A very happy Fourth

It’s near the end of the Fourth, almost time for fireworks – how was yours? Here it was hot hot hot so we did what people do; we headed to the water. I love exploring our city, preferably without guidance, and despite living her for 11 years there is much I have not seen. A little jaunt to Sheepshead Bay in South Brooklyn was right up my alley.

Toodling around, we happened upon Jordan’s Lobster Dock. Despite being wedged between two chain restaurants, it had the look, feel, and (most importantly) smell of a classic fish shack. Even the servers were apathetic teens!

The tins of Old Bay and squeeze bottles of Tabasco pushed me over the edge and we enjoyed a fried fisherman’s platter and lemonade. I’d take the Cape 9 times out of 10, but in a pinch Jordan’s was a charm. I found out later the joint has a great history.

At home? BBQ, a serene sunset, peals of laughter, and sparkler-time.

Happy Fourth!

Patriotic chocolate-dipped strawberries

Chocolate-dipped strawberries are one of my all-time favorite treats, and when I saw the white-chocolate ones on Stephanie’s Life Tastes Like Food, I could not help to share it here. Look at these! It’s patriotic fruit* for crying out loud!

I know myself well enough to know that the laborious job of dipping individual berries and drizzling them perfectly with a contrasting stripe is outside of my ability and patience. That is why I am glad there are people like Stephanie around. She makes it sound easy and then executes perfectly. Nice.

If you have the patience of a saint and the hand of a surgeon, you should make these for your July 4th party too. Just don’t be sad when they disappear in a matter of seconds.

Photo via Life Tastes Like Food

Full recipe here. Go get it!

*In a flash of my classic, patented, time-wasting curious streak, I wrote this and then wondered about patriotic fruit; wondered actually if I could guess a fruit native to North America. Can you? I kick myself. I said apple. What is more American than apple pie? Apparently quite a few things, according to this list of native fruits. But I do kick myself. My Yankee roots are ashamed that the mighty cranberry did not come first to mind.

Sweet and salty watermelon salad

Seriously, make this salad. Make it for a crowd! It is so refreshing and has a terrific balance of flavors. Perfect for the palette, perfect for the season; it’s a great side for a holiday barbecue.

Cubed watermelon

Crumbled feta

Fresh basil

A drizzle of olive oil

It’s official: this could not be easier. We even bought the watermelon pre-cubed.

Bon Appetit has a similar version in the most recent issue, but they use grilled haloumi instead of feta and added tomatoes, and their olive oil is basil and mint-infused. Yum yum yum.

Summer in the city

Sometimes there is nothing worse than summertime in the city – the heat, the sweat, the filth and exhaust. Ugh!

But sometimes there is nothing better because the culture of the city spills outdoors, and the days offer a never-ending assortment of impromptu surprises. I came out of the subway at Union Square last evening to sunshine, a light breeze that promised a cool evening – and a deep bass riff.

Anchoring the south end of the park was a stage and an outdoor concert, sponsored in part by the NYC Parks Department. Pedestrians, commuters, and park haunts milled about lazily, and nearby old men played chess and young men hocked bright wooden jewelry on the steps. An event indeed, and one of those classic moments here when you fall totally and stupidly in love with the city all over again.

Apropos of that? The best summer anthem from 1966, and an homage to dear Chief Rabbit (she knows who she is) – I present the Lovin’ Spoonful in all their live glory…