I swear I came up with this newsletter title before the death of Milan Kundera earlier this week. Kundera was a unique, metafictional writer and his books are a true a gift to the cannon of (French…he would insist!) novelists. If you haven’t read The Unbearable Lightness of Being, you now have your summer read. Rest In Peace, Milan.
Back to this lightness concept. Each summer we hear about the many “beat the heat” and “no cooking required” ways we can assemble meals to avoid slaving over a stove with lines of sweat dripping down our brows. The common tactic in the West is to grill proteins outside and assemble light salads inside. And this is a fine way to go. But I’ve been craving a dinner party and re-reading Dinner At The Long Table (now on sale) and I wanted to create an original dinner party menu for your summer gatherings.
This menu will take work, but not too much time. It strikes the right balance of care and ease. I believe in making an effort for those who gather around my table. Feel free to adapt this menu the way you see fit. Summer is a time where we go a bit easy on the rules…and that’s a good thing.
Summer Gathering Menu:
White Bloody Mary Sippers
Young Spinach with Grandma Betty’s Tsao Cu Lao Dip*
Tomato Carpaccio with Crispy Shallot and Lime Vinaigrette
Blanco Vermouth Spritzes
Grilled Razor Clams with Sake Butter and Grilled Baguette
“Pho” Tartare
Strawberry Compote Shortcake
I’m going to walk you through the methods, not the exact recipes, for these dishes. You’ll never truly ride a bike with the training wheels on and the technique here is so simple and straightforward that you should not have a problem making anything on this list.
Pantry/Larder Staples:
Salt
Pepper
EVOO
Garlic
Shallots
Butter
Cheesecloth
Soy
Sugar
Star anise
White pepper
Rice vinegar
Sesame oil
White/yellow onions
Hoisin
Sriracha
Grocery List:
Heirloom tomatoes
Tito’s vodka
Spinach
Lime
Dry sparkling wine
White vermouth
Edible flowers
Razor clams
Sake
Parsley
Large Baguette
Beef tenderloin
Thai Basil
Scallions
Jalapeños
Bean sprouts
Cilantro
Strawberries
Bakery biscuits (or make your own)
Whipped cream
Lemon
Methods:
White Bloody Mary: make this over night, squeeze room temperature tomato pulp onto a cheese cloth into a bowl. Let the juices run through overnight and then chill the juice in the fridge. Just before the guests arrive, assemble the drink ( I heart Tito’s) and serve very chilled, tall shot glasses.
Young Spinach: Find a pile of the most tender spinach leaves you can find. Make the dip and set out plate for guests to dip and enjoy a vibrant taste of summer. *mix of soy, rice vinegar, garlic water.
Tomato Carpaccio: slice tomatoes on a mandolin and assemble on a platter. Salt to sweat, fry shallot and prepare vinaigrette. Right before serving, drizzle the vinaigrette and crumble the shallots atop.
Blanco Vermouth Spritzes: mix sparkling wine and vermouth and serve in a carafe with a bucket of ice and let your guest save themselves as you work on the rest of dinner. Toss an edible flower in their drinks as you stroll by.
Clams: clean clams and chill until using. Use a hot grill and baste open clams with sake butter. Assemble in a bowl and throw chopped parsley on top.
Pho Tartare: Chill a large platter. Sear tenderloin with a homemade spice blend of star anise, white pepper and salt to medium rare. Rest and chill. Remove chilled platter. Thinly slice meat onto plate, overlapping slightly. Drizzle with a touch of EVOO. Pile on pho ingredients (bean sprouts, cilantro, Thai basil, crispy shallot, white onion, scallions) and serve with hoisin, sriracha and little lime wedges.
Strawberry Shortcake: wash, chop and smash strawberries in a pot with a little lemon juice and a spoonful of sugar. When compote is reduced, assemble the shortcake like the picture above.
Happy summer to all who prep, cook and celebrate.
What I’ve Been Up To:
Reading: The Valedictorian of Being Dead; Blood Meridian; Time to Think
Watching: The Bear Season 2 (whoa the music by @joshsr)
Listening to: Taylor Swift; Debussy; The Retrievals
Cooking: watermelon and goat cheese; mushroom carpaccio
Traveling: Nicaragua; Palm Springs; Minnesota