
Marc Murphy
Marc Murphy is the proud chef and owner of three successful restaurants: Landmarc at the Time Warner Center, Landmarc Tribeca, and also Ditch Plains. He attended the Institute of Culinary Education and staged at the famed Louis XV in Monte Carlo, where executive chef Alain Ducasse was so impressed with Murphy’s skills that he personally made arrangements for him to work with Sylvain Portay at Le Cirque once he returned to the U.S. Marc can also be found as a judge on the popular Food Network show Chopped.

There’s no better way to take your next cookout above and beyond than with these delicious crowd favorites.
For me, summer is all about entertaining. We never know how many people are going to show up for dinner—it’s usually somewhere between 10 and 30—so I try to keep things easy, and lamb chops are one of my favorite things to throw on the grill. They require very little attention and are always a crowd pleaser; they are extremely flavorful, and I’ve found that drizzling the chops with a little lemon after they come off the grill gives them a light, summery taste. We also do a similar dish at Landmarc that I serve with watercress and lemon.

That it’s a favorite with the Italian locals is all you need to know about this neighborhood joint…your taste buds will tell you the rest.
Pecchiarda in Spoleto, Italy, is one of my favorite restaurants. My brother has a house in this small village, and we love to go to Pecchiarda for its Veal Stuffed Agnolotti with Sweet Onion Sauce and Pollo Pecchiarda. It’s casual Italian cooking at its best.

Culinary reads are about more than recipes—and this book is the perfect example.
White Heat by Marco Pierre White. It was the first cookbook I ever bought myself. The pictures are beautiful, and I love his story.

Food Destination
If hitting the waves is your idea of a great vacation, your next paradise may be closer than you think.
Ditch Plains Beach in Montauk, Long Island. I love to surf, and this is hands down my favorite place to do it. At Ditch Plains you can actually forget you’re in the Hamptons and get into this whole other surf culture there, which I love. I even named one of my restaurants in the West Village, Ditch Plains, after this beach.
Plus: Check out Hungry Beast, for more news on the latest restaurants, hot chefs, and tasty recipes.