Almond Restaurant, located in the heart of Bridgehampton, will be holding its 22nd annual Christmas Eve tradition of Berkshire suckling pig roast. This year they are sourced from Roaming Acres Farm, and the dinner will include seasonal accompaniments. Jason Weiner, executive chef and co-owner of Almond restaurant, began this tradition as an alternative to the Chinese food Christmas Eve dinners he was accustomed to growing up.
Jason spoke about how the annual roast came into conception a few years ago, saying, “I’m Jewish so the only real Christmas Eve tradition that I knew was Chinese Food. Go to any Chinese restaurant on the Upper West Side, ‘Wall-to-wall Jews.’” So, he decided it was time to create his own Christmas Eve tradition, which has been a great success at Almond for many years now, and something the Hamptons community looks forward to during the holiday season.
Almond opened their Hamptons restaurant location in the spring of 2001. The French bistro quickly garnered success and became one of the top spots in the Hamptons for locals, celebrities, and those visiting the area.
Jason Weiner established himself in the Hamptons as one of the top chefs, and over the years has become well-known for his strong commitment to using locally farmed products and local produce in support of the community. Weiner is passionate about serving hearty, seasonal dishes that reflect farm-to-table roots and highlight local ingredients. The annual suckling pig roast is another way for him to do just that.
The menus at Almond are artisanal and market-driven, featuring some updated takes on classic French cuisine, regional street food, and a lot in between. Their menus are constantly changing as ingredients come in and out of season. The majority of their products are from local farms, fisheries, wineries, orchards, and other such businesses. A few include Milk Pail Orchard, Mecox Bay Dairy, Balsam Farms, Channing Daughter Winery, Paumanok Vineyards, Dock to Dish, and many more.
A portion of the revenue from Christmas Eve will be donated to the Pajama Program. The program provides cozy pajamas and new books to children who need them all around the world, many of them waiting to be adopted. The organization promotes a healthy and comforting bedtime routine to help children thrive. More about the Pajama Program and their mission can be found on their site: www.pajamaprogram.org.
The regular a la carte menu at Almond will also be available on Christmas Eve during the pig roast, and hours are from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Almond will be closed on Christmas Day. They are looking forward to bringing the Hamptons community together to celebrate a joyous holiday season in a festive setting this Christmas Eve!
For more information about Almond and the pig roast, visit www.almondrestaurant.com.
