Brunch With Chef Flynn

Chef Flynn McGarry of the restaurant Gem in New York City and Chef Ian Lowell Lichtenstein of The Maidstone Restaurant in East Hampton collaborated on a brunch at the hotel on Sunday, August 26. The special event coincided with the Hampton International Film Festival’s SummerDocs film screening of the documentary Chef Flynn, hosted by HIFF co-chair Alec Baldwin and artistic director David Nugent.

The documentary, which will be released in November, follows McGarry’s cooking journey, which began at age 12. The young chef started his career hosting supper clubs in his mother’s home, and later worked in some of the best restaurants, alongside notable chefs like Daniel Boulud and Daniel Humm. Jump to 2018, McGarry is the 19-year-old chef of the restaurant Gem on the Lower East Side.

During the brunch Flynn created a five-course menu. Guests enjoyed dishes like the popover with cultured butter; cabbage salad with pine nut vinaigrette, dressed grains, citrus, and sprouts; summer squash toast with ricotta, peaches, and mint; and fried and smashed potatoes with Hollandaise, cured salmon, and poached egg. The meal concluded with a chamomile panna cotta with raspberries.

jessica@indyeastend.com