Field day
GREG KESSLER • Springs Fireplace
CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine
GREG KESSLER • co-founder • Springs Fireplace
Neighborhood you live in: Northwest Woods, East Hampton
It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
While most people are winding down from their week, I still have a lot to do. I’m making sure our hot sauce and condiment orders for the week have shipped, and tracking sales against our plan to make sure Springs Fireplace is meeting its goals. Most importantly, I’m coordinating with our sales people and prepping for our two weekend farmers markets: Saturdays at Ashawagh Hall in Springs, East Hampton, and Sundays behind the Natural History Museum on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.
Any restaurant plans?
The weekends are busy but when Lauren (my wife and co-founder) and I can, we love getting on the ferry and going to Shelter Island. It's a physical disconnect, and you literally get to leave it all behind. Once on the island, we’ll drive to Crescent Beach for a little walk then on to Leon 1909. The burger is so good, but everything that comes off that fire is a win. The hearth may steal the show, but the sides are tops as well. It is real slow food, which I can appreciate — good things take time.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I love jumping into the ocean after work for a little reset and just shutting off for a few minutes. Culture-wise, Lauren and I enjoy walking around the sculpture garden at LongHouse Reserve, or along the backside of a bay when no one’s around. Dale Chihuly and skipping stones can do great things for the soul.
Any weekend getaways?
We just did an early spring trip upstate to Troutbeck in Amenia, which was wonderful. The terrain is so different from East Hampton, so we did some hiking and visited a few other farms. Lauren loves cheese so getting to see some of the Hudson Valley dairy farms, like Ronnybrook and Chaseholm Farm (and eating their Nimbus!) were a treat. We’re also big fans of Arethusa over in Litchfield, CT.
What was your last great vacation?
We went to Burgundy in October — it was such a beautiful trip. The grape harvest was happening, and we stayed at these great hotels by Relais & Chateaux — Château Sainte Sabine near Chablis and Hostellerie de Levernois in Beaune. We drove through all the little towns learning about the family plots and vines, and literally stopped winemakers in the street, smiling wide with grape juice smiles. We ended up spending a long afternoon at the vineyard Château de Pommard, which led us to an incredible lunch at Le Soufflot in Meursault the following day.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I found an antique toast caddy on Instagram a few weeks back after looking for months in secondhand shops. They’re such relics, and not so easy to find, but make you smile when they’re all polished and the bread’s lined up and crisp. Bring back the toast caddy!
What product or service do you always recommend?
Composition notebooks. I usually get the classic wide ruled Caliber brand. I use them religiously. I’m a very visual person, so if it's not physically transcribed, it may disappear or get lost and I’ll never remember to get it done. So: I officially endorse pens and paper.