Tastes of Summer

by Jennifer Hess on June 9, 2010

in beef,grilling,potatoes

time for a Pimm's No. 1 Cup

Warm nights in early June really call for something like a Pimm’s Cup.

potatoes, matchstick-style

It’s a nice thing to sip while you’re prepping tiny matchstick potatoes, and getting a fire ready to grill some burgers made from great local beef.

No. 1

This night, our beef came from Aquidneck Farm.

Dinner: June 8, 2010

Oh, and about those matchstick potatoes?

Be VERY sure you dry them well. Even better than you think you have. (Several rounds of towel drying, after much time in a colander draining. Rub rub rub, dry dry dry.) A pass with a blow-dryer might even be in order. Because they can. not. be. too. dry. before they go into a high-sided pot of very hot oil filled not even 1/3 of the way up. Trust me. I damn near burned the house down.

matchstick fries

That said, these might have been worth the new patch of grey hair I sprouted overnight.

{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }

1 stationerygirl June 9, 2010 at 7:46 pm

This looks so unbelievably perfect for summer dining!! The drink makes me feel cooler just looking at your pic. I am going to have to try those shoestring potatoes. Thanks for the tips. Love your blog.

2 Anita / Married ...with dinner June 9, 2010 at 8:35 pm

I would like all of the above. Thank you :)

3 David Dadekian June 9, 2010 at 9:11 pm

Ever try drying your potatoes in a salad spinner? The OXO one is well worth it to me. Not a uni-tasker either.

4 Elizabeth June 10, 2010 at 7:19 am

Having finally mastered the crisp oven fry, it may be time for me to tackle my deep frying fears (and failures). Your shoe strings look absolutely perfect!

5 katie June 10, 2010 at 7:41 am

WOW, Jenn, those fries look unbelievable. I have to make them, stat. Did you hand cut, or use a mandolin?

6 Margie June 10, 2010 at 8:45 am

Those fries! Yum! I absolutely LOVE how the ice cubes are stacked in the slender glass. Great photos!

7 cali June 10, 2010 at 9:53 am

hmm… a pimm’s cup? interesting… i’m going to have to check that out… thanks!

8 Sue June 10, 2010 at 11:09 am

I had my first Pimm’s Cup this winter in New Orleans. We did a ‘cocktail tour’ through the French Quarter and what a great time! We went to 5 bars where we were served ‘vintage’ cocktails – we were served a Pimm’s Cup and a Sazerac at Muriel’s and they were both wonderful! I think I need to add Pimm’s to my liquor cabinet……

9 Christine June 10, 2010 at 2:08 pm

Oh, yum, yum, YUM. Bah. And I just ate and now I am hungry all over again.

10 Marie June 10, 2010 at 6:02 pm

Good girl!

What a nice post.

My drink now? Calvados, a bit; syrup, a b;t, Gruner Veltliner bubbly, quite a bit :-)

11 Hillary June 11, 2010 at 12:39 pm

A Pimm’s Cup AND that burger? Oh, yes please!

12 citygirldc June 11, 2010 at 3:25 pm

That is like the best looking burger ever!

13 Jennifer Hess June 12, 2010 at 4:04 pm

Thanks, everyone!

David, I thought about it but wasn’t sure it would work – I’ll have to try it next time.

katie – I used OXO julienne peeler to cut the fries. Pretty neat little tool :)

14 Sherry June 14, 2010 at 2:32 pm

The shoestring fries make me hungry. Local beef is the way to go too…great food. Thanks!

15 Daja June 24, 2010 at 3:46 pm

With the first day of summer came my first real hankering for a burger. So, I made sliders with blue cheese. With a salad made from things fresh from our garden and Fat Tire, it totally felt like summer had truly begun! Next time I may make some of those matchstick potatoes. Thanks for the precautions. I’ll be sure to remember!

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