VUE Long Island

"Carrying this legacy isn't something I take lightly," Maria shares. "It's an honor and a privilege; the fact that it's in my hands now…I don't doubt that it was always meant to be. There isn't anyone else that would give it the same amount of care, dedication, and attention that my brother would've wanted." In the last 10 years, Maria has raised the bar for Rubirosa, and more recently, brought her family's beloved mouthwatering recipes to East Hampton with the opening of Camp Rubirosa. Describing Camp Rubirosa as a "family-centric experience, exactly what my brother and my dad could have hoped for," the initial concept for Camp Rubirosa, or Camp as Maria likes to call it, came about when media mogul Brian Bedol, who's been a fan of Rubirosa for years, approached her with the idea of collaborating and opening a pop-up restaurant in the Hamptons. "You know how in partnership people ask what the other brings to the table? Brian brought the table; I just had to set it," says Maria. With less than three months to bring the concept to life, Maria and Brian focused on ingredients, set the scene, and opened their doors to a wildly enthusiastic East End crowd. "Guests get to see each other at Camp," Maria describes of t he l ai db a ck , s o c i a l at mo sphe re. "It fe els l i ke everyone knows everyone and it's not uncommon for friends to be pleasantly surprised when they end up at Camp at the same time. In New York, our guests don't always get a chance to see who's in the room." It's such a community out there and I don't get to witness that in New York City." Aer a successful inaugural summer- one where guests returned "three, four times a week"- Maria and Brian are enjoying a busy second season. While patrons can expect the mouthwatering menu of a classic Italian-American red sauce joint, including Rubirosa's famed Sunday sauce, Camp Rubirosa takes full advantage of the fresh bounty of the Hamptons. VUE ON | LIFESTYLE 46 V U E H A M P TO N S . C O M

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