Vanessa Gordon is the CEO & Publisher of East End Taste and Founder of the Hamptons Interactive Brunch. She is as passionate about the hidden gems of Long Island as she is about great food and beverage.
After all, what could be better than a day at the beach, a trip to local wineries, AND unique new tastes?
Food and travel go together, like summer and flip-flops! But Vanessa also shares why the Hamptons are a great year-round destination for Bleisure Living.
Here’s what she shared with us:
Your platform combines food and travel. How are they connected?
“Food and travel are integral to cultural immersion while offering a unique lens through which people can connect with and understand different societies. For instance, a region’s local cuisine provides a direct view into the history and traditions of an area, and a great way to go deeper with this exploration is to meet the local farmers, fishermen, restaurateurs, and chefs. And, you can make the experience even more rewarding by sharing a meal or cooking experience with these individuals.
My platform encourages an open-minded approach to different cultures while promoting adaptability, and the opportunity to enhance one’s ability to appreciate and understand global diversity. In summary, the connection between food and travel lies in a traveler’s ability to bridge cultures, create shared experiences, and offer a sensory exploration of the world. Both are essential components of a holistic and enriching travel experience.”
How did you first get started in this arena? How has the world changed during that time?
“I first got started in mid-2016 while my daughter was still a toddler and my son was not even born yet. I come from a background in Education and taught English as a Second Language in both private and public schools, and taught fitness classes after school and on the weekends to supplement my teacher’s salary. I was also freelance writing at the time for some local and NYC-based publications and started East End Taste originally as a hobby. I was looking for my own creative outlet if you will to write about my own experiences exploring the local businesses, festivals, and things to do on the eastern end of Long Island.
Due to readership demand and overall growth of the business, East End Taste has expanded outside of the East End of Long Island and now covers destinations around the world that offer a relaxed yet refined experience with sustainable practices at the forefront whenever possible.
The world has changed significantly in the last seven years. The pandemic has shifted the mindset of travel and drawn more attention to sustainable travel, tourism’s impact on local communities, increased open-air adventures, and slow travel. In addition, information is becoming ever-more at our fingertips, and tasks that were once so mundane and time-consuming, can now be done at the drop of a hat (advances in AI come to mind right away). With respect to all of these changes, it is a lot to absorb, but I take everything in small steps.”
We see a lot about the Hamptons on reality TV, but those of us who have been there know that it’s not all mansions and drama. What are your favorite “insider” tips about the Hamptons?
“There is so much to say here and I couldn’t agree more! I would often laugh out loud to see how the Hamptons are portrayed on TV, but recently have taken a step back and shake my head, realizing the grand perception of this beautiful region that is so fabricated and ‘staged’ in many respects for reality TV. What people see on TV is such a minute percentage of what the Hamptons encompasses only during the summer season.
There’s indeed more to this beautiful region on Long Island. I always recommend exploring the Hamptons during the off-season. My favorite times of the year to visit include mid-May, September, and during the holiday season. Visit regions and towns in the Hamptons like Sag Harbor and Noyac or travel a little bit further west to Quogue and Westhampton Beach. Pop inside some of the locally owned shops (favorites include Hildreth’s in Southampton and the Wharf Shop in Sag Harbor) and visit some of the restaurants that have been around for ages (The 1770 House and Il Capuccino Ristorante), and explore some of the local sites. Some of my favorites include spotting the Windmills in East Hampton, Water Mill, and Sag Harbor; the Water Mill Museum, and Pollock Krasner House. Lastly, an iconic site not to miss can be found on the way to the Hamptons from Riverhead: The Big Duck in Flanders, which dates back to the 1930s. Pop in and pick up a fun gift and take your photo outside the shop!
For parking, I always recommend the long-term parking lots in each town and do a rideshare or bike to the beaches. It is not worth risking the parking time allotments and each town is very strict about adhering to those rules. Lastly, I recommend taking the train to Ronkonkoma and renting a car from there as the city prices for renting vehicles are much higher. If you are looking for a hotel stay, Hampton Bays and Riverhead (the town that acts as the gateway to the Hamptons and North Fork) offer the most reasonable prices. If you are also looking to explore Westhampton and the nearby Great South Bay, the town of Brookhaven also has some reasonably priced hotels, even during the summer/high season.”
What have been some of your favorite places to explore and why?
“I love to explore the outdoors across the Hamptons, particularly the Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge which beautifully represents the diversity of the region’s wildlife and natural habitats. I also love to visit the secluded beaches like Gerard Drive Park Beach in Springs and go kayaking, and Haven’s Beach in Sag Harbor for a laidback family outing. The Duck Pond off of David’s Lane in East Hampton is also very special; I have been taking my children there ever since they were very little.”
How do you fund your lifestyle? What’s next for you?
“In the beginning, it was funded from my jobs tutoring and teaching classes to help get the business off the ground. This was until I was able to retain a stable income for the business through advertising and sponsorship revenue in 2018. I only started paying myself a salary in 2021, until then every amount earned was invested directly back into the business.
I am proud to say that the business doubled its gross income this year. With this successful milestone, I am looking to also put on an event in NYC (in addition to the Brunch event I host every summer in the Hamptons), and am aiming for some more projects and initiatives for 2024. I am very excited about these upcoming ventures and projects!”
And we can’t wrap up without confiding that we know from first-hand experience that the Hamptons can be a great place to work AND play.
I (Nancy) have been going out there since I was a kid and I’ve written some of my books while in East Hampton and have made some amazing game-changing business connections on the East End.
