Intensely bubbly
Rita Cantina, airports report, Nomad listings, Léon 1909, The Dock, Casey Casey, Rosso di Montalcino, best Hamptons haute provisioning, MORE
GETAWAYS • The Hamptons
Beach cocktails
For the last five years since Rita Cantina debuted in a quiet, residential pocket of Springs, the Mexican cantina has been shaking up the best, most thoughtful, and sophisticated cocktails anywhere out east — on par, in my opinion, with the best cocktail bars in Manhattan.
Last year, bar director and co-owner Adam Miller (who runs the restaurant alongside his father, chef Eric Miller) introduced a transparent clarified coconut milk cocktail that blew me away. The Piña Coco Margarita is made with clarified coconut milk, toasted coconut–infused blanco tequila, pineapple juice, and lime. It’s lush, silky, and totally transparent.
This summer, Adam — who worked under pros like Jim Kearns (Slowly Shirley) and milk punch expert Eamon Rockey (Betony) — added two standout new cocktails. One is a playful homage to the guava cheese roll at Mexico City’s famed Panadería Rosetta. Adam infuses tequila with housemade puff pastry, then blends it with clarified guava syrup, lime juice, milk, and cream cheese. After an overnight steep, it’s strained until crystal clear, and served over pellet ice with a salted guava chip garnish. “It’s what would happen if a guava roll and a margarita got into some trouble,” he says. The result is creamy, tropical tipple with just a touch of funk — it’s absolutely irresistible. (I had two, and took a giant pre-batched bottle home for later.)
The other is an ultra-carbonated Paloma, an intensely bubbly cocktail made from a house-made Ruby Red grapefruit soda, grapefruit extract, and grapefruit liqueur. Adam has also amassed a deep collection of over 250 artisanal agave spirits, which taste especially great on the sandy outdoor patio lined with picnic tables — my favorite spot to sit. –Kat Odell
→ Rita Cantina (East Hampton) • 28 Maidstone Park Rd • Wed, Thu & Sun 4-9p, Fri-Sat 4-10p • Reserve.
GETAWAYS • Airports
JFK: The latest airport lounge perk? A private cheesemonger. That’s indeed something on offer at the new Capital One Lounge, which opened last week at T4. Per The Points Guy, the new lounge also features an elevated grab-and-go counter, as well as a dedicated bagel counter (in partnership with Ess-A-Bagel; the cheese counter is with Murray’s Cheese) alongside all the usual lounge amenities. Access is on the departures level between the A and B gates, and entry is easiest for Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card holders.
EWR: In other vital airport lounge news, last weekend United opened a new dedicated dining room at its Polaris Lounge at Terminal C. The space replaces the former semi-secret, invite-only Classified restaurant, which opened in 2017 (and will be missed by those who knew it).
JFK: The current hell that is the T5/T6 construction matrix at JFK moves a step closer to salvation with the completion of the curtain walls at the new T6. This puts the new terminal on track to hold its grand opening early in 2026. Hallelujah.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Can the billionaires save East Hampton’s Main Street? • Former Quail Ridge Motel in Southampton sells for $10.6M • Luxe resort Ocama, with 8 private villas, opens in the DR • New Grand Hyatt resort coming this fall to Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties in Nomad that came to market in the last 10 days.
→ 15 E 30th St 19B (Nomad) • 2BR/2BA, 1277 SF condo • Ask: $3.275M • Empire State Bldg view in amenity-rich Madison House • Days on market: 4 • Monthly tax: $2822; common charges: $2309 • Agent: Justin Tuinstra, Elliman. Open house Sun 12-2p by appt only.
→ 25 W 28th St PH40C (Nomad) • 1BR/1.1BA, 989 SF condo • Ask: $4.5M • fully furnished at the Ritz-Carlton Residence • Days on market: 3 • Monthly tax: $1998; common charges: $5033 • Agents: Nic Bottero & Dustin Crouse, Elliman.
→ 76 Madison Ave PH1 (Nomad, above) • 3BR/3.1BA, 2632 SF condo • Ask: $7.5M • wraparound terrace accessible from every room • Days on market: 8 • Monthly tax: $4315; common charges: $7706 • Agents: Laura Weinkam & Dulcie Lin.
REAL ESTATE LINKS: Local backlash comes for proposed Brooklyn waterfront redevelopment… as developers covet Brooklyn-Queens light rail line real estate • COOKFOX updates: 80 Clarkson rises in West Village… as does 570 Washington.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine
Fire walk with me
ARMOND VAUN JOSEPH • executive chef • Léon 1909
Neighborhood you work in: Shelter Island
Neighborhood you live in: Montauk
It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
Fridays are big days for us. It’s typically when new menu items roll out. I spend the afternoon checking in with my sous chefs on any changes, touching base with our cooks and dishwashers, and often, sprinting down the street to our garden to harvest garnishes for the evening. This time of year on Shelter Island, I’m also foraging along the beach for ingredients. Right now, we’re serving a warm morel mushroom dish with beach peas, sea beans, and wild beach rose. It’s a personal favorite, because it captures such a specific sense of place and time. At 4p, I’m back in the kitchen for menu tasting. We taste every dish together as a team to fine-tune seasoning, or make any last-minute adjustments. Then it’s a 4:30 meeting with our front-of-house team, and by 5, we’re open for dinner.
Where are you drinking or dining this weekend?
If I’m staying out east, you’ll usually find me at The Dock in Montauk. It’s a laid-back spot right on the harbor that’s been around since the 1970s. The menu changes daily, the vibe is refreshingly unpretentious, and the drinks are always cold. If I’m heading into the city, my favorite spot right now is Yamada in Chinatown. Chef Isao Yamada serves a multi-course kaiseki menu that’s absolutely transcendent. Every dish is thoughtful, precise, and deeply soulful.
Any weekend getaways?
I don’t get away often since the restaurant keeps me pretty grounded. But if I do sneak out for a weekend, I love heading to Detroit. It’s just a quick one-hour flight and the food scene there is really exciting. I always make time for Yemen Cafe, a late-night Yemeni spot where I order the lamb agdah and their incredible tandoor bread. I also love Takoi, a Thai restaurant with bold flavors and a really fun, high-energy space.
What was your last great vacation?
My wife and I recently spent time on the island of Ischia, Italy, and stayed at Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa. It’s a breathtaking property set in a 16th-century watchtower overlooking the sea. The thermal baths and cold plunge pools were unforgettable, and the whole place feels like a world apart. Ischia is known for its seafood and its rabbit, and one dish at Mezzatorre really captured that contrast: poached langoustine served alongside rabbit loin. For a special dinner, we went to Dani Maison, a two-Michelin-star restaurant tucked into whimsical, Alice in Wonderland-style gardens. Their dessert series, Art Is Not a Crime, pays tribute to iconic artists. It was theatrical, delicious, and totally memorable.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I’ve been into Casey Casey shirts lately, which I usually pick up at Dover Street Market. The fabric, the cut, the way they wear over time all just feel right. Understated, timeless and built to last.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Kalustyan’s in Manhattan. It’s my one-stop shop for any kind of exotic spice, whether I’m cooking at home or sourcing inspiration for the restaurant. Walking through the aisles is a crash course in global flavor.
Where are you donating your time or money?
I try to stay involved locally. We’ve done a few dinners to help raise funds for the Presbyterian Church on Shelter Island, which also houses the island’s food pantry. They’re currently working toward building out a new kitchen, which would be a huge asset for the community. At the restaurant, we’re also proud to be hosting a James Beard Foundation benefit dinner on September 19.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Everything Must Go
Goose • MSG (Midtown South) • Sat @ 730p • sec 118, $442 per (lowest avail, $110)
Jon Stewart w/ John Mulaney & Pete Davidson • Prudential Center (Newark) • Fri @ 730p • sec E, $214 per
Athletics v Yankees • Yankee Stadium (Bronx) • Sun @ 135p • sec 115, $211 per
CULTURE & LEISURE LINKS: Logo for Mamdani’s campaign looked nothing like a campaign logo • Boop! latest musical to close post-Tonys • How Los Angeles made the modern world • Is it time to ban selfies at museums?
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Bottle
Baby face
Brunello di Montalcino has long been regarded as one of Italy’s great reds, though for many, these powerhouse bottles don’t always make for daily drinking. A more approachable, easy-drinking solution can be found in the area’s more youthful expression, Rosso di Montalcino. Think of it like Brunello’s little brother, a bit more fun and playful in spirit.
The great thing about Rosso di Montalcino is that nearly every great Brunello estate makes one, including Caprili, one of the region’s OG estates. I popped the cork on this bottle last week while enjoying a pasta night at home with friends, and like the rigatoni pomodoro on our plates, the wine overdelivered. Sangiovese, the grape used to produce Rosso di Montalcino, is a staple for pairing with red sauce, as the bright acidity and savory undertones found in the wine perfectly complement the sauce’s zestiness and earthy flavors.
Punchy and juicy, the wine’s medium-bodied palate offered ample notes of cherry and earth, with a hint of pleasant leathery undertones. The Caprili estate is situated in the village of Tavernelle, one of the warmer areas in the Montalcino appellation, and comprises 21 hectares of organically farmed vines. In the winery, the estate maintains a more traditional approach to vinification: long macerations and aging times, with emphasis on structure, well-integrated tannins, and refreshing acidity. I planned on having only one glass, but ended up somewhere closer to three. Hey, that’s what dinners with friends are all about, right? –Vicki Denig
Grape: Sangiovese • Region: Tuscany • Vinification: Spontaneous fermentation and 3 weeks maceration in steel followed by aging for 9 months in large Slavonian oak barrels • Tasting notes: Juicy and bright with notes of ripe cherry, damp earth, and a kiss of used leather.
→ Shop: Caprilli Rosso di Montalcino • Wine Transit ($25.99).
Additional bottle recommendations:
→ Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Rosso di Montalcino 2023 • Morton Williams Wine & Spirits ($27.99).
→ Il Paradiso di Manfredi Rosso di Montalcino • Crush Wine & Spirits ($54.95).
GETAWAYS • The Nines
Hamptons, haute provisioning
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of the best of NYC and surrounds. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@foundny.com.
Hen of the Woods (Southampton), gourmet pantry items, unique Asian ingredients