Each Sunday the East Hampton restaurant, at 207 Main Street (324-5006), invites outstanding chefs from the region to prepare dinners of their signature dishes accompanied by appropriate wines.

They've spawned some of the most outstanding chefs on Long Island.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten, its chef and an owner, also won for outstanding chef, tied with Wolfgang Puck.

The foundation spotlights outstanding chefs by having them go to Manhattan and prepare meals featuring their signature dishes.

Gerard Pangaud, the outstanding chef, remains, but I'm not sure he is always at the controls, based on recent visits.

Thomas Keller, the owner of the French Laundry in Yountville, in the Napa Valley, was named the outstanding chef.

The owners' greatest talent, however, may be their ability to pick outstanding chefs.

Eric Ripert, the executive chef and an owner of Le Bernardin in Manhattan, was named outstanding chef nationwide.

As a result, much of his childhood was spent among some of the most outstanding chefs of Europe.

He studied at the Villa Santa Cookery School, cradle of many of Italy's most outstanding chefs.