Here's where a punk rock private chef eats out in the Hamptons

Chef Olivia Tiedemann loves flipping the bird to convention. Here are the Hamptons culinary experiences that get her thumbs up, from classic lobster rolls to elite farm stands.

When chef Olivia Tiedemann first arrived in the Hamptons to start the personal chef gig that would indirectly lead to explosive Instagram stardom, her first impression was awe.

"Coming from a very different lifestyle, driving up there for the very first time, where everything was so perfect," reminisces Tiedemann, now as famous for her punkish, bird-flipping, F-bomb dropping persona as she is for her elegantly plated dishes and the decadent pastas she whips up from scratch at midnight. "Pulling up to my client's house; this huge, immaculate beachfront mansion. It was very magical."

Tiedemann is hardly alone; the Hamptons – a cluster of luxurious seaside resort towns on the eastern end of New York's Long Island – have long fascinated visitors, who flock to the area for a summertime escape to a world of white linen, cocktail parties and impossibly lavish estates.

But Tiedemann appreciates the Hamptons for more than its prestige: "There's something interesting about the Hamptons, and I'm not sure scientifically what it is," she says. "But the sun sets there and mirrors off both sides of the water, because it's a very long, narrow island. So the light there is different, and the sunsets are different; the sky will be entirely pink. It's very unique."

And even better in the autumn, as the leaves turn technicolour and the crowds disperse. "Nobody's there anymore," says Tiedemann. "The autumn is kind of a secret time where places are still open – lots close in the winter. Last summer, I stayed through the autumn, and it was really cool to go to all those places without having to see five million people. There's little wine bars and vineyards that are really scenic and pretty. And they need business during that time. I almost don't even want to tell the secret of how much nicer it is."

The food scene in the Hamptons is tied to the bounty of the Atlantic coast – lobster and clams reign supreme – as well as the island's thriving farm culture. Farm-to-table experiences abound, as do glamorous restaurants with dishes (and patrons) ripped straight from the pages of a celebrity magazine. But there are down to earth delights as well – chef-approved.

Here are Tiedemann's top culinary experiences in the Hamptons – in summertime and beyond.

The Hamptons are notorious for being wildly posh. For a spendy yet still "really cool" experience, Tiedemann likes The Crow's Nest on Montauk Lake. "This place is sick," declares Tiedemann. "The first time I went there, me and my friend were, like, we just entered a dreamscape."

The Crow's Nest restaurant, an opulent wood-on-wood coastal oasis in the Crow's Nest Hotel serves upscale New American and Mediterranean-inspired seafood dishes. "It almost has a tiki vibe, but that's not what it is. The food is really good; really fresh seafood," says Tiedemann. "There's a little beach with a little beach bar on it, and it's overlooking the water. It's just so perfect and pretty. And because of the Hamptons light thing, you feel like you're sitting in the most beautiful place you've ever seen, having a perfect cocktail surrounded by people in flowy white outfits… amazing!"

Tiedemann's Crow's Nest pick is the tuna tartare with black caramel, cucumber, radish, smoked mango and avocado. "It was crazy good," she says. "They wouldn't tell me what they did, but it was so good. I would go back anytime."

Website: https://www.crowsnestmtk.com/

Address: 4 Old West Lake Dr, Montauk, NY 11954

Phone: +16316682077

Instagram: @crowsnestmtk

Walk-ins only

While in the Hamptons, day trippers, summer residents and celebs alike devour fresh New England seafood. Like lobster rolls – hunks of succulent lobster meat stuffed in a griddled split-top hot dog bun, dressed in mayonnaise (Maine style) or melted butter (New England style). Personal chefs love the coastal delicacy, too: "This summer, I went on a quest to find the best lobster roll ever," says Tiedemann. The winners? Shinnecock Lobster Factory and Bostwick's on the Harbor.

Shinnecock Lobster Factory, a burgundy-painted wooden shack on the Shinnecock Indian reservation in Southampton, serves all manner of seafood delights, from fish burgers to lobster mac and cheese. But for Tiedemann, its lobster roll is king. "I love a lobster roll," she says. "I don't really like mayo. I hate it when places only offer mayo. People are afraid to be creative with the lobster roll because it's so culturally tied. I don't [care]. I just want it to be good."

Lobster roll lovers will not only find classic lobster rolls with and without mayonnaise, but a slew of inventive rolls, like the Diablo with spicy tomatoes, in a variety of sizes. "So you're not committing," says Tiedemann. "That was a smart move on their behalf, and it's really good."

Alternatively, Bostwick's on the Harbor in East Hampton serves the quintessential lobster roll: "The straight up classic. It's butter, it's lobster meat, it's a good bun. It's a greasy experience, and it's supposed to be."

Website: https://shinnecocklobsterfactory.com/

Address: 42 Montauk Hwy, Southampton, NY 11968

Phone: +16312593334

Instagram: @shinnecocklobster

Website: https://www.bostwicksontheharbor.com/

Address: 39 Gann Rd, East Hampton, NY 11937

Phone: +16313241150

Instagram: @bostwicks_on_the_harbor

Little about the Hamptons can be deemed casual, but Tiedemann has a spot for when you just need to hang loose. "I love the Clam Bar," she says. "You're gonna sit out there with your friends and you're gonna drink beer out of a can and eat fried clams."

The Clam Bar, a fish shack on Montauk Highway heading east out of Amagansett, has been feeding stomachs and souls for more than 40 years with fresh New England seafood dishes; both traditional (clam chowder, oysters on the half shell) and not (sushi dogs, tuna poke nachos).

"The Clam Bar is really fun," says Tiedemann. "It's very iconic when you see that place; it looks like somewhere you'd want to stop on a drive. It's all outside seating, but there's always a lot of people there. You just drive up, very casual. Sit outside."

Tiedemann's order? "The clam strips… it's just a good vibe and it's solid food."

Website: https://clambarhamptons.com/

Address: 2025 Montauk Hwy, Amagansett, NY 11930

Phone: +16312676348

Instagram: @theclambar

Tiedemann's recommendation for a quick yet gourmet meal is Round Swamp Farm country market; a collective of farm stands that also sells prepared foods. "Out [in the Hamptons], it can be really difficult to find a quick bite," says Tiedemann. "As a chef, I stop there to pick up ingredients and [it's] where I get lunch, too."

Among the market's vast variety of offerings are savoury dishes like seared salmon, mushroom lasagna and shrimp po' boys, while sweet tooths can find cookies, pies and muffins; perfect for a nosh between extravagant summer parties or an impromptu picnic on the seashore.

"They're cooking them constantly and refreshing them, because it has a cult following," says Tiedemann. "You might have to elbow somebody to get your tacos. And they have such a range; you can get a fried chicken sandwich, you can get sesame noodles, you can get a salad. You could get a pizza sometimes, and it's really good. So, yeah, highly recommend."

Website: https://roundswampfarm.com/

Address: 184 County Rd 40, East Hampton, NY 11937

Phone: +16313244438

Instagram: @roundswampfarm_mtk

Tiedemann admittedly spends more time cooking than she does dining at old money restaurants. Luckily, this means making basking in the island's explosion of produce.

"There's so many farms out in the Hamptons. It's a very seasonal place; that's why we have immaculate farm stands," says Tiedemann. "There's one that I found last summer that no one had ever spoken to me about. It's called Serene Green. It's kind of a Hampton's secret."

Visitors to the Hamptons typically spend much time in houses, whether in palatial celebrity mansions or group-funded Airbnbs. And whether there's a private chef or you're doing the cooking yourself, stocking up on heirloom tomatoes, berries and apples is as much a part of the Hamptons experience as wearing summer whites.

"Lots of the farm stands will have something you're looking for, but not everything," says Tiedemann. "Serene Green, you can go in there and get literally everything to make dinner. They even have seafood from the fishermen, all the vegetables, and they have a little shop inside with dairy, different cheeses, pastas, grains, olive oil. And it's an adorable place. They have coffee and lemonade and cookies. You can just sit and have a snack. It's great." Located in the sleepy hamlet of Noyack, Serene Green is run by local farmer John Smith, whose family has lived in the area since the 1640s.

"I just love food," says Tiedemann. "I love trying new things. I love thinking them through."

Website: https://www.serenegreenfarm.com/

Address: 3980 Noyack Rd, Sag Harbor, NY 11963

Phone: +16318083203

Instagram: @serene.green

BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.

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