Winter in Austria Wine Dinner at Nick & Toni’s

Nick & Toni’s is one of the most iconic restaurants in the Hamptons. Jeff Salaway and Toni Ross opened the space in East Hampton in 1988, and it immediately garnered well-deserved praise. The restaurant is rooted in farm-to-table Mediterranean cuisine, the philosophy being to source everything possible locally, and the menu is inspired by simply prepared seasonal produce with an emphasis on natural flavors. 

On Thursday, January 26th at 6:30 p.m. Nick & Toni’s will be holding “Winter in Austria Wine Dinner.” This will feature a four-course menu created by Chef Michael Zuckerman and Pastry Chef Kelsey Roden. The dinner will be paired with Austrian wines chosen by Beverage Director Chimene Macnaughton. Chimene says, “For me, the heart of these special food and wine evenings is our focus on indigenous grape varieties. Winter in Austria is another opportunity for vinous discovery, and it’s incredible to see how these unique wines of history and of place have informed and inspired our culinary team. I’m completely dazzled by this elegant, authentic Austrian food landscape they’ve created, and I cannot wait to share some of the finest wine producers in all of Europe with our guests.”

Nick & Toni’s holds wine dinners throughout the year all with themes or inspiration that honor different regions in the world. Chimene, Nick & Toni’s Beverage Director, says the dinners are successful and unlike any other experience in the Hamptons because these evenings are about “experiential hospitality.” She explained, “We want to give our guests an elevated dining experience that feels unique- you know that it-may-never-come-again feeling you get as a diner when you’re in one of your bucket list restaurants the world over? That is my inspiration. In this post-CV world that we’re all carving out together, it feels more important than ever to create evenings where our community can come together and experience something wonderful, something delicious, and yes, something we might not find at any other local restaurant, nor attempt to re-create at home à deux (so many crystal glasses!). Joyous evenings full of soul and empty of fuss is what I am all about.”

Nick & Toni’s began holding their wine dinners last spring with events in March, April, and June. Chimene says, “While N&T’s certainly has an earned rep for its prestigious, sought-after, deep-cellared rarities, these evenings allow our team to take a group of guests along with us on the same journey of discovery that’s really the core of my process as a buyer.”

The culinary team at Nick & Toni’s—Executive Pastry Chef Kelsey Roden, Chef de Cuisine Mike Zuckerman, and Sous Chef Eddie Schall—work closely with HMH Executive Chef and Partner Joe Realmuto to craft each of the dinner’s courses. Chimene mentioned, “It’s a very collaborative process. We feed off of each other, sometimes the theme is decided, and that shapes the regions which decide the wines.” The dishes are always exceptionally authentic and region-specific with a dynamic menu that can’t be replicated or found anywhere else. 

The menu for “Winter in Austria Wine Dinner” features canapes, first course, second course, third course, and fourth course, each paired with a carefully curated wine selection. This series of Thursday night wine pairing dinners will run once a month (except for May) through June. The offered wines will also be available to guests for purchase with special event-only pricing through Jacques Franey at Domaine Franey. The dates and inspiration behind each dinner as follows:

Jan 26, 2023 Inspiration: Winter in Austria

Feb 23, 2023 Inspiration: Italy: TBD

Mar 30, 2023 Inspiration: Tour de France

Apr 27, 2023 Inspiration: Italy: TBD

No event in May 2023

Jun 8, 2020 Inspiration: Rosé, Beyond Provence

Reservations for “Winter in Austria Wine Dinner” can be made through Resy. To learn more about Nick & Toni’s, visit https://www.nickandtonis.com. This Thursday, get ready for a delicious Austrian winter inspired feast! Prost!