By Nancy Kane
Bonfires are red-hot this season. Private chef and food concierge company Hamptons Aristocrat has partnered with the go-to shop for stylish decor, Serena & Lily, and exclusive concierge service WAND (stands for Wants and Needs Delivered) to serve up something special for summer. Along with Yeti coolers, they will debut a special Signature Bonfire series.
“We can think of nothing better than relaxing with friends at a bonfire by the beach, enjoying great food and cocktails. Serena & Lily’s inimitable style adds to the chic yet casual scene. This is the summer to get your toes in the sand and celebrate,” says Hamptons Aristocrat co-founder Lexi Ritsch.
The Signature Bonfire comes adorned with relaxed yet refined Serena & Lily outdoor furnishings—think casual lawn chairs, ottomans and tiki torches. Choose from four menus: Chilled Lobster Buckets, Fireside Picnic, South of the Highway and Townline Sunset, each one highlighting fresh, local ingredients and in-season dishes like seared tuna tostadas with avocado mousse and dirty corn with pimento cheese aioli and feta. Every menu includes a s’mores station, because what beach bonfire would be complete without that? Book your bonfire at your-wand.com; for more information, visit heritagearistocrat.com.
Nothing says summer entertaining more than sipping aperitifs at a seaside bungalow. At Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa, acclaimed event designer Jung Lee, founder of event planning and design production company Fête, has come on board to design stylishly celebratory experiences in their Bungalows by the Sea. “When you have the privilege of working with the Atlantic Ocean as a Gurney’s backdrop, you need only enhance what Mother Nature has provided,” she says.
Lee’s discerning taste has turned up the dial on easy-breezy design, adding bamboo as a focal point and additional florals and foliage to the spacious, understated bungalows. Each private bungalow can accommodate up to six people, and features a seasonal menu with shareable dishes such as Wagyu pigs in a blanket, lobster rolls with spicy Sriracha or oysters on the half shell served with creamed spinach and horseradish breadcrumbs. Sip curated cocktails created by Lee, like Summer in Montauk, made with mezcal, watermelon juice and edible flowers. Or gather round the open firepit and drink a Flower Power, made with elderflower cordial, prosecco and mint. Lee will also be curating a festive picnic experience for guests to enjoy on the beach and the grounds of Gurney’s. Book your bungalow at gurneysresorts.com/montauk/happenings/bungalows-sea