Happy birthday America
In case you had any doubts, summer's in full swing. Not only are the temperatures sizzling but tomatoes have arrived, and zucchini, too, always the harbinger of the summer night-shade abundance to come.
How convenient that both tomatoes and zucchini lend themselves so well to chilled preparations:
Because seriously, who wants to turn on the oven or the grill in these temps? This chilled zucchini soup from Food & Wine gets a five star rating and deservedly so.
Or, make this authentic tomato gazpacho the way they make it in Seville (birthplace of this refreshing dish), with only tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and quality olive oil, such as Agape Premium EVOO. Serve either soup with this easy, airy appetizer of whipped herb-y ricotta and grilled bread and call dinner done.
Temps are supposed to dip a teeny bit late Saturday just in time for your bbqs. R&M Farm is your one stop shop for all your grilling needs from turkey burgers, to brats, to chicken, lamb and, of course, ribeye. Though they are sold frozen, they should be ready to kiss the grill by dinner time if you leave them out to defrost. These lamb burgers with curry mayonnaise would be a nice flex, especially if you use arugula from Obercreek Farm.
If you're heading to the beach, or, better yet, if you wish you were heading somewhere beachy this weekend, stop by SHUCK NY for some Wellfleets and Blue Points on the half shell.
Have you been asked to bring a salad to a barbecue? Since the tomatoes are rolling in, and fetching bunches of basil are dotting all our farm stands. And Maplebrook and Trotta's House of Pasta offer unctuous mozzarella. There is no reason to complicate your life with ingredients this fresh and seasonal: a simple caprese salad is always a winner, especially if you use high-end olive oil (looking at you, Agape) and finishing salt. Add your torn basil at the last minute and watch this salad disappear. Make the salad more interesting by mixing heirloom varieties with cherry tomatoes for contrasting color and shapes. You can also serve this caprese salad right atop a nice thick slice of Wave Hill's wedge of miche bread. While you're at the Wave Hill tent, pick up one of their thin-crust oval pizzas for an easy post-pool dinner next week. I always add fresh arugula or those sweet teensy yellow cherry tomatoes from Halal Pastures for extra texture, color and flavor.
If you've been wanting to make ice cream, this is the week. Try this recipe for farm-fresh blueberry ice cream. Mead Orchards' are exceptional this year. Unofficial Ice Cream is here this week, just in case you don't get around to making some yourself. What flavors is Abby dreaming up this week? Toast with Jam (sourdough ice cream with strawberry jam); Stone fruits & Cream (Fior di latte gelato with a stone fruit ripple); Vanilla Bean with fruity pebbles and Tomato Sorbet.
If you're heading out of the town for the weekend to stay with friends, pick up some caramels for your hosts from La Petite Occasion, or a box of divine cookies from Butter + Bow, always a welcome gift. Or you could scoop up a collection of botanical soaps from Ash Hopper or some sparkling rosé from Rosina's Winery. Our resident poet, Julia Gardner, will be here spinning beautiful poetry on the fly on her manual typewriter. The perfect gift for someone else you know celebrating a big birthday this month. She'll be sitting wherever there's shade, with a giant water bottle.
Grab lunch for your drive from Del Norte Empanadas.
Please note: We will be closing at noon on Saturday instead of 1 p.m. to get everyone out of the heat. Come early!
See you at the market and Happy Fourth to all who celebrate.