With 4th of July weekend just around the corner, there is no better time to get together for an American style BBQ with your family and friends
With 4th of July weekend just around the corner, there is no better time to get together for an American style BBQ with your family and friends. Leave the kebabs, pargiyot (deboned chicken thighs) and mergez (piquant Missle Eastern sausages) in the freezer and make way for a feast of hamburgers, hot dogs and if you happen to have a meat smoker or grill with an elated grid – BBQ sauce glazed smoked ribs are a real treat. I recently visited the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia and if you are in town, I would highly recommend spending a few hours and at least 1 or 2 meals at this spot. Delicious baked goods, excellent sandwiches (Dinic’s or Boarder Spring Farm) and succulent ribs at the Rib Stand are only some of the options here.
Not sure if I will have time to smoke ribs this time around and will settle for steak but equally important is the selection of beverages at this American style cookout. In the soft drink department, I would try to get my hands on some root beer and cream soda (there are a few shops in Jerusalem that sell them by the can), Miller’s or maybe beer from one of the excellent microbreweries imported to Israel and of course whiskey. Personally I prefer drinking my whiskey’s and scotch’s neat but on a hot summer afternoon and particularly when standing over the grill, a whiskey infused cocktail or a simple ‘whiskey & ginger ale’ can really hit the spot. I recently came across a fun and rather patriotic cocktail coined ‘Red, White & Bourbon’ that was created by Chef Lee Anne Wong in preparation for the 4th of July weekend. • ¼ cup lime juice• ¼ cup lemon juice• ½ cup orange juice• 4 parts bourbon (the recipe suggests using Maker’s Mark) • 1 part simple syrup• 4 mint leaves, plus more for garnish• Assorted berries: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries (a bit harder to find in Israel) • Splash club soda
Combine the juices, Bourbon, simple syrup, and mint leaves in a large shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into 2 tall glasses over ice and add a splash of soda. Garnish with berries and chopped mint leaves. serves 2.
Enjoy and happy 4th!
