Tasty Dish Across The Hamptons And Beyond

Originally Posted: July 30, 2008

Jobs Lane in Southampton seems to be getting more and more fabulous with each passing week. First we had the inimitable Jackie Rogers open her first store in Southampton in 30 years - which by the way is doing marvelously. One only has to count the number of be-ruffled chair ladies at the year's best galas. The jeweler Jill Lynn opened her bright sparkly boutique filled with her precious gemstone creations. Erin Snow followed with her nifty tennis and sport togs. Then Earnest Sewn, with their barn-like setting to showcase their famed jeans, and now Paris-based Vicomte Arthur with brilliantly colored Polo shirts for him and her manufactured from a cotton from Madras, one of the toughest and most flexible in the world, and one of the most chic collection of belts, scarves and accessories. Welcome, indeed!

Kelly Killoren Bensimon joins Romona Singer and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps as the newest housewife on the hit Bravo show. Photo by Rob Rich

Not so welcome are the daily updates on one of the East End's most acrimonious splits. It seems as if we are more likely to see peace in Iraq before there's détente between Ron Perelman and Patricia Duff. The Revlon mogul has rebuffed his brainy blond ex's attempts to settle their clash over physical custody of their daughter, Caleigh. And Perelman, who has primary custody, isn't interested in her suggestion they go into therapy together, it was revealed yesterday. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Rosalyn Richter said she wants to interview Caleigh before deciding how to proceed, but told both parents, "How sorry I am to see what should be a de-escalating situation escalating."

Speaking of Ron, did you wonder, as I did, why John McCain had a fundraiser at Perelman's Creeks estate in East Hampton last week, even though Ron is a major supporter of Barack Obama? Turns out, Perelman loaned his home to fulfill the wishes of the cosmetic mogul's closest business adviser and friend of 40 years, McCain backer Howard Gittis, who died last September. Gittis promised McCain he would hold an event in the Hamptons for the Arizona senator if he won the GOP nomination, but didn't live to honor the commitment. Perelman's name was not even on the fund-raising invitation. The event was co-hosted by Barry Schwartz, a vice chairman of Perelman's holding company MacAndrews & Forbes, and real estate mogul William Mack. Perelman earlier supported Hillary Clinton and held a fund-raiser for her last summer. Ron's spokespeople are saying that their boss would be delighted to hold a fundraiser for Obama. Are you listening Barack?

Watch for sparks when supermodel-turned-designer Kelly Killoren Bensimon
joins "The Real Housewives of New York City" next season. Kelly will certainly be a welcome addition to the show - at least she really does something besides getting dressed for charity galas and sniping at her girlfriends. And I hear that the gals are not too happy. An insider says, "Several of the housewives are nervous. She's too blond and beautiful and energetic. They don't want to be outdone."

Just thought you should know that a federal appeals court on Monday tossed a $550,000 indecency fine against CBS Corp. for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show that ended with Janet Jackson's breast-baring "wardrobe malfunction." The three-judge panel of the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Federal Communications Commission "acted arbitrarily and capriciously" in issuing the fine for the fleeting image of nudity.

Denise Rich's yacht, the Lady Joy, docked in St. Tropez for a huge bash. Photo by Wire image

The 90 million people watching the Super Bowl, many of them children, heard Justin Timberlake sing, "Gonna have you naked by the end of this song," as he reached for Jackson's bustier and did he ever! The court found that the FCC deviated from its nearly 30-year practice of fining indecent broadcast programming only when it was so "pervasive as to amount to 'shock treatment' for the audience." Well call me a prude but if that (as in seeing Jackson's nipple ring in living color on the big screen TV at a party with friends) wasn't a shocking event, I don't know what is.

George Michael, now on the comeback trail, pulled a celeb studded crowd to his latest gig including Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Jessica Simpson, Rosie O'Donnell, Neil Patrick Harris, Alan Cumming and Ed Westwick of "Gossip Girl." George is touring to celebrate his 25th year in show biz (Wham! started in 1983) and his two greatest hits C.D.s. Undeniably he still has a strong following. But he's also had lots of scandals recently, mostly to do with sex and drugs in the U.K. The big question now is whether he'll be able to take this touring success and turn it into a recording career again despite the tabloid stories that endlessly resuscitate the same old tired stories. Enough! Let him make music and shake his money maker that led to his rise to fame back in the 1980s.

The Weinstein Company is about to release Woody Allen's first film in quite a while, called "Vicky Christina Barcelona." But they've first got two smaller gems coming: "Boy A" starring Andrew Garfield, and "Fanboys." The latter was screened for the first time in San Diego at Comic-Con. There's a ton of buzz, because the fans of "Fanboys" put pressure on the studio to get the film they wanted.

Lindsay Lohan's got a new movie in the works, "Labor Pains". Inside buzz says producer Rick Schwartz found Lindsay a dream to work with, and he's looking for more projects they can do together. This on top of reports that Lindsay is happily in some kind of relationship with Samantha Ronson, the DJ daughter of Mick Jones (from Foreigner) and Ann Dexter Jones. Everyone's happy, including Lindsay's mom, Dina Lohan, and Samantha's twin sister, Charlotte Ronson. It's all just too, too much. In the flick, LL plays a young woman who pretends to be pregnant in order to avoid being fired from her job. When that gets her a ton of special treatment by everyone involved in her life, she tries to keep up the lie for nine months.

Ivana Trump aboard the "Lady Joy" in St. Tropez. Photo by Wire Image

Last week I told you about Denise Rich and her plans for a Moulin Rouge themed party on her yacht in St. Tropez. Sadly, all did not turn out so well. At the fete Thursday night Ivana Trump fell off a banquette onto her head. "There was blood every where, and she was carried off the boat by her husband Rossano Rubicondi into an ambulance," said a witness. Ivana was sitting with Denise's daughter, Daniella, jeweler Laurence Graff, and real estate developer Keith Rubenstein and his beautiful art-collecting wife, Inga. The headache Ivana had was surely nothing compared to that of Denise when her former husband Marc Rich, the famously reclusive ex-fugitive financier, emerged from the shadows this week to party on Ivana's little boat. The billionaire fled the United States in 1983 after being indicted for tax evasion and illegal oil deals with Iran. With help from his politically connected ex, Denise, he secured a pardon in 2001 from Bill Clinton in the twilight of his presidency, sparking a major scandal. Rich, who is No. 242 on Forbes' list of the 400 wealthiest Americans with a net worth of $1.5 billion, talked business with Naomi Campbell's date during the bash. Other guests at the opulent fete included Joan Collins, Gabrielle Reece, Star Jone, and adventurer Laird Hamilton.

Closer to home, Southampton's newest resident who is well on her way to the Forbes billionaire list, is getting into philanthropy big time. In the latest expansion of her culinary empire, celebrity chef Rachael Ray has launched a charity-driven line of dog foods based on recipes she has created for her pit bull, Isaboo. Rach, said all of her proceeds from sales of Rachael Ray Nutrish pet foods will go to Rachael's Rescue, which she founded to help at-risk animals. The outspoken dog lover regularly features recipes for pet food in her magazine Everyday with Rachael Ray.

Carson Kressley is sure proving there is life after "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". I don't know how he does it - perhaps he has a twin we don't know about - but he seems to be everywhere. In addition to hosting, "How to Look Good Naked," he just wrapped up his emcee chores for the True Colors Tour with Cyndi Lauper and the B-52s and is now ready for his own talk show. In a rare move for a cable network, Lifetime is looking to launch a daytime talk show, handing out a pilot order for a talker hosted by Carson. It is part of an effort by the female-centered cable net to add original programming during the day, when it currently airs mostly off-net sitcoms.

The untitled as of yet show, intended to air Monday-Friday, will feature the "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" alum in both a studio and the field interviewing real people and offering viewers insight into fashion and other topics. If you want to get some advice directly from the fashion guru then try to catch up with him at the On the Bay Lawn Party August 16 to benefit LIGALY, Long Island Gay & Lesbian Youth. He is an Honorary Committee member along with folks like Congressman Tim Bishop, NYS Assembly Patricia Eddington, Congressman Steve Israel, Marc Levine, Cliff Love, Deanna Annis, Duke Morell, Arne Besser, Robert Marc, Mario Bosquez, Lizz Salaway, Frederico Azevedo, and Edward Wilkerson. Maybe he could advise you on some fabulous auction goodies from the likes of Prada, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren.

Italian designer Roberto Cavalli is following former Starroom owner Charles Ferri to Dubai. Charles is currently developing a hot version of his old Wainscott hotspot in the ultra luxe city. Now, Roberto is opening his latest club in the metropolis. This new Dubai party pad follows on his debut restaurant and dance club in Milan's Parco Sempione, where everyone from Heather Graham and Lucy Liu to singer Kellise and footballer Sol Campbell hang.

Sad to report that my pals are all abuzz about the breakup of romance novel cover girl Cindy Guyer and her husband Southampton builder Andrew Catapano. Seems Andy's indictment for fraud by the Feds has put a strain on their marriage too big for the couple to handle.

On a more positive swing, it was wedding bells for Marc Jacobs. The designer and his hot Brazilian love, Lorenzo Martone, were married in a civil solidarity pact on Sunday in France. "He's totally excited," said an insider. "He said he's head-over-heels in love with Lorenzo. His life is coming together now." Civil solidarity pacts were instituted in France in 1999, but they are not legally binding. But, no honeymoon for Marc and Lorenzo yet - he's readying his show for New York Fashion Week in September.

Congrats to Kyle MacLachlan of "Desperate Housewives" and uber publicist Desiree Gruber, who helped develop "Project Runway," on the birth of a son, Callum. He arrived Friday weighing in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces.

Here's a real 'don't miss' theatrical event, four-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh, a fave of Bay Street and Guild Hall audiences, will star in the world premiere of Dan Gordon's powerful new play, "Irena's Vow," directed by Michael Parva. Featuring a cast of 10 and starring the incomparable Tovah, "Irena's Vow" is the riveting, life affirming story about one of the most courageous and unsung heroines of World War II. During the German occupation of Poland, Irena Gut Opdyke, a Polish Catholic, was forced to work as head housekeeper for a very prominent German major. Over a two-year period of service, Irena would risk her own life in order to protect the lives of 12 Jewish refugees whom she secretly took under her care. "Irena's Vow" is the extraordinary true story of one woman's choice and the 12 lives that would ultimately be saved - or lost - by her decision. The play marks Tovah's return to the New York stage following her triumphant performance in "Golda's Balcony."

Rachel Ray rings the bell at the NYSE. Photo by Wire Image

It's been a banner week for celebrity watching with the restaurants, shops and lanes teeming with boldfaced names everywhere you turned…

Kelly Killoren Bensimon and Lucy Sykes hosted a private shopping event at the Mulberry Store in East Hampton.

Zachary Chodorow, the son of restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow is following in his dad's footsteps, with slightly lower prices. The recent Wharton grad, is now selling $20 Kobe frankfurters from a hot-dog cart outside the Lily Pond nightclub in East Hampton from 12 midnight to 4 a.m. They come with such specialty condiments as spicy Asian ketchup and Vuzu-ade drinks. The cart and the nightspot are next door to his father's Kobe Club. Zachary said that the franks were a hot item Saturday night and that he wants to expand to other late-night locations.

Paul McCartney with new lady Nancy Shevell and her sister quaffed margaritas at the bar at Nick & Toni's in East Hampton. Sirio Maccioni of Le Cirque fame, on the East End for the James Beard Chefs & Champagne event, did a guest stint as maitre d' and seated the entire house of appreciative customers at Savanna's in Southampton the night before. Madonna was spotted wearing a Yankee cap at Nello Summertimes in Southampton where she dined with six girlfriends, drawing giggles from Petra Nemcova at a table behind her.

Oscar winner Jodie Foster is giving all the local dining spots a turn. She had dinner with her two sons Charles and Christopher and a female friend Tuesday night at Indian Wells Tavern. On their way out they stopped to pet the official restaurant mascots lying by the bench in front of the restaurant, Minnie, a yellow lab puppy, and Nina, a German shepherd. On Saturday, she and some friends dined on fresh pasta at Almoncello. Also at Almoncello, John Leguizamo was spotted dining with his wife and another couple feasting on pasta and salads.

Jerry O'Connell and wife Rebecca Romijn, who are expecting twins, enjoyed a romantic meal at the Surf Lodge in Montauk. Lauren Bacall was seen devouring pub grub at Nichols in East Hampton.

Almond co-owner Eric Lemonides' surprise 40th birthday brought out well wishers designer Arnold Scaasi and Joan Rivers. Paul McCartney and Billy Joel had a movie date at the East Hampton movie theater to catch "The Dark Knight." Kelly Rutherford of "Gossip Girl," her husband, and son dined at Matto on Saturday night. They sampled pizza, pasta, salad and chicken Parmigiana.

As usual, Nick & Toni's still leads in the Celeb Roll Call. This week Alec Baldwin dined solo while browsing some magazines. On Wednesday night, Sarah Jessica Parker sat outside with friends. She just missed "Sex in the City" writer Darren Star who celebrated his birthday with two friends. Saturday night, Howard Stern and fiancee Beth Ostrosky came in for a quick meal outside dining on salads and fish. Later in the evening Wolfgang Puck arrived with a group of well fed foodies after being honored at the James Beard Foundation Chefs & Champagne event and snacked on cured meats, fresh ricotta, and Tuscan toast paired with red wine. Ethan Hawke and girlfriend Ryan Shawhughes popped in for early dinner on Sunday night with their new born baby Clementine.