Hamptons News and Information on the South Fork
May 13, 2008

Latest Business Additions/Updates - January - May 2008

North Fork Weddings, Ltd Announces Affiliation with Wordhampton Public Relations
May 6, 2006

North Fork Weddings, Ltd. is extremely proud to announce its affiliation with Wordhampton, a premiere public relations firm based in East Hampton, L,I. New York. Our company has already earned branding recognition for all its web properties, including northforkweddings.com southforkweddings.com, eastendcelebrations.com and has grown in breadth and depth in the short time of three and one half years. Nevertheless, we remain committed to bringing our advertisers the best exposure possible. The launching of East End Experience, a site dedicated to Sharing the East End Experience with everyone, was a precipitate factor in our company enlisting the aid of top notch public relations firm. Steve Halweeli, founder of Wordhampton, is as impressed with us as we are with him. His company is responsible for Hampton Restaurant Week and his client list is a "who's who" for the hospitality industry and services from Manhattan to Montauk. We are looking forward to a long and beneficial relationship with Wordhampton and we are delighted that our advertisers will get further benefits from this new initiative.

East End Experience
VIP Benefits for East End Visitors
March 29, 2006

East End Experience offers Membership Cards providing VIP benefits including discounts and/or added value from the finest caterers, wineries, restaurants, hotels, B&B's, shops and services on The East End of Long Island, NY. It is the first and only Member Program for the entire East End, including The Hamptons, North Fork Wine Country, and Riverhead, The Gateway to the East End. Membership cards may be purchased on line at www.eastendexperience or at select vendor sites including, but not limited to, Wickham's Fruit Farm in Cutchogue, Martha Clara Winery in Jamesport, The East End Maritime Museum in Greenport, The Wharf Shop in Sag Harbor, and Best Western Hotel in Riverhead. An updated list of participating businesses is available on www.eastendexperience and at all vendor locations. East End Experience provides the most comprehensive listings of resources in the Hamptons and North Fork Wine Country and addresses the needs of tourists, event holders, residents, and businesses. Membership cards are of high quality plastic easily fitting in a wallet and are beautifully presented. The cards make perfect corporate gifts, private gifts for weddings, graduations, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and anniversaries and are also are elegant favors for weddings, charity galas, and corporate events.

East End Experience Gourmet
Gourmet Gifts from North Fork Wine Country and The Hamptons
March 29, 2006

East End Experience Gourmet is proud to announce its product line of gourmet gifts comprised of foods produced and grown on the East End of Long Island, New York and shipped anywhere. Wineries, farms, bakers, chocolatiers, and even the honey bees of The Hamptons and North Fork Wine Country combine to present the most exquisite tastes of the East End. Mix n Match ordering capabilities allow customers to select one of three gourmet food packages and one of three unique containers. Hampton Cooler, a retro white enamel cooler with chrome corners and handle, Vineyard Picnic, a far from traditional lined basket perfect for tail gates at wineries or parks, or Down The Hatch, a stylishly different canvas tote designed for easy carrying on boats, yachts or playgrounds represent the sand, sea and vines of the East End. Food selections include North Fork Potato Chips, Hampton Honey, jams made from champagne and raspberries, cookies, cheese straws, sea salt rubs, dessert sauces, marinades, and more. All gifts are packaged in the signature colors of East End Experience and come with artistically designed gift cards. Custom orders can be accommodated for weddings and private events and the company also allows for corporate branding through custom colors and insertion of promotional items and/or print media. These Gourmet Gifts for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, house warming, and appreciation reflect the bounty and the casual elegance of The East End. East End Experience Membership Cards may also be inserted to extend the joy. For further information, visit www.eastendexperience.com and click on East End Experience Gourmet. Products will be available as of May 1, 2006.

Cooperative Print Advertising for Clients
Southold, NY, March 31, 2005
North Fork Weddings, Ltd. is pleased to announce its offering cooperative print media advertising for its clients. Recognizing the inability of many businesses to engage in print advertising, the company is inviting interested clients to list their names in the print media utilized by North Fork Weddings, South Fork Weddings, and East End Celebrations.

The procedure is simple. When North Fork Weddings, Ltd. contracts for a print media ad, its clients will be notified and advised of the participatory fee. The ad size will increase in size commensurate with the number of businesses participating. For the most part, this fee will not exceed $50.00 and in many cases will cost even less. This removes the need for small businesses to commit themselves to advertising contracts and at the same time permits them a means of further promoting their own businesses.

Advertisements will feature the names of the web properties belonging to North Fork Weddings, Ltd., i.e., NorthForkWeddings.com, SouthForkWeddings.com EastEndCelebrations.com and EastEndExperience.com., to further enhance branding of our sites. These ads utilize our tag line "It's not just a place; it's a state of mind." Even if a business chooses not be listed, it still gains significant value since further traffic will be generated on the site it supports.

The first such cooperative ad will appear in the premier publication, East End Edibles, a magazine dedicated to the culinary experience of the East End. This publication will be popular with readers planning an event or arranging a visit to the East End.

The company is extremely proud to launch this new program on behalf of its clients . This innovation assists in our honoring our pledge to do all we can to help promote our businesses, our communities and our way of life.

Awash in Wine at a "Sensation Celebration"
The Southampton Press/May 27, 2004
By Mary Cummings

The Southampton Inn was awash in wine on Saturday night.

Billed as "A Sensation Celebration," the $55 a head event was the latest twist in wine tasting- a seven course, sit-down dinner washed down with six different wines from Galluccio Family Wineries of Cutchogue. No sniffing and spitting, no reeling from one winery's offerings to the next until all the wines blur and the bloodstream is coursing with breathalyzer-busting levels of alcohol.

Marguerite Schondebare, who was sated at Table 3, right next to Galluccio winemaker Bernard Cannac, was one person who appreciated the less frenzied format.

"This is such a nice way to do it," she said. She has tried the other kind and, after a while, "The wines all start to taste alike," she said, "and I can't remember which was which."

Mr. Cannac beamed. This was the third in the Southampton Inn's spring series of "fine wine and food pairings" and he had been working on it for months with the Inn's Executive Food and Beverage Director Steven Biscari-Amaral (who also runs Black Tie Caterers and whose paintings were on view for guests to admire as they tasted his culinary creations).

Later Mr. Biscari-Amaral would emerge from the kitchen to acknowledge the applause of his satiated public, but first it was Mr. Cannac's turn in the spotlight. A burly Frenchman with a whiskered moon face, rimless specs and a tiny pony tail, Mr. Cannac rose from his seat each time a new wine was poured and gave a brief and mercifully jargon-free description of its development and attributes. Rarely did he delve any deeper into the arcane language of oenophilia than to speak of a wine's "nose" which, as pretty much everyone knows by now, can be translated by the English word "smell."

To clinch his triumph as the most lovable man in the room, he delivered his remarks in fluid English that was phonetically French- and always with a winning combination. Ms. Schondebare, in particular, was clearly charmed and spent much of the evening in animated conversation with the winemaker. Alas, the accent then became a problem for eavesdroppers who were also frustrated by the din of the wine-fueled crowd, though probably not as frustrated as musician Walter Finley, who sang bravely on, accompanying himself on guitar.

At 7:30 sharp, the group had been herded down a long subterranean passage that terminated in the Grand Ballroom, where a few dozen round tables had each been set for eight (48 glasses). As each of the many courses was served, Mr. Canac popped up to present the potable half of the pairing, concluding each time with the same fill-in-the blank sentence: "This wine goes very well with (blank)."

The first, a Galluccio NV Avalon, Riesling plus other varietals," which Mr. Cannac called "crisp, fruity and very colorful," went well with the spicy fish -"spicy yellow fin tuna sashimi with crab and avocado," to be more specific.

This turned out to be a perfect little pink roll of tuna, a delectable bite with a wee bite of its own. It provoked a murmur of approval.

While entrees of pork (Organic pork tenderloin filed with spinach, pine nuts and golden raisins") and duck ("braised and roasted Long Island duck, Savoy cabbage and black currant jus) were good for at least eight to 10 bites, the rest of the courses were dainty morsels designed to leave room for more.

"We're keeping score," said Jay Schondebare when his glass of Galluccio Avalon was empty. "You're one for one," he said, flashing the circle of excellence at Mr. Cannac with his thumb and forefinger.

Mr. Cannac beamed before resuming an intense conversation with Marguerite Schondebare, who wanted to know why the winery was using artificial corks on some of its wines. The crowd buzz and the strains of a James Taylor song coming from the direction of Mr. Finley made his reply hard to hear, but the gist seemed to be that artificial corks are cheaper and adequate for some wines.

The next bite-size creation from Mr. Biscari-Amaral's kitchen was described on the menu as a "wild mushroom profiterole, courgettes and black truffle foam."

"It's been a while since we had black truffle foam at home," said Mr. Schondebare, deadpan.

His wife's business is weddings and is called South Fork Weddings.com or North Fork Weddings.com, whichever suits. She said she also acts as a kind of clearing house for events, hence her presence at this one. No killjoy wine connoisseurs there.

Tara Eggimann, hospitality manager and event planner for Galluccio Family Wineries, who also happened to be seated at Table 3 with her husband, Geoffrey, said there were a number of wine buffs in the crowd, but also "quite a few press people and some guests at the inn.."

"Two of my brides are here," said Ms. Schondebare of a couple of her clients who were apparently considering the Southampton Inn as a possible reception site. "I had them come tonight to taste the food."

When Mr. Cannac got to the Galluccio '01 Cru George Allair Chardonay, (served with a single "pan seared diver scallop with celery root puree and a curried mango") he warmed noticeably to his task.

"This is our highest, our reserve. It was a very nice year and it was aged 10 months in French oak," he said. "It took its time," he laughed, and "demanded a lot of tasting" but it emerged with "a very rich body. It goes very well with the scallop."

"It got a 90 in The Wine Spectator," said Ms. Eggimann, her tone a mock scold. "Bernard is too modest. He doesn't say that."

After an "intermezzo" of "watermelon, plum and sweet basil granite," it was on to the two entrees and the reds. The first two, Mr. Cannac suggested, were not at their peak. The Galluccio '00 Merlot, paired with the pork, will get "better and better in the next two years," he said. The Galluccio '01 George Allaire Meritage, poured with the duck, will be released in a couple of months, he noted, describing it as "a young wine, " that will need "a lot of time to open up."

that accompanied Mr. Biscari-Amaral's Belgian chocolate terrine with raspberries and pistachio brittle. "It goes very well with the chocolate dessert."

"Very spicy" is the way Mr. Cannac descried the Galluccio "00 Cabernet Franc that accompanied Mr. Biscari-Amaral's Belgian chocolate terrine with raspberries and pistachio brittle. "It goes very well with the chocolate dessert."

Google Search for the South Fork
Southold, NY, December 18, 2003 - SouthForkWeddings.com brings the power of Google (Mountain View, CA) to it's visitors. With the increasing number of businesses and articles listed on SouthForkWeddings.com, finding information, like a restaurant review or lodging recommendations, would eventually take more and more time to complete. To keep the search process fast and easy for visitors, a Google search is now a permanent feature on SouthForkWeddings.com. All information contained within South Fork Weddings is regularly indexed and stored on Google's database network, the largest and most trafficked in the world.

Bumble Bees Leave Footprints
Cutchogue, NY, June 18, 2003
SouthForkWeddings.com and NorthForkWeddings.com's first campaign showcasing one aspect of life on The North Fork was launched this month at Wickham's Fruit Farm. Entitled "Bumble Bees Leave Footprints", the program brings focus not only to the beauty of our resources but to their economic value as well.

Although the weather was disappointing, it did present an opportunity to witness the resilience and kindness of our many friends and supporters. When Dan and Prudence Heston invited the picnic inside their farmstand everyone pitched in. Truth be told, the ensuing scene was downright allegorical! People got buzzing and working hard towards a common goal. Soon, everyone was able to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Councilman Tom Wickham represented the Town of Southold and graciously welcomed Riverhead Town Board Members, Barbara Blass and Ed Densieski to Southold Town and to the farm. Present also were officers from local Chambers of Commerce and people representing our various industries of wine making, farming, banking and art. While guests feasted on honey roasted chicken, spare ribs and rhubarb scones prepared by Coeur des Vignes, Marguerite Schondebare presented the limited edition prints "Bumble Bees Leave Footprints" rendered by local artist, Linda Pasca.

As soon as the skies cleared, Dan revved up the tractor, participants climbed into the hay wagon, and the tour of the farm began. Prudence began with a brief history of the farm and followed through with answers for "the most frequently asked questions." Participants learned a little about farming, and a lot about Wickham's Farm in particular. The expressions of surprised awe and shared laughter clearly demonstrated the success of the tour. The day ended with a tasting of Paumonok and Castello di Borghese wines and some home-made fudge.

"Bumble Bees Leave Footprints" espouses the concept that it possible to be productive and yet leave only a footprint behind. The North Fork can do this by working to drive revenue deeper within the existing infrastructure. To fully embrace the "depth vs. breadth" model, it's important to learn about each other, promote each other, and support each other. In doing so, we learn about ourselves, promote ourselves, and support ourselves.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the limited edition prints will be donated to The Peconic Land Trust. These prints will be available for purchase not only from Wickham's Farm, but also from other businesses sharing in the commitment to the North Fork.

This first campaign highlights farms and open space. The next campaign will be launched in late September and will showcase another aspect of North Fork Life. Suggestions are welcome!

Atlantis Aquarium Expo
Riverhead, NY, June 2003
The magical setting of Atlantis Aquarium provided the perfect stage for SouthForkWeddings.com to show off some Eastern Long Island talent! Visitors were delighted by the "North Fork Seascape," a table designed and created exclusively for us by Tim Lessard of Riverhead. This lovely table with its slowly moving waters over pebbly shores and planted with native flora will serve as a centerpiece for future shows, and is available for use at private events and weddings. The artwork of Dick DeMott, Jesse Reece, Hazel Kahan and James Pritchard contributed greatly to the beauty of our display and offered another opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to local business and artists.

The magic of technology was also put on display that evening. A lap top computer continuously looped split screen presentations of NorthForkWeddings.com and of the brand new SouthForkWeddings.com. David Nguyen, web designer/developer for both sites, was on hand to answer questions and further explain how the power of the internet is being utilized to benefit businesses on the East End. Visitors were clearly impressed with not only the beauty of both sites, but also by the statistics: NFW is fast approaching the two million visitor mark!

The theme of our presentation was "Turn Each Stone Gently." Guests to our display were invited to turn over a stone and see what local business was hidden beneath it. A banker may have discovered the presence of a romantic B&B, and an innkeeper may have been reminded that a manicure/pedicure is available at a local spa. Whichever stones were selected, we all gained deeper understanding of the resources available here on the beautiful North and South Forks.

Our next scheduled show will be at the Love Lane Street Festival in Mattituck, NY on July 12. However, we will have displays at various locations and times throughout the summer and fall! Please stop by to introduce yourself and find out how we can help you to promote your business, celebrate an event, or have the perfect wedding.

Latest Business Additions/Updates - June 2003

Entrepreneur Homemaker Takes Her Community into the Digital Era
Southold, NY, November 15, 2002 - NorthForkWeddings.com, the premier web-portal for businesses on eastern Long Island NY, celebrated its debut with leaders of businesses from eastern Long Island, NY. In a time when anything "dot com" normally brings to mind thoughts of failure and scandal, NorthForkWeddings.com and SouthForkWeddings.com seek to unite a community and break the exclusivity label of eastern Long Island through the Internet.

In 1999, Marguerite Schondebare, a life-long resident of Southold, NY, opened her home as a Bed and Breakfast to the public. In the course of operating "Always In," she hosted many guests who sought information for weddings. Having been involved with all facets of community life, Marguerite had privileged information -- knowledge that only someone who has lived in her community for so long would have. Hence, she created "North Fork Weddings and South Fork Weddings (Hampton Weddings) " to offer an "Insider's Advice" to anyone seeking information about businesses on eastern Long Island.

In the Fall of 2002, NorthForkWeddings.com made its inaugural debut at Southold's wharf house with wine industry leaders in attendance. According to one guest, "the success of South Fork Weddings (Hampton Weddings) is due to (Marguerite's) affable nature and ability to win people over. She's amazing. God bless her! Everything Marguerite does is inspired by good and honest intent."

Since September 2002, NorthForkWeddings.com has established a commanding presence on the Internet with top 10 listings on every major search engine and Internet directory. With financial backing by her husband, James Schondebare, Marguerite has been able to build a talented team. Her staff members include Salavatore Tirabassi, Kimberly Burton Allen and David H. Nguyen.

Catering Arrangements at the Wharf House in Southold, NY

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