Carissa’s Is Proof That Change Isn’t Always Bad

From Jamie’s Desk:

It’s no secret that I love LA, but when it comes to summer road trips, the East Coast has us beat. Malibu, Montecito, and Ojai are all great. But they have nothing on the Hudson Valley, the Hamptons, or New England.

I was lucky enough to spend weekends and summers in the Hamptons growing up—back when you could sneak into the movie theater, grab a Villa Combo on Main Street, and pick up the latest Duran Duran album at Long Island Sound. My production company, Hunting Lane, is even named after the street our house is on.

Some of those spots are still standing (miraculously), but the Hamptons today is very different from when I was growing up. Not necessarily worse—Carissa’s is proof that change isn’t always bad—but when East Hampton starts to resemble Rodeo Drive with better landscaping, it makes you nostalgic for the old-school charm. Don’t get me started on The Palm renovation. 

That said, my love for the East End hasn’t disappeared—it’s just evolved. I’ll always have a soft spot for Sag Harbor, but one of the best parts of living in New York is that a great road trip is never more than a few hours away. So if you’re in the city this summer, make the most of it. Don’t just default to what’s familiar. Hamptons regulars—I’m looking at you. Try something new. Spend a weekend in Newport, Nantucket, or Rhinebeck. Even better, go in the fall. There’s nothing like a trip to Storm King and a night in the Hudson Valley when the leaves are changing.

Scroll down for a few places that are must-stops along the way, and click here for my Hamptons list available to paying members.

Discussed in this issue: Where to eat in Rhode Island, Hudson and the Hamptons. Fareed Zakaria’s take on Trump and Israel. Our first Meet The Candidates guest: MI Senate Candidate Mallory McMorrow.

Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]

I’m excited to share the first installment of my new series, Meet the Candidates, happening Tuesday, July 29 at 12 PT / 3 ET. I’ll be joined by Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow for what’s sure to be a timely and energizing conversation. Please be sure to not the change in date and time.

This series is open to all: free and paid members. Please note only members can submit questions in advance. You can register here.

For Lunch With Jamie members: mark your calendars for Thursday, August 7 at 1 PT / 4 ET. I’ll be sitting down with Kara Swisher. You won’t want to miss it.

📍Hudson Valley, NY: Stissing House (101 miles from NYC)

Cuisine: American

Crew: Adam Saper, Eater, Infatuation, Kate Burr, Martha Patricof

Good For: Date Night, Small Groups, Large Groups

Pro Tip: They are hosting a pie contest this November!

What to Order: Be sure to order the snacks. The house-made malt vinegar potato chips are not to be missed.

Notes: “In the eastern part of the Hudson Valley, Pine Plains is the location of one of the region’s best restaurants: Stissing House. Clare de Boer, one of the founding partners of King in Manhattan, restored and re-opened Stissing House after it had closed in 2021. The inn dates from the 18th century, and the building has now been lovingly restored to evoke its history while also maintaining an appealing, design-forward atmosphere. These qualities are enough to make Stissing House worthy of a visit, but the menu and quality of the dishes are what will bring diners back regularly. Every dish is well-considered, and all is consistently delicious. For me, it makes the list of my top 5 restaurants in the Hudson River Valley.” - Martha Patricof

📍Narragansett, RI: Matunuck Oyster Bar (168 miles from NYC)

Cuisine: Seafood

Crew: Bon Appetit, Conde Nast Traveler, Goop, Michaela Sullivan, The New York Times, Time Out

Good For: Large Groups, Small Groups, Date Night

Pro Tip: They get busy in the summer, so be sure to put your name down and take a walk to the beach as you wait. They also offer oyster farm tours, which is a really cool experience if you're interested in learning more about the source of our food.

What to Order: Oysters (duh), Lobster Roll, NE Clam Chowder, House-Made Stuffie, Oyster Po Boy, Pt. Judith Calamari

Notes: “Right before the summer season kicked off, I got the tragic news that Matunuck Oyster Bar burned down. For a native Rhode Islander, this was like a kick in the face. Luckily, they're still open for business this summer, serving their classic New England seafood al fresco while they rebuild. Whenever I head home, this is one of my first stops. The eponymous oysters never disappoint (especially the bourbon ones), and the NE style lobster roll is buttery, flavorful, and BIG. If you're in Rhode Island, I highly recommend this Narragansett spot. Not only is the food delicious, but the quaint beach town of Matunuck will make you fall in love.” - Michaela Sullivan

📍Sag Harbor, Amagansett and East Hampton, NY: Carissa’s the Bakery (101 miles from NYC)

Cuisine: Bakery

Crew: Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Eater, Eli Meyer, Goop, Infatuation, James Ponsoldt, Jamie Patricof, Joseph Varet, Kate Burr, Kristina O’Neill, Martha Patricof, Max Winkler

Good For: Solo, Small Group, Large Group, Kids

Pro Tip: If you’re lucky enough to visit in August, don’t miss the seasonal BLT special.

What to Order: For breakfast, head to their location on Route 27 and order the breakfast tacos or the bacon, egg, and cheese on their house sourdough—it’s hard to go wrong. Then return for lunch and order the jambon beurre, the lobster salad, or the perfectly crisp smashed potatoes.

Notes: “Carissa’s The Bakery is a true gem—an essential stop while in the Hamptons. Originally celebrated for its exceptional breads and croissants (still the best in the Hamptons), Carissa’s has grown into so much more. The food menu is consistently outstanding, and I recommend trying as much of it as possible. What sets Carissa’s apart is that it’s one of the rare places in the Hamptons where the food and service rise above the scene. Yes, the lines can be long—but they’re more than worth the wait.” - Adam Saper

📍 Marie Eiffel’s Shelter Island Café and Market (106.2 miles from NYC)

Cuisine: Café

Crew: Adam Saper, Kristina O’Neill

Good For: Solo, Small Group, Large Group, Kids

Pro Tip: Stock up from the freezer section, and while you’re at it, grab some of her excellent thin-crust pizzas.

What to Order: My family are devoted fans of the Parisian sandwich: ham, cheese, and butter (I like mine with cornichons) on that perfect bread.

Notes: “Marie Eiffel’s Shelter Island Café and Market is a must-stop for anyone who cares about food. Her legendary baguettes—crusty, chewy, and straight out of Paris—are worth the trip alone. The soups, all made in-house, are deeply flavorful. The homemade tortilla chips are insane, the guacamole is fresh and zippy, and the chocolate pudding tastes like it came straight from my Swiss grandmother’s kitchen. Our party trick? Bring a supersized bowl of it to any sunset picnic.” - Kristina O’Neill

Members and paying subscribers can access our Hamptons list here.

This week on Lunch With Jamie, I had the privilege of chatting with Fareed Zakaria. If you know me, you know GPS is my can’t miss Sunday viewing.

We kicked things off with his go-to Indian spot (Saravanaa Bhavan), then dove into the big stuff: Has Israel gone too far? Is Israel committing a genocide? What are Trump’s chances at winning a Nobel Peace Prize? What’s America’s role in the new world order?

You can watch the full conversation on Youtube, or as a podcast on Apple, Spotify and Amazon.

Members can also join our WhatsApp group where we discuss current events, recommendations, action plans, and vote on future guests and topics of conversation on Lunch With Jamie.

🎥 The Billy Joel Documentary on HBO directed by Jamie’s List subscriber, Susan Lacy

🎬 Head to the theatre this weekend to see Eddington written and directed by Ari Aster and Guns and Moses starring Mark Feuerstein, both Jamie’s List members.

📖 The Age of Revolutions written by our most recent Lunch With Jamie guest, Fareed Zakaria

⚽️ Watch the Lionesses go for back to back championships this Sunday against Spain. Special shout out to Bradley Rains, agent to England’s keeper, Hannah Hampton.

🎂 Happy Birthday to Jamie’s List crew members, David Nathanson and Nina Patricof

Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Blake Lively, Bobby Kim, Brian McGinn, Chad Colby, Chad Gutstein, Condé Nast Traveler, David Geffen, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Evan Funke, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Goop, Kristina O’Neill, Gwyneth Paltrow, Iman Dakhil, Infatuation, James Beard Award, Jason Spivak, Jerry Greenberg, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jessica Alba, Joe Varet, Jon Buscemi, Jon Alagem, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, The LA Times, Lawrence Longo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Marc Rose, Marc Mezvinsky, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Michael Kives, Michelin Guide, Nicole Richie, Neal Moritz, The NY Times, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Rosenthal, Phill Ettinger, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Sarah Meyer, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.

Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof, Michaela Sullivan and Lauren Malanga