Seaside Supper
A menu inspired by dinners at the beach, or those who need to be transported there...
Trips to the beach have always included lingering at the beach reading books, sipping on ice cold Gin & Tonics, sunset appetizers, trips to the fish market and farmer stand, cooking dinner with my mom, a post dinner games of cards and putting the finishing touches on puzzles strewn across the puzzle table. Summer is all about choosing simple recipes that highlight whats in season, without too many ingredients or the need of fancy equipment. While this meal is inspired by dishes I cook when at the beach with my family, it is full of summer produce and perfect for any summer dinner - seaside or not.
Seaside Menu:
Beeritas
Crab Artichoke Dip
Scallops over Tomato Corn Ragu with Bacon
Mixed Greens with Vinaigrette
Any Fruit Crisp
‘Elegant yet Easy’ recipe (subscribers only): Linguini with Clams & Salami
Seaside Supper Hosting Tips:
For a great seaside tablescape, fill the bottom few inches of hurricanes with sand, then place in candles and small shells. Huricanes look super chic anchoring the ends of the table (see here). Place shells and small votives down the center of the table.
Tie the theme into your servewear and tablewear with seaside inspired pieces.
A few tips for if your beach vacations involve staying in a rental house. Meal plan as much as possible before you go. Plan a menu with minimal ingredients - especially minimal pantry ingredients. If you know you will need certain spices / spice blends, pre portion them out before leaving and tote in in snack sized ziplock bags. When in doubt (and if you are driving) also pack a good knife, a favorite olive oil, flaky salt, etc.
When you have access to a great fish shop, I love to pop in with no plan and ask the fishmonger what is freshest, and how they suggest preparing it. Often its just with a little lemon, butter and salt! Serve with some seasonal veggies from the farmers market as some fresh bread! The fish shops will also often have great prepared foods like peel and eat shrimp (my favorite!), crab cakes and an array of dips and sauces.
Bonus recipe: How to make the perfect Gin & Tonic. For some reason, this is always the one one cocktail I want when vacationing at the beach! It is crisp and refreshing, requires no juicing or shaking. The perfect vacation cocktail! Fill a thin glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz of Hendricks Gin and top with your favorite Fever Tree tonic (I truly love them all, but the Citrus and Elderflower might be my top two). Garnish with a grapefruit peel and enjoy!
Seaside Supper Essentials:
For Subscribers Only:
NEW ‘Elegant yet Easy’ Recipe- Linguini with Clams & Salami
Seaside Supper Shopping List & Prep Timeline
Linguini with Clams is one of my husband and my favorite dishes. If its on the menu, at least one of us will be ordering it! I have been making this recipe for years - like most good Italian food, it simple and quick to put together, yet is so elegant and feels like a treat. In the summer I will often pop by the fish market on the way home from the pool or beach and pick up some clams, as all of the other ingredients we always have on hand. And when we are at the beach, I almost always make this one of the night I am in charge of cooking dinner. We like our Linguini with Clams to have plenty of saucy broth that gathers at the bottom of the bowl, perfect to be sopped up with a baguette. The salami almost serves as a crouton moment on top of the pasta, giving it that additional element that makes it outragously good.