CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Enjoying lunch with power couple Roxine Brown, creative director and founder of Harmonia, and Charles Fischler, broker at Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate. Celebrating Damages and DirecTV with Todd Kessler, Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, and Daniel Belman. Kicking off another season with my great friend and Hamptons editor-at-large Michael Braverman. My attempt at Mario Batali’s summer corn salad, featured in our Memorial Day issue.

The summer is in full swing, and I couldn’t be happier. As a foodie, I love the recipes we’re including in the magazine, especially in the Guide pages that tell us where to gather the freshest local ingredients to prepare wonderful meals at home. Inspired by an article in our Memorial Day issue, I prepared the perfect summer corn salad from Mario Batali’s delicious recipe. I love food with a spicy kick, and this dish delivered that punch.

This week I am proud to have two of the most renowned chefs and television personalities on our cover: longtime Hamptons resident Eric Ripert, the fabulous chef and co-owner of Le Bernadin; and Anthony Bourdain, the irreverent author and chef-at-large of Brasserie Les Halles (one of my personal favorites). People may not know it, but they are very good friends, and Ripert can be seen in this coming season of the HBO series Treme, which features Bourdain as a writer.

While we celebrate culinary icons in this issue, we also welcome our other cover star, Mira Sorvino, who stars in the independent film Union Square. It’s a good kickoff to the multiple art-centric events coming to the area. ArtHamptons moves to Nova’s Ark Project and runs from July 13 to July 15. On July 13 we sponsor a celebration in honor of Jackson Pollock’s 100th birthday, which raises funds for the Pollock Krasner House & Study Center. The next evening the Parrish Art Museum hosts its annual gala, the last one at its current location on Jobs Lane. And on July 28 The Watermill Center holds its yearly benefit gala, known for drawing a most fabulous and fascinating crowd of visual and performing arts patrons. I am thrilled to have been asked to join the community board this year alongside my dear friend and Hamptons’ editor-at-large Michael Braverman.

The summer is a great time for enjoying meals with friends and family or taking advantage of the natural beauty and artistic talent that is all around this special place. I’ll see you in town!

PS—This summer Hamptons magazine invites you to share photo inspirations of your Hamptons! 

DEBRA HALPERT

Follow me on Twitter at @debrahalpert

PHOTOGRAPHY BY EUGENE GOLOGURSKY (KESSLER)