Anne Burrell's Very New York Summer
Chicken parm at Citi Field, hosting duties in the Hamptons, and relaxing in Brooklyn are all on this chef's agenda
Anne Burrell is enjoying a New York summer trifecta.
The celebrity chef and self-professed Mets fan has fulfilled a lifelong baseball dream by opening Anne Burrell’s Italian Eats at Citi Field.
Burrell is also hosting Dan’s Chefs of the Hamptons on Thursday, July 18. This annual summer soiree offers guests the opportunity to taste dishes from the top chefs in the Hamptons in one evening while enjoying magnificent views overlooking Three Mile Harbor.
When there’s downtime, Burrell relaxes at her apartment in Brooklyn, which she shares with her husband, Stuart Claxton. The Caroll Gardens loft — complete with a tricked-out chef’s kitchen and sprawling outdoor patio — was recently featured in Page Six.
Broken Palate caught up with the chef to talk about everything from baseball to Brooklyn to summer days by the shore.
Broken Palate: I read the Page Six feature on your Caroll Gardens loft and am obsessed with the decor of your loft. It feels so personal.
Anne Burrell: I wanted to create a place of warmth, color, and joy. A place where you can come in and feel comfortable and happy. I filled the space with things that I have collected throughout my life that bring me joy. I think about the organizing guru, Marie Kondo. She asks, “Does this bring you joy?” Yes — these items bring me joy and good memories. I’ve had a kooky life and I like to think I’m a quirky person and my apartment is a reflection of that.
I feel like the objects I’ve curated are like a history of my life. People who are minimalist are slightly confusing to me. I often think to myself, Where’s your stuff? Where’s your history?
I also love my Brooklyn neighborhood. It still feels a little old school. I love walking up and down the street.
BP: You’re not from the city, but you are from New York and you’ve embraced the city.
AB: I am from a little town in Upstate New York called Cazenovia. It’s a town of like 4,000 people. Even when I was a little kid, when I was 10, I knew I would move to New York City. I didn’t make it here until I was 28, but I finally made it.
I do embrace being a New Yorker. I ride the subway. I do my shopping walking up and down Court Street. I see these two women all the time — they’re a mother and daughter and they say to me, “There’s the cook lady." That’s a real New York moment.
BP: And you’re having one big New York Summer
AB: Yes — I feel like I’m hitting all of New York’s summer high points. I love New York City in the summer. I still love a street fair — I love to walk down the middle of them, even if they’re kind of all the same.
I love New York City sports, so to be involved with Citi Field and have Anne Burrell’s Italian Eats out there is super exciting and fun.
BP: Do you go to the ballpark often?
AB: I love to go to Mets games. Baseball always feels historical to me and I truly love history.
I love to watch a few innings and then stop and get a chicken parm. And it’s a family affair. My stepson is home from college for the summer and he’s working at the stand. He’s slinging chicken parm and he’s having a great time doing it. He’s meeting cool people and making a few dollars.
BP: What does Anne Burrell’s Italian Eats serve?
AB: I just wanted to do the greatest hits. The classics. It’s all about grabbing a chicken parm and enjoying the game.
BP: You’re also hosting Dan’s Chefs of the Hamptons
AB: I’m super looking forward to the event on Thursday night. There’s going to be lots of amazing chefs. It’s a celebration of summertime and it highlights what the chefs out in the Hamptons have to offer — tons of delicious food and lots of fun.
BP: Last summer we spoke, and you said you loved watermelon. What are you eating this summer?
AB: It’s so funny — I just bought a huge watermelon the other day. When my husband and I are feeling a little peckish, we grab a couple of chunks. I also love watermelon juice. We press and strain the juice and mix it with chia seeds and lime juice. We drink it in the morning and it’s totally hydrating. Watermeon is so good.
My husband and I are also making chicken paillard with big salads and pasta with vegetables.
I’ve also been on a roasted chicken kick. I roast a chicken with potatoes so we can have leftover chicken, which has been super yummy. It’s the summer of easy food.
Purchase tickets for Dan’s Chefs of the Hamptons here.