Local East End Cookbook Authors Team Up For Book Signing

MATTITUCK, NY — Two East End cookbook authors are set to join forces for a book-signing event in Mattituck.

Chef Ali Katz will host North Fork co-author Stephanie Villani of “The Fisherman’s Wife: Sustainable Recipes and Salty Stories,” and South Fork co-author Stacy Dermont of “The Hamptons Kitchen,” for a joint book-signing event in her Mattituck bakery/gift shop, Ali Katz Kitchen, on Saturday, April 9, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“I’ve always wanted to carry cookbooks in my shop, and this is a great start — to kick off with the best regional cookbooks,” Katz said.

Katz will prepare dishes from both cookbooks for patrons to sample on the day of the event, including bluefish dip and green garlic pesto bites.

Ali Katz’ shop offers everything from "funky, fun kitchenalia to lavender sachets to organic catnip 'kat' toys, she said.

Describing her shop, Katz said the space is aimed at “small batch baking and cooking on the North Fork."

Opened in 2018, near Premium Wine Group on Route 48 in Mattituck, Ali Katz Kitchen offers a wide array of baked goods prepared in-house, as well as a selection of artisan products, she said.

Chef Ali and her husband Chef Fritz Beckmann operate the wholesale kitchen, which is open for retail sales to the public Friday through Sunday, serving to-go coffee, tea, house-made pastries, cookies, cakes, quiches, as well as soups and prepared meals, updated weekly, she said.

“Small batch baking and cooking allows for greater attention to detail and working in small batches is good for the environment, too — generating minimum food waste,” says Katz said.

“The Hamptons Kitchen” simple recipe for compost is easily applied on the North Fork, she added.

In addition, Katz said regional sourcing is the standard at Ali Katz Kitchen — and regional cookbooks are right in line with that ethos.

“Our goal is for everything to be as fresh as possible for our customers,” says Beckmann said.

“Buying local also helps the economy where we live. One hand helps the other, and we all benefit,” Katz said.

“The Fishermen’s Wife” features nearly 100 practical recipes, as well as techniques and fish handling tips.

The book also provides answers to the most common seafood questions and firsthand information about sustainable fishing practices, stories, and photos from the boat. The eponymous “fisherman,” is Alex Villani, captain of the one-man fishing vessel Blue Moon, and Stephanie’s husband, a description of the book said.

In addition to Stephanie’s original recipes, the book includes recipes from chefs Marc Forgione, Rocco DiSpirito, Alex Raij, Carmen Quagliata, Ray Bradley, and Hiroko Shimbo.

“The Hamptons Kitchen” is divided into five chapters — Spring, Low Summer, High Summer, Fall, and Winter, so that those cooking can enjoy local ingredients at their peak. Chef Eric Ripert says it “captures the spirit of cooking and eating simply, seasonally, and locally.”

The dishes come with Stacy’s regional pairing suggestions, featuring many North Fork wines, the description said.