Dan's Taste of Summer Countdown: David Hersh, Rumba & Cowfish

Chef-owner David Hersh of Rumba and Cowfish in Hampton Bays will be heating things up at GrillHampton on July 22 at Fairview Farm in Bridgehampton. Top chefs will take sides as Team Hamptons competes against Team NYC in a one-of-a-kind cooking competition and tasting event. Enjoy the expertly grilled fare, beer and specialty cocktails, then be part of the action as you, and a judging panel of A-list palates, cast votes for the finest food of the night. As Hersh says about the home team, “Being on Eastern Long Island, much of our menu is inspired by utilizing many ingredients from local farms, fishermen and wineries.”

How does cooking with fire affect your mood?
Cooking over fire, especially when using live wood, definitely gets the blood flowing. It brings out the “primitive being” in the chef while also creating flavorful food.

What’s your favorite cut of meat?
I like a bone-in rib-eye. At Cowfish we feel we serve the best Prime 25 oz. rib-eye on Eastern Long Island.

What’s local on your menu this season?
We have a variety of local wines and brews. We also serve several local seafood items like Sea Scallops, Tuna and Fluke.

Which of your dishes would you most like to serve to another chef?
Our Nola Shrimp is super impressive and tasty.

How have eating trends affected your menu?
Adapting to the needs and dietary trends of diners is a key to success for any restaurateur.

What are you most looking forward to at GrillHampton?
Getting a chance to arm wrestle and tasting all the delicious food.

Please complete this sentence: I most feel like a well-fed caveman when I’m grilling some prime steaks over live hickory wood.

I could survive on a desert island if I just had: Rumba’s steak or fish tacos, lots of water and rum.

Who’s going to win the competition this year—the New York or the Hamptons team.
Hamptons. Because we are the home team.

Dan’s Taste of Summer kicks off with Dan’s GrillHampton hosted by Adam Richman on Friday, July 22 and continues on Saturday, July 23, with Dan’s Taste of Two Forks presented by Farrell Building Company hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli, both on the waterfront at Fairview Farm at Mecox in Bridgehampton. VIP tickets for GrillHampton are $185 and offer early access to the event beginning at 7 p.m. General Admission, from 8 p.m.–10:30 p.m., is $135. VIP tickets for Taste of Two Forks are $295 and offer early access beginning at 6:30 p.m. General Admission, from 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m., is $185.

The oceanfront food and drink fest ClambakeMTK at Gurney’s Montauk hosted by Marc Murphy and Eden Grinshpan premieres on Saturday, July 30. General Admission for ClambakeMTK, from 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m., is $150. VIP tickets are $250, and include access to the after-party from 10 p.m.–12 a.m.

Dan’s Harvest East End, the can’t-miss food and wine classic, hosted by Geoffrey Zakarian, is Saturday, August 20, at McCall Vineyard and Ranch in Cutchogue. VIP tickets for Harvest East End are $285 and offer early access beginning at 6:30 p.m. General Admission, from 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m., is $135.

A portion of this year’s ticket proceeds from GrillHampton and Taste of Two Forks will benefit All For The East End (AFTEE), a 501(c)(3) that showcases and provides support to the more than 1,000 charity organizations in the five East End towns. A portion of proceeds from Harvest East End benefits Long Island Farm Bureau and HRHCare.

To purchase tickets and get more info on all Dan’s Taste of Summer events, visit DansTaste.com!