Business & Tech

Keith Luce Purchases North Fork Oyster Company

Renowned chef is cooking up a new North Fork culinary destination in Greenport's Stirlng Square.

Award-winning chef Keith Luce embarked on a new culinary journey Saturday with an announcement of the purchase of the North Fork Oyster Company in Greenport.

NoFo Hospitality Holding LLC, a new company whose majority shareholder is James Beard award-winning and former White House Chef Luce, announced not only the purchase of the North Fork Oyster Company -- but the creation of a new dining destination in Greenport.

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Luce and his team are poised to transform the historic Stirling Square, enhancing venues and introducing a casual service cafe that will offer beverages, flatbreads from a wood-buring stove housed in a production kitchen across the square, savory and sweet goods, snacks, gelato and sandwiches prepared from artisan products created by Luce, including his new signature cured meats and sausages.

“It’s long been a dream of mine to create a unique North Fork dining destination for visitors and locals alike – one that brings together the best of the food, drink and produce that the area has to offer,” Luce said. “We’re thrilled to be able to bring this to life in Stirling Square – a charming diamond-in-the-rough in the heart of Greenport.”

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Also slated to open at Stirling Square in the coming months is an on-site tasting room, featuring Luce's favorite kitchen tools and apparel, as well as packaged and canned goods from his, as well as neighboring, farms, all available for purchase.

The tasting room will serve as a one-stop destination for individuals to sample New York-produced beer, wine and spirits, shop for provisions, participate in cooking or food and beverage pairing classes, and enjoy small acoustic musical performances.

The North Fork Hospitality Holding LLC is a company led by Luce, his wife Marta, Scott and Veronica Hunzinger, and Jason and Kara Graves; the team's collective experience includes expertise in finance, marketing and business development.

Their mission is to augment the local North Fork dining experience and to continue fostering the growth of Greenport as a top seaside destination, with a focus on hospitality, local ingredients and unique twists on familiar regional dishes and spaces.

Stirling Square's new offerings are expected to be unveiled in May, 2013. The North Fork Oyster Company will remain open during the transition.

In recent weeks, Luce also realized his Kickstarter fundraising goal for a new meat curing house on Love Lane in Mattituck.

The former executive owner at the Jedediah Hawkins Inn/Luce and Hawkins Restaurant in Jamesport, Luce left in November and is no longer involved with the establishment.


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