RoobiFood

This summer has been more mild than most, but the 4th of July was hot–so hot, that we needed a great drink to cool down with at our BBQ. I knew that watermelon is a good compliment for any BBQ, but I didn’t know what to make. So I turned this great new book: Mix Shake Stir: Cocktails for the Home Bar.

In the book there are dozens of recipes for great drinks from Danny Meyer’s restaurants in New York City: Blue Smoke, Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, etc. I jumped right to the recipe for the Watermelon Margarita.

Here’s what the book says, and then I’ll tell you how I changed it up:

Fill a rocks glass and a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the tequila [2 oz], lime juice [1 1/2 oz], watermelon puree [1 oz], elderflower liqueur [1/2 oz], and simple syrup [1/2 oz] to the shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into the glass, garnish with charred lemon, if desired, and serve.

We didn’t have tequila (or St. Germain elderflower liqueur), so we made the watermelon puree by combing cubes of watermelon, simple syrup, and lemon in a blender, and then added ice and vodka for the frozen version of the Mix Shake Stir drink. Add as much vodka as you need for the party, but be careful because the watermelon sucks it right up. The drink is so good that’s it really easy to have too many too fast, just to warn you! But it’s a great compliment to a BBQ and a nice way to cool down in the summer!!

Get out your big hats because it’s time for the Kentucky Derby. This year they are going to reveal the world’s largest mint julep glass at the Derby that will serve as the main station for the drink at the race and will likely provide for 5,000 drinks for happy people (though it should be said that as the glass gets emptier, the people will also likely be happier).

But if you won’t be at Churchill Downs tomorrow for the party, then there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy the perfect mint julep at home. Here’s probably the easiest recipe you’ll find:

3 oz. bourbon whiskey
4 to 6 sprigs of mint leaves
granulated sugar, to taste
crushed ice

Put mint, sugar, and crushed ice into a tall glass. Add bourbon whiskey, top off with more ice, and stir well. Drink immediately and repeat as desired. The race only lasts 2 minutes, but there’s no reason you can’t enjoy some drinks all afternoon before!

If you want a more complicated version, the Food Network has a tasty alternative here.

Who am I? I’m Tom. I’m a new writer for this blog. I grew up in Connecticut, went to college in Boston, and moved to New York City about two and a half years ago. I live in Brooklyn and I work in Manhattan. I enjoy snacks, southern chain restaurants, and especially baking (I make a mean cupcake). For work I have to go out to lunch a lot at different restaurants around the city, and so I hope to share with you some thoughts on the great (and not so great) places to eat in New York. I may even throw in some of my favorite cookie recipes. I mean, if you’re good.