This week in Huntington newsletter: Melville man's traveling dinner club sets its sights on village

Hi, friends. Do you feel that? Temperatures over 40 degrees! The chance to dine outdoors in town is just around the corner.

It reminds me that Huntington is known as an epicenter of Long Island dining, with our abundance of restaurants and varied cuisines. The Dead Chefs Society, cofounded by a resident of our town, will soon bring its traveling dinner club to one of the village's newest dining destinations, Urubamba Pisco Bar.

The club travels across the Island, visiting restaurants that serve different cuisines so members can sample dishes from around the world and expand their culinary boundaries.

“The whole idea is to travel without getting on a plane,” said Josh Jaycoff, of Melville, who co-founded the club with Adam Gotterer. “By eating our way through different cuisines, at the same time we get a sense of culture by tasting the different flavors.”

The club, founded in 2022, selects a restaurant and arranges a tasting menu for either a Tuesday or Wednesday, sometimes both, for its members. They dine on March 24 and 25 at Urubamba, which has been serving up Peruvian cuisine at its 286 New York Ave. location since last year. 

Jaycoff said the club's name is a nod to its "patron saint," the late chef and author Anthony Bourdain, and to "'Dead Poets Society," whose club members read the greats to try to break from the norms of society."

The days they select for restaurant visits aren't random. “We get to support local businesses typically on off days, on Tuesday and Wednesdays, to get them a new customer from our thousand-plus foodies we have across Long Island on our mailing list,” Jaycoff said.

“It gives you something to do on a Tuesday, Wednesday night; you meet new friends, like-minded people or maybe not like-minded people,” he said.

To find out more about the club and how to join ahead of its Huntington stop, check out The Dead Chefs Society website.

I don’t have a favorite cuisine, so this is right up my alley. What's your favorite ethnic food spot in Huntington? Let me know at deborah.morris@newsday.com.

Elsewhere in town

• Sarah Maresca, who opened a boutique gym in East Northport last year that has 60 members — all female — was featured in a story about how women-only gyms have returned to Long Island. Maresca's gym is called Find Your Balanced Life. Check out the piece by Beth Whitehouse.
• A public hearing has been set for the coming week on the first proposal to build in the Melville Town Center Overlay District — a plan that could transform an area of town by adding hundreds of housing units. The hearing is scheduled for March 19 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 100 Main St. What do you think of it? Drop me a line at deborah.morris@newsday.com.
• Jen Hebert, the newest town board member, is getting by with a little help from her friends as she embarks on her tenure. I wrote about how a former town board member and assistant town attorney are volunteering to help her. Read about it here.
• Published, a cozy new spot to read and have a drink, has opened in the village. Check out my story.
• A Long Island high school senior earned a unique designation thanks to her community service efforts. She has been recognized as a “Golden Eagle” and earned other distinguished scouting awards for her community service, including for helping in Commack. My colleague Michael Ebert wrote about it.

Things to do

Check out these fun and interesting things to do around town in the coming week.

Adult nature walk in a state park

When: Sunday, March 15, 9:45 a.m.-1 p.m.

What: A moderately paced 4-mile walk to and from the water to learn about the ponds and seashore. Binoculars will be helpful.

Where: Caumsett State Park, Lloyd Harbor

Information: Reservations are required. Call 631-423-1770.

Open Jam

When: Saturday, March 14,  5-7 p.m.

What: Part of Huntington Art Week and sponsored by the Huntington African American Museum, Open Jam is all about expression — music, movement, spoken word and spontaneous collaboration. It’s a space where local artists and community members come together to share their talents in an open, welcoming environment. 

Where: Ninnet & George's, 344 New York Ave., Huntington

Information: It's available here.

Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History

When: Through Sunday, March 15; noon to 5 p.m.

What: An exhibition that recognizes Stebbins as one of America's iconic sculptors of the 19th century winds down this weekend in the village.

Where: The Heckscher Museum of Art, Heckscher Park, Huntington

Information: Go to the museum's website here.

Find more things to do at newsday.com/lifestyle.