafood.”
Guests remember Chef Rocco DiSpirito as an executive chef of Union Pacific, an NYC eatery prominent in the late 90s. He also spent a short stint as head chef at the Standard Grill in the Meatpacking District in 2018. Currently, he is focused on creating more signature cookbooks and enjoying appearances on reality TV shows. DiSpirito says, “I’m as busy as ever.”
He participated in this collaborative endeavor on the foundation of an appreciation for the local, year-round community in the area. “I’ve appreciated how locals and frequent visitors have embraced the food and quality,” DiSpirito said. “They’ve been very complementary and thrilled about this little push toward a new level of quality in terms of food and overall experience.”
Born in Queens, DiSpirito is no stranger to the area. As he ambitiously pursues his next cookbook release, Everyday Delicious, in 2024, he is enjoying the opportunity to provide the local public with their craving for exquisite seafood. Locals are also anticipating the release, which features comfort recipes that helped him quell the isolation instigated by the pandemic.
New York City has invited him to the community with open arms. “It’s been one big warm embrace,” he said. “Very warm, very welcoming, people are pleased to see me, the push in food and hospitality in general, I couldn’t ask for a better reception.” This warmth and comfort are also said to be found in the flavors of his food.
If you want to enjoy this cuisine, see DiSpirito before the month ends. Head to 26 Bay Street for an evening your tastebuds will remember. For more information, please visit https://www.instagram.com/sagharbor.kitchen/.
