The Summer of Bivalves and Berries

Summer Recipes and a Happy Hour Invitation

Hey friends,

Welcome to This Needs Hot Sauce. This week has been full of confusion over what day it is but I finally feel back in the swing of things after being away. I have some news about our next event too, so grab a cold drink and let’s dive in.

Something to cook:

I celebrated July 4th on a roof with such good food. I made a peach arugula goat cheese salad which is barely a recipe but definitely worth making. It’s summery and fresh and quick to throw together. Balsamic vinegar, give it a chance.

Peach Salad for Summer

Fill a large salad bowl with 1/2 spinach and 1/2 arugula.

Add toasted pecans (at least a 1/2 cup, be generous). I always toast nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until they are darker and fragrant. Watch them or they will burn (this happens at least once a month).

Goat cheese (2/3 of a small log, crumbled)

3-4 peaches, sliced - Cut them in half, remove the pit and make angled slices

Toasted pumpkin seeds (optional for an extra crunch)

To finish, drizzle with balsamic vinegar. If your vinegar is on the thinner side, simmer it for a few minutes to thicken it. Julia found fancy fig balsamic vinegar so I used that. Drizzle olive oil as well and season with salt and pepper. Toss, taste, and hit the roof.

Julia made this pie and I am so glad she’s my roommate. The crumb is next level and it is so full of summer berries. A few notes: berries stain and pies take a while to cool so if you’re bringing this somewhere, make sure it’s fully cooled (which will take at least an hour) and plan your transport strategy. Place it inside a larger container to save yourself from berry drips. Leftovers are delicious for breakfast.

I cooked my second recipe from Dining In (first was this lemon broccoli) and it’s a winner: Cumin Roasted Cauliflower with Dates and Tahini. Pine nuts are expensive so I used pecans leftover from the peach salad. It’s worth turning on your oven for and you can make the rest of the recipe while the cauliflower roasts. The herb combo is so delicious and I can’t wait to eat it throughout the week.

Something to order:

Wow, this week was a New York Restaurant homecoming of sorts. July 4th on a Wednesday gave the whole week a strange sense of timelessness, in the best way.

My first stop was at Roberta’s. Yes, their soft serve is bad and the waits are usually crazy (go to Ops on the weekends for sure), but at 3 pm on a weekday, it’s pretty great. We got the bee sting pizza (with no meat) and the sweet and spicy combo of chili oil and honey can’t be beat. My favorite thing on the menu is a fork and knife romaine salad with pecorino and candied walnuts so order that (and a glass from their excellent wine list) no matter what.

Saw the absolutely wonderful Won’t You Be My Neighbor (bring tissues) at Nitehawk, where you can order food and drinks to your seat. Eating in the dark is hard so wear dark colors in case you spill. There’s a brunch deal on weekends for entrees plus a mimosa/bloody mary for $17, and your ticket stub gives you a whopping $1 discount at adjoining bar Lo-Res after the show. I am still early in my beer drinking career but I had a Six Point Citrus Jammer Gose (I don’t know what 2 of those words mean) and it was so light and zippy.

Another good beer spot: The Peculiar Pub, which Jason recommended. A not crowded divey bar near Washington Square Park is a valuable resource.

After a glance at the Mesa Coyoacan menu, I could tell the chef was from Mexico City (he is). Dinner did not disappoint, with huitlacoche tacos, four types of housemade salsa, and two options for spicy margaritas. I’ll definitely be back. There was a half hour wait on a Thursday night so grab a drink nearby at Little King or Harefield Road while you wait.

Lighthouse is my classic bad day restaurant: something about walking in puts you in a good mood. Julia and I had oysters ($1 each until 7 pm on weekdays) and I had my favorite grilled escarole with tahini. It’s a strange order but it makes me happy.

Speaking of oysters, Cape House in Bushwick is known for its seafood. Julia and Zoe and I caught up there this weekend. They split the scallop and shrimp rolls and were split on which was better (try both, I guess?). I preferred the clams to the oysters, and loved sitting on the patio under a string of lights. Get the fried clam strips and some rose and share life updates with your friends.

Coffee shop update:

Finally tried Black Star Bakery which has good cold brew (I don’t like a lot of cold brew because it can be too bitter and strong), wifi, and freshly baked cookies.

I missed the West and spent a nice morning working there. It’s a coffeeshop and a bar and is always the most chill.

On Myrtle, Bushwick Public House is a good spot for work or drinks. There’s an eclectic crowd of people playing pool alongside laptoppers and people grabbing things to go. There’s a huge event space downstairs if you’re looking for that.

A tip from my former coworker Julia: If you work in an office and enjoy free things, download the Pret a Manger app. Don’t knock it till you try it. Their coffee is pretty good and the rewards program is generous.

Something to read:

I haven’t tried Tacocina yet but Ryan Sutton makes some good points about the only food option in Domino Park (why is it a taco stand by a white guy from Manhattan?). Domino Park continues to be a great spot for people watching, dog watching, and skyline gazing.

How family separation is coming up at dinner tables across the country.

Love this piece from Dinner: a Love Story for introducing me to the term FTAS or food town anxiety syndrome, “FTAS is a clinical diagnosis for the feeling that kicks in when you travel to a city known for its food scene, and makes you feel like no matter where you are and no matter what you are eating, you should be somewhere else eating something better.”

People are so wed to the idea that Antoni can’t cook that they formulated his answers to questions as really strange looking recipes. Do not approve.

I can’t stop talking about this Andy Byford profile. It’s not technically about food, but if you’ve even taken the subway to a restaurant it’s worth a read.

For my South Florida friends: a new Cuban spot opened in Bushwick.

Bartenders weigh in on using mezcal in classic cocktails. I’ve had and enjoyed mezcal negronis, but do some substitutions go too far?

For your lunch break: Peruse NYMag’s Cheap Eats Guide and bookmark 10 new places to try.

I have a question for you: what kind of peanut butter/nut butter do you buy? I grew up on Skippy and then switched in college to the Trader Joe’s stuff, which requires a lot of stirring. Usually I look for the cheapest peanut butter where peanuts are the only ingredient, but I’m so curious what you prefer. Crunchy or creamy? Are you an almond butter fan? Reply to this email to discuss!

Finally, it’s time to hang out IRL. July’s This Needs Hot Sauce Happy Hour is July 26th at Brooklyn Cider House. If you haven’t been, this spot is so much fun – there’s delicious cider made in the Basque style from New York state apples, a patio, and great snacks. Sign up here. Can’t wait to see you.

Where we’ll be hanging at Brooklyn Cider House

Happy eating and thanks for reading.

xo,

Abigail