Posts for June 28th 2011

picnic

Delicious Picks For Beach-Worthy Eats

There is nothing better than grabbing some friends, hopping in the car, and enjoying the beach for a day.

There is nothing better than grabbing some friends, hopping in the car, and enjoying the beach for a day. But instead of stopping to pick up grab-and-go prepackaged food from the market, plan ahead and make some fresh and delicious portable fare that every one will appreciate and enjoy. When planning a menu, pick recipes with texture and flavor that will stand up to the ocean's elements. Although they're not sand-proof — we haven't figured that one out yet — here are dishes that will make your day at the beach a success.

san francisco

Meet the Bill Burger, a Burger in a Hot Dog Bun!

There are many famous burgers out there: the juicy Lucy, the Shake Shack burger, the In-N-Out Burger.

There are many famous burgers out there: the juicy Lucy, the Shake Shack burger, the In-N-Out Burger. But until recently, I had never heard of the Bill Burger. Famous in the golf world — it's found at San Francisco's Olympic Club — the Bill is a burger that's shaped like a hot dog and served in a hot dog bun. Read on to learn more about this all-American delicacy!

recipes

Summer's Ripe For a Classic Spanish Gazpacho

It goes without saying that summertime is salad time, but when the mercury rises, I actually prefer to sip my salad.

It goes without saying that summertime is salad time, but when the mercury rises, I actually prefer to sip my salad. After all, what could be more refreshing than a bracing shooter of chilled gazpacho?

At this year's Aspen Food & Wine Classic, José Andrés demonstrated how to make his wife's gazpacho. "This is the best salad in the history of mankind. When you drink everything, life is so much better!" José exclaimed to the audience. He proceeded to serve the soup with a shot of gin for a Spanish Bloody Mary of sorts.

Don't omit the Oloroso sherry and sherry vinegar from this authentic Andalucían recipe; it adds a long, lingering finish to every spoonful. For the recipe, keep reading.

recipes

Patricia's Gazpacho

From José Andrés Patricia's GazpachoIngredientsFor the soup: 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped 1 green bell pepper, diced 3 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, diced 2 garlic cloves, peeled 1/4 cup sherry vinegar 1/2 cup Oloroso sherry 3/4 cup Spanish extra-virgin olive oil For the garnish: 2 1-inch-thick slices rustic bread, cut into 1-inch cubes 1/4 cup Spanish extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 cucumber 12 cherry tomatoes, halved Sea salt Directions Make the soup: Combine the cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic, sherry vinegar, sherry, olive oil, and 2 cups of water in a food processor or blender.

From José Andrés

Patricia's Gazpacho

Jose Andres Gazpacho Recipe 2011-06-28 11:58:31

Ingredients

For the soup:
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, diced
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1/2 cup Oloroso sherry
3/4 cup Spanish extra-virgin olive oil
For the garnish:
2 1-inch-thick slices rustic bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/4 cup Spanish extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cucumber
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
Sea salt

Directions

  1. Make the soup: Combine the cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic, sherry vinegar, sherry, olive oil, and 2 cups of water in a food processor or blender. Purée until smooth. Strain the gazpacho into a pitcher and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  2. Make the garnish: Preheat oven to 450ºF. In a bowl, toss the bread cubes with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Spread the bread on a baking sheet and bake on the middle rack until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Set the croutons aside to cool.
  3. When you are ready to serve, either dice or slice the cucumber into ribbons with a vegetable peeler. Stir the gazpacho. Put a few croutons, cherry tomato halves, and cucumber pieces in each bowl and pour the gazpacho over them. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, spring with salt, and serve.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

grilling

Just Grill It! 6 Unexpected Foods to Throw on the 'Cue

Although Summer's prime hot dog season, don't forget that the 'cue isn't just limited to hamburgers and red meat.

Although Summer's prime hot dog season, don't forget that the 'cue isn't just limited to hamburgers and red meat. In fact, one can cook just about anything over a flame. As Food Network host Ellie Krieger once told us, "So many more things work on the grill than people realize!"

After seeing Steve Raichlen's recipe for grilled ice cream balls, we're convinced that literally anything is possible over those iron grates, and we're not just talking about contemporary favorites like bruschetta or grilled pizza. Six food items that are bound to make you a more adventurous grillmaster, when you keep reading.

Food News

Yummy Links: From Guacamole to Yogurt Tonics