I spent Fourth of July weekend out in East Hampton, where my aunt Barbara lives during the summer. As usual, it was food-and-wine-filled affair. Toni latched on to the fact that we had a patio and a grill, so we cooked all meals outdoors, thanks to the grill master. The first night, we had blue fish, grilled corn, roasted radishes and potatoes, and blackberry cobbler, all from the local market.
Saturday night, Toni and I grabbed our rental bikes and headed to Tutto Italiano, an Italian outpost of Citarella down the Montauk Highway, to pick up some pizza dough and the house-made mozzarella. We then selected some grill-worthy veggies at the grocery store, including red peppers, onions, tomatoes, zucchini, and Portobello mushrooms. We roasted them on the grill. Once they were charred, we put the dough over the open flame, using a piece aluminum foil as a makeshift pan. After letting it toast a bit, we added the tomatoes and mozzarella, covered for a moment, and finally arranged the grilled vegetables on top. Although the pizza dough was slightly burned on the bottom (we should have flipped the dough before adding the various ingredients), it was deliciously simple. Good cheese and produce really make all the difference.
but they were delicious.
Our final night was the Fourth of July, so we decided a traditional barbecue was in order. Barbara picked up some freshly ground beef from the local butcher, as well as some watermelon. Together we headed to the store to pick up some more charcoal (we’d gone through all of it), salt & pepper kettle chips (which hardly made it out of the store), and some ketchup (Barb picked up the reduced sugar variety – she said by accident, though I hardly believe her – which ended up tasting just fine).
Sharing in the festivities
With some homemade guacamole to munch on as the charcoal burned, the three of us sipped the lovely bottle of Dashe ‘Les Enfants Terribles’ that Stevie had recommended we bring as a gift. The wine was selected since Barb loves chilled red wines, and Malbecs tend to fill her icebox. Stevie thought the Dashe zinfandel would be a nice alternative, and since it was a 2009, our glasses danced with the bright red fruits that might have dissipated in a later vintage. My grandmother Nena is a Dashe drinker, and I have always associated their juice with its rich, jammy quality. The old vines provided a nice, summery change.
Stevie’s pick. Verdict = A hot red for a summer night.
Burger, roasted veggies, and grilled corn – nothing says summer like this!
Sarah,
I love the "new look" of your blog, and particularly love your wonderful writing and great photography! I do get hungry whenever I visit, though ;o)
Laura was very flattered…and embarassed…by your kind comments about the knife, but she loved reliving your escapades in the City. And believe me, she cherished the time in New York with you, your Mom, and Andrea.
Can't wait to see you guys on your next trip south…and maybe I'll get to meet Toni this time.
Bob
Love the makeover! Your post is making me hungry, go figure. Wish you had finished 4th of July with a red white and blue firecracker popsicle
This comment has been removed by the author.
It was nice to take a cooking break and have somebody that really knows what they are doing in the kitchen.
Tell Toni that he needs to come back with more fish recipes.
You guys need to visit again before the summer ends. I will cook you guys a traditional Argentine asado and maybe I will let you cook the famous beets soup and give it another try.
Thanks everyone!