Lee Schrager

celebrity chefs

A Day in the Life of Lee Schrager

Lee Schrager is the mastermind behind the nation's biggest food events, including the upcoming New York City Wine and Food Festival.

Lee Schrager is the mastermind behind the nation's biggest food events, including the upcoming New York City Wine and Food Festival. Here's what he did on Saturday, Aug. 20.
6:00 a.m.: I was up and ready for the day in East Hampton, waiting for my yoga instructor to begin our morning class. I’ve been doing yoga at the house for the last three Summers with Corey, who is the ex-boyfriend of my regular yoga instructor in Miami. I’ve been coming out to the Hamptons since 1980, when I worked in the cheese department of the first Dean & Deluca on Newton Lane, and used to spend my days at the beach with Edie Beale (of Grey Gardens fame). We've rented this same house for the past six Summers — it’s a gorgeous run-down farm house on a great piece of property, literally three minutes from the center of town.

7:45 a.m.: I headed over to Levain Bakery in Wainscott to pick up some goodies for our house guests. I try and keep away from Levain if possible, as it’s truly addicting. This morning, I waited in line behind Russell Simmons, who literally buys every one of the mini brioche I wanted. I ended up bringing home some scones, blueberry muffins, Nutella-stuffed sourdough rolls and, of course, some walnut chocolate chip cookies for later in the day.

10:00 a.m.: I went over to Bridgehampton for a meeting at the Gilt City Hamptons House regarding the afternoon’s Burger Blood Bath that Ben Leventhal, from NBC Feast, is producing. I am the Chief Lifestyle Advisor for Gilt City and the Hamptons House is a project I proposed months ago, that includes bringing out over 30 of the nation’s top chefs to cook at the house this August. The morning meeting was to discuss set-up, weather back-up plans, sponsorship fulfillment, and registration.

Keep reading to find out whose beach Lee goes to!

interviews

Meet Lee Schrager, the Mastermind Behind SOBE

Earlier today I sat down with the friendly and talented Lee Schrager, the man who created the South Beach Wine and Food Festival.

Earlier today I sat down with the friendly and talented Lee Schrager, the man who created the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of the food industry's Spring break, and Schrager has much to celebrate. In the past 10 years, the event has grown from a couple hundred attendees to over 20,000. Here's how our conversation went down.

YumSugar: How will this year's SOBE be different?
Lee Schrager: It's our 10th year and we have some events that we've created just for the anniversary. The official anniversary party is tomorrow night — yes, you should wear sequins! — and it's hosted by Martha Stewart and Emeril. It's called Let Them Eat Cake and we have 15 cakes that have been created by amazing cake artists in New York City. A special cooler FedEx truck went around this morning to pick up each of the cakes and is driving them down for the party tomorrow.

YS: Why do you think the festival has become so popular?
LS: Well, clearly the rise of the culinary scene in general. The Food Network's popularity, the rise of the celebrity chef and the culinary personality. The consumer is more educated about food than they were 10 years ago. They're more sophisticated, they're looking for that sophisticated experience. Also, I always say some people are into golf, others are into tennis, but who doesn't like good food and good wine?

To see what event Lee is most excited for, keep reading!