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Forbidden Moscow Mule

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An aerial shot of moscow mules garnished with grapefruit and cucumber, bright in color.

The Moscow Mule took America by storm in 1941, and is credited with bringing vodka to popularity in the US. All you need to make the classic version is vodka, ginger beer, lime, and a copper mug… the last item being entirely optional. The drink is so easy and versatile you can have some fun with it, and the variations are endless.

What is the History of the Moscow Mule? 

Sophie Berezinski came to America in the 1940s with only her dreams, a story familiar to anyone with an immigrant background. What makes her story unusual is what she was carrying with her: 2,000 copper mugs. After she couldn’t find a way to sell the mugs from her family business, Berezinski then went on to develop her cocktail in a Hollywood bar, the Cock’n Bull on Sunset Boulevard. Bartenders from the Cock’n Bull then went on to turn the cocktail into a sensation by ordering it at bars and leaving Polaroid photos around so bartenders would recognize the new drink sensation. 

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An aerial shot of moscow mules garnished with grapefruit and cucumber, bright in color.

Forbidden Moscow Mule


  • Author: Keith Recker

Description

A classic cocktail.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 parts vodka
  • 2 parts lime juice
  • 2 parts grapefruit juice
  • 4 parts ginger beer
  • Fresh mint chopped
  • Fresh cucumber slices


Instructions

  1. Muddle vodka, lime juice, and grapefruit juice with fresh mint and cucumbers (reserve some for garnish).
  2. Strain over ice, top with ginger beer and stir gently. Decorate Moscow mule cocktail with garnish, and if desired rim the glass rim with sugar.

Recipe and Story by Keith Recker
Photography by Brooke Lark 

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Lemon and Basil Buttermilk Grilled Chicken Wings

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Lemon & Basil Buttermilk Grilled Chicken Wings served on a white plate with a couple of drinks

Crack open a locally brewed IPA and let the notes of lemon and basil wings play across your palate. There’s magic in this buttermilk grilled chicken wings recipe that will ignite conversation and carefree fun, whether it’s a game day snack or a casual weeknight dinner. We’re a fan of Jessi’s Chickens at Hoover Farms just outside of Pittsburgh.

What to Drink with Grilled Chicken Wings 

As stated above, an IPA is a great choice for a drink pairing with. For more ideas about wine pairings with wings for game day, take a look at our interview with NFL player-turned-Chef Eddie Jackson, who specializes in wing and wine pairings. One of his tips? “My general pairing advice is to go for crisp white wines, which are great at cutting the greasiness of the wings and stand up especially well to the spice,” he said. But he makes his own grilled chicken wing recipes, so read the rest to hear more. These Lemon and Basil Buttermilk Wings have a bit of acidity and zest to them rather than the typical heaviness of wings, so consider pairing them with something that will balance out and harmonize with that acidity, like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.

 
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Lemon & Basil Buttermilk Grilled Chicken Wings served on a white plate with a couple of drinks

Lemon and Basil Buttermilk Grilled Chicken Wings


  • Author: Anna Franklin

Description

An easy chicken wing recipe with some zest.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 whole chicken wings
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 4 fresh thyme sprigs
  • ½ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • 1 tbsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp sea salt
  • Lemon slices, optional
  • Ranch dressing, optional


Instructions

  1. Place wings in a Ziplock bag, pour marinade in, and let sit for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight.
  2. Grill until wings hit 165 degrees; outside should become brown and crispy. Serve with fresh lemon slices and your favorite ranch dressing.

Story by Keith Recker
Photography by Dave Bryce
Recipe and Styling by Anna Calabrese

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Baker’s Dozen Cocktail, Inspired by Phish

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two cocktails that have a light brown color with round cocktail ice cubes and mini cake, powdered and chocolate coated donuts as garnish

Our Baker’s Dozen Cocktail, Inspired by Phish, comes with a little fun fact moment for those who are not “aphishianados.” In 2017, between July 21st and August 6th, this polarizing jam-band played 13 shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Each performance featured a unique set list with no repeated songs, and get this, a special donut served to the audience from Philadelphia’s hometown hero, Federal Donuts. During the course of the 13 shows, Phish performed 237 total songs that were recorded live and sold as a special, limited-release boxed set titled The Complete Baker’s Dozen on November 30th of the following year.

This is the 7th recipe in our 2023 Summer Concert Cocktail Series.

Baker’s Dozen Cocktail Recipe, Inspired by Phish

Ingredients

2 oz freshly brewed coffee
1.5 oz Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
1 oz RumChata
½ oz Grand Marnier
mini cinnamon donuts for garnish

Instructions 

  1. Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
  2. Pour coffee, Screwball, RumChata, and Grand Marnier into the ice filled shaker and shake vigorously until chilled.
  3. Pour over an ice ball in a glass coffee mug and garnish with a mini donut. 

Recipe by Sarah Cascone / Styling by Anna Calabrese / Photography by Dave Bryce / Story by Star Laliberte

Try these other cocktails in our Summer Concert Series:
Man, I Feel Like a Women Cocktail, inspired by Shania Twain
Sunflower Cocktail, inspired by Post Malone
Typical Average Cocktail, inspired by Ed Sheeran
Crush Cocktail, inspired by Dave Matthews Band
Summer’s In Your Blood Cocktail, inspired by Boygenius
Lover Cocktail, inspired by Taylor Swift

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Pittsburgh Happenings: July 18-24

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Pittsburgh events, events in pittsburgh this week
Courtesy of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

It’s peak time to be out and about in the ‘Burgh! If you’re not traveling outside the city for vacation (check out these short trip ideas if you’re itching for a long weekend getaway), here are just a few of the many lively outing options to consider this week in Pittsburgh.

Courtesy of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

Picklesburgh
Downtown, July 21-23
Pickle, pickle, pickle… sorry, right now, we only understand pickle-themed talk…

Photo by Rene Huemer

Phish
The Pavilion at Star Lake, July 21-22
The kings of jam bands are landing in the ‘Burgh; get ready for the madness with our Baker’s Dozen Cocktail, Inspired by Phish.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Strayhorn Theater

House Party
Kelly Strayhorn Theater, July 22
Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s annual summer benefit channels Met Gala fashion and Studio 54’s theatrics for an evening of live local performances and immersive atmosphere. After having your fortune told with a tarot card reading, adorn your body with temporary tattoos and dance the night away under disco lights. Did we mention the heavy hors d’oeuvres and open bar?

Elliott Cramer Photography images for the National Aviary’s Night in the Tropics, 2019.

Night in the Tropics
National Aviary, July 22
No need to book a plane ticket; the Caribbean experience comes to you during the National Aviary’s 21 and over-summer event, Night in the Tropics, featuring food, drinks, and music, of the islands.

See what other events we’re excited about for the month of July.

Story by Jordan Snowden / Send your events tips to jordan@tablemagazine.com

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Pittsburgh Restaurants Pouring Seasonal Cocktails and Mocktails in 2023

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Honey Rose Old Fashioned - Photo courtesy of Christian James

It’s hot, plain and simple. So check out one, or a few, of these 11 Pittsburgh restaurants pouring seasonal cocktails and mocktails in the city’s happening beverage scene.

Umami

Tucked away upstairs in the Round Corner Hotel building (with its downstairs neighbors Esquina Cantina), Umami is constantly bringing new bites and beverages based on the changes in season. Currently debuting are their newly crafted cocktail, Japanese Whiskey, and Sake menus for these warmer months. The colors and the flavor profiles are unique across the board, lending itself to offering a cocktail for everyone (including a lot of love for their menu mocktails). The full menu can be found here.

Cantina

From their classic La Cantina margaritas to elevated agave spirits, Esquina Cantina’s bebidas menu is nothing short of extensive and impressive. Vibrancy is at the core of their bar program; from curated micheladas to transcendent cocktails that draw inspiration from various equatorial regions, the Cantina’s bar offerings are designed to remind you that vacation is simply a mindset. The full menu can be viewed here.

3 cocktails in a gradient of orange and pink sitting on the ledge of a rooftop bar
Photo courtesy of Biergarten

Biergarten at Hotel Monaco

Perched nine stories above William Penn Place, the Biergarten at Hotel Monaco open-air concept offers lite bites and an extensive cocktail menu, available post-work and during the weekends. Biergarten’s bar program, led by Aidan Leyland, is known for its show-stopping craft cocktails. Guests can enjoy new additions to the creative cocktail list that the Biergarten is known for, like the Mercury in Retrograde — a Peach Orange Blossom Ketel One cocktail with elderflower tonic water, Campari, blueberry earl gray, and lemon — the Key and Peele featuring Bacardi, mint, clarified lime, and cucumber, and topped with Midori mint foam; and the Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice, a playful cocktail crafted with Don Julio Blanco, Solerno, Luxardo Maraschino, grapefruit, lime, and Jello grapefruit, finished with a house spice blend rim.

Cool down with Biergarten’s iconic frozen cocktails like the It’s Summer, Right, featuring IC Light Mango, Altos Tequila, agave, and fresh lime. Mocktails are also available on the rooftop. The spirit-free crowd can enjoy offerings like Sting Like a Bee with Ritual Non-Alcoholic Rum, ginger, fermented honey, and fresh lime. Biergarten offers communal seating, greenery, life-sized games, a canopy of Edison bulbs, and plenty of photo ops in the form of whimsical cocktails and city views.

a lavender cocktail with a lemon peel garnish on a glass table and a margarita in a tall glass with a lime wedge and a tan rimmed glass on a wooden table
Photos courtesy of M Bar

M Bar

Located in the former historic YMCA building at 120 S. Whitfield St., now The Maverick Hotel, M Bar is open Thursday 6-10pm, and Friday and Saturday 6pm-1am. This East Liberty neighborhood bar serves up plenty of good vibes and delicious beverages like the Bella Luna, a gin cocktail with Creme de Violette, Elderflower Liqueur, simple syrup, and lemon, and the In-Sandia-Ry made with Habanero infused Tequila, Orange Liqueur, watermelon, lime, and Demerara syrup. Happy hour is from 6-8pm with DJs every Friday and Saturday.

The Commoner

The Commoner’s legendary bar is home to creative craft cocktails year-round, and this coming summer will be no different. Guests will be able to sip on seasonal cocktails such as their Influencer in The Wild, crafted with strawberry-jalapeno infused Aperol, Vida Mezcal, and Dolin Genepy, and cool down with the Sleepy 75 made with Hendricks Gin, Maggie’s Farm Falernum, lavender, and fresh lemon.

The Commoner offers an extensive selection of zero-proof cocktails like the Lady May, featuring lavender, fresh lemon, and butterfly pea flower; and the Just Sippin’ Chamomile… crafted with Monday Zero Proof Gin, citrus, chamomile, and orange blossom.

Square Café

The colorful and inviting East Liberty eatery has opened its open-air rooftop deck once again. This season, guests are invited to dine on the covered rooftop with 360 views of East Liberty. The festive rooftop deck is lined with colorful flags, demonstrating the cafe’s commitment to its welcoming policies. The team behind the bar at the cafe is always creating new seasonal cocktails and mocktail specials. Over the course of summer, Square Cafe will be rotating new cocktail and mocktail specials bi-weekly. Some of these new features include the Cosmosa, a unicorn-inspired cosmopolitan made with Stateside Vodka, pomegranate juice, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and finished with Peperino Spumante; as well as a mocktail version called the Sparkling Cosmo made with pomegranate juice, fresh lime juice, topped sparkling water and served on the rocks. The cafe will also feature its Morning Ale, a mule-like pick-me-up made with Casco Viejo Blanco Tequila, freshly squeezed orange, and fresh lime juice served on the rocks with a kick of ginger-lime beer.

Guests can cool off with a Mango-Berry Frosé blended frozen mango, strawberry purée, fresh lime juice, Casco Viejo Blanco Tequila, and Rosé wine; and the Sunrise Tea Cooler, a shaken mocktail with pineapple lemonade and freshly brewed raspberry iced tea, a dash of Grenadine, and frozen bits of pineapple.

a cocktail in a coupe glass with an orange garnish and a man's hand around the base of the glass resting on a wooden table
Photo courtesy of Station

Station

Bloomfield’s highly anticipated destination to dine al fresco will be debuting its newly renovated patio this season. Experience fresh air and even fresher cocktails and fare this summer in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Little Italy. Station is helmed by nationally-acclaimed Chef Curtis Gamble and the creative culinary and bar team, creating seasonal menus for guests to experience within their space, including their spacious covered patio.

Station is welcoming the summer season with summer specialty cocktails crafted by Lead Bartender Jennifer Woods. The newly crafted summer cocktail offerings include Ostara, made with Lunazul Blanco Tequila, orange blossom, lavender honey, orange, lemon, and egg white; Cuss Words featuring Genepy, BCN Gin, fresh lime, and tonic; and the Basil-cally a Martini; made with Tomato Boyd & Blair Vodka, Basil Dolin Dry, and housemade sherry vinaigrette bitters.

An overhead shot of 5 cocktails. The one at the top has a yellow rubber ducky, the middle one is a smaller glass and the 3 outer drinks are garnished with green limes
Photo courtesy of Shorty’s

Shorty’s

This newfangled laid-back spot, dripping with old-school vibes can be found in Pittsburgh’s North Shore and The Waterfront. This local activity bar offers classic cocktails, ice-cold pints, and Latin-inspired street food paired with retro-gaming like duckpin bowling, pinball, darts, shuffleboard, and bocce. Whether you are soaking in riverfront views on Shorty’s North Shore patio or gathering with friends at the Waterfront’s fire pits, Shorty’s is just as entertaining on the outside as it is inside. Soak up the sun with Shorty’s summer-inspired cocktails all season long.

Tequila fans can enjoy Shorty’s La Flama Blanca, made with El Jimador Blanco Tequila, coconut syrup, fresh lime, and Cholula hot sauce, and the fan-favorite, Marg Under Pressure, which is batched on draft with Hidden Still Agave Spirit, agave syrup, and fresh lime. For those seeking frozen cocktails, Shorty’s is your one-stop shop for all things slush. Guests can sip on The Cherry Limeade crafted with cherry vodka, fresh lime, lemonade, and demerara sugar, and the Carmaldazed Apple with Disobedient Apple Brandy, caramel vodka, apple cider, and caramel. Cool off with Shorty’s play on the classic Long Island cocktail — the Shor “Tea” — crafted with Xplorer Peach Bourbon, unsweetened tea, Demerara sugar, and fresh lemon.

Ritual House

Pittsburgh’s newest modern American restaurant features global flavors and artful cocktails in the iconic downtown Pittsburgh Union Trust building. Grab a seat under the eighteen chandeliers suspended over the central bar to toast Summer’s arrival. Ritual House is bringing the season of sun to Pittsburgh with its summer-forward cocktails highlighting local spirits. Explore the extensive cocktail menu home to delicious seasonal options such as the Strawberry Fields Forever, crafted with Parking Chair Vodka, strawberry, basil, black walnut, and fresh lemon, or the South Side Fizz, made with Bluecoat Gin, aloe, mint, lemon-lime, and topped with Prosecco. Take a tropical vacation with one sip when enjoying Ritual House’s Tropic Like It’s Hot cocktail, crafted with Bly White Rum, coconut, grapefruit, pineapple, and lime. For summer’s hottest spirit, guests can experience the Jungle Jester made with Mezcal, Jamaican Rum, Gifford Pineapple Liqueur, Orgeat, fresh lime, garnished with a Tajin dusted pineapple wedge, and served in a festive “Screaming Tiki” glass.

Photo courtesy of Christian James

The Christian James

Christian James is located in Downtown Pittsburgh within the Joinery Hotel. Global cuisine is offered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Every dish has a story told through the eyes of a fictional character, Christian James, who has traveled the world, gathering memories waiting to be told. The restaurant has a newly expanded bar service on the rooftop and in the hotel lobby area. Above is the Sicilian Kiss — Teremana Tequila, Limoncello, blood orange juice, agave syrup, tajin, Proper Peaches — and the Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Peach Schnapps, fresh peach slices, simple syrup, fresh mint, and Honey Rose Old Fashioned.

Cioppino

Located in the heart of the Historic Strip District is Cioppino Restaurant & Cigar Bar, an upscale seafood eatery that serves an eclectic collection of local and sustainable fresh seafood, steaks, and small plates. Enjoy seasonal cocktails, many with local spirits, anytime. Or, on the weekends, sip something special while listening to live music in a comfortable environment. Try one of these deliciously crafted cocktails during your next visit: Strawberry Fields — house-infused vodka with strawberry and rosemary, lemon, strawberry simple syrup, and prosecco; passionate Pittsburgh, Big Spring Spiced Rum, passionfruit puree, mint, lime, ginger, simple syrup, or the Marigot Bay, Boyd & Blair Vodka, Thatcher’s Prickly Pear Liqueur, guava puree, and lime.

Story by Star Laliberte / Photography courtesy of each corresponding restaurant 

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This Travel Company Specializes in Photographic Safaris

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a baby elephant

Pittsburgher Jen Marcus fell in love with the wilds of Africa while on safari with her parents three years ago. The disruptions of the pandemic nudged her into turning travel dreams into reality: she founded SafariSmiths, a travel company specializing in organizing photographic safaris for experienced (and freshman) world travelers.

Bucket List Safari

My journey in the safari industry began three years ago with a trip to Southern Africa with my parents. I immediately caught the safari bug, booking a second trip seven months later with a private photographic safari guide that I had met in South Africa. We visited Tanzania to see the annual Great Wildebeest Migration in the Northern Serengeti. Then it was on to Rwanda and Uganda four months later to trek with the gorillas and the chimpanzees. I was hooked on safari and yearned to visit more wild places and continue to hone my photography skills.

When the pandemic shut down the world in March 2020, I decided to start my own photographic safari company called SafariSmiths with my safari guide from South Africa. It was a strange time to start a travel company, but it turned out to be a blessing because we had the opportunity to explore many places without the crowds. One country that did not shut down during COVID was Tanzania, so we decided to explore as much as we could during 2020 and 2021. Then in 2022, we spent significant time exploring Kenya.

We wanted our safari company to be different. Our passion is wildlife and the conservation required to protect the wildlife. Working with the local communities is essential because human-wildlife conflict is a real problem. Protection of the animals by focusing on the people in the communities is what makes the safari industry possible.

A safari changes the way you see the world. Many of us grew up going to the zoo, where you know you will see a variety of animals at any given time. When you are on safari, nothing is guaranteed, and that is part of the fun! Searching the wide-open plains of the Serengeti to see what it has to offer that particular day, you might come across a lion hunting or den site with hyena pups, or a large herd of zebra. Whatever you find will be unique in that moment. Every day is different, which makes going on a safari special.

Planning a safari is hard work, but going on a safari changes the way you see the world. Sure, you can look at websites and read articles and plan your own safari, but to ensure that everything runs smoothly from time of year to visit and transfers between lodges, to the particular amenities that you find is important. You need someone who has traveled in the areas that you are interested in. That is the basis of SafariSmith — to create well-crafted safaris based on our experiences.

There are a lot of exciting things happening in the safari industry. Safari companies are very focused on sustainability at their camps. One of my favorite camps in Tanzania is Asilia Africa’s Sayari Camp in the Northern Serengeti. Recently they have switched the entire camp to solar power and have installed the first-ever solar-powered brewery in the bush. They brew four different types of beer on-site as well as filter their own water. It is amazing to be in the middle of the Serengeti, drinking beer made right there!

Food is an important part of the safari adventure. On morning drives, you will be treated to breakfast in the bush. Having a coffee while watching the Nile crocodiles in the Mara River is an amazing experience. Back at camp, you are treated to the most amazing food, often local dishes that will have your mouth watering.

Going on a safari is a travel experience on the bucket list of many people. As the world slowly opens again for travel, a safari is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with few people around. The COVID pandemic is changing the way that people want to travel. They are looking for more intimate experiences that combine unique travel with purposeful efforts to support the conservation of those places.

Story and Photography by Jen Marcus

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How One Photographer Fell in Love with Charleston

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Love and the Lowcountry

Seven million tourists visit Charleston, SC, every year, clopping over cobblestones in horse-drawn carriages, admiring iconic Rainbow Row and the breathtaking Antebellum mansions on the Battery, enjoying luxurious restaurants and shops downtown, touring historic plantations, and relaxing on Atlantic beaches. Before leaving, many plan a return trip to “The Holy City,” as natives call it. Others add it to their possible retirement destinations. But only a few pack up and move there.

Pittsburgh native Ben Petchel, 35, did. A lifestyle photographer/videographer, Ben went to Charleston to film a commercial for a new restaurant, fell in love with the city, and moved there nine months later. On his second day in town, he fell in love again, this time with his now-fiancé Ashley, a nurse practitioner who grew up in Cincinnati.

With countless family and friends in Pittsburgh (he played hockey at Bethel Park and Seton Hill and coached at Peters Township and Pitt), Ben sees his leap to Lowcountry as a badge of courage. Pittsburghers’ storied reluctance to pull up roots can also mean they “stray away from being great because good is good enough,” he suggests.

Whether Ben will be great in Charleston is a question mark, but in his new full-time marketing job, his photography background helps shape campaigns for what he calls “scrappier teams, such as YouTube or Dick’s [Sporting Goods], rather than big corporations,” and he’s finding “new ways of telling new stories.”

“There’s an endless playground around me. I’m centering myself,” he says, appreciating the opportunity to learn on the job and in a team.

Ben and Ashley live in center city on Meeting Street but, even as they savor the best of Charleston, they purposely bypass the “ritzy” Southern charm tourists crave. They enjoy a younger crowd with a college-student vibe and are drawn to spectacular water views. Many evenings see them setting out on foot to try new restaurants — some memorable, some forgettable — that popped up post-COVID, many in affordable side-street locations.

Among his favorite eateries is The Darling. Housed in a 115-year-old storefront on King Street, it’s the kingdom of Executive Chef Derick Wade, who cooked around the globe before landing first on nearby Kiawah Island and now in his own space. Seafood, especially oysters ($1 apiece during Happy Hour), star, but there are non-seafood options. It’s hard to find a bad review of Wade’s unpretentious, affordable Southern fare — crawfish étouffée, fried green tomatoes, jambalaya, gator bites, gumbo fries and more, plus inventive craft cocktails. The restaurant’s design, including a 14-seat raw bar that encourages guests to interact, boosts its allure.

Ben recently photographed Wade shucking fresh oysters in The Darling’s kitchen. “He taught me the proper way to eat an oyster,” says Ben. More complex than cracking a lobster claw or extracting an escargot, oyster etiquette has about 10 steps — which y’all might want to review before simply slurping.

Story by Susan Fleming Morgans / Photography by Ben Petchel

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Spiral-Cut Zucchini Summer Salad

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An aerial shot of a colorful summer salad on a yellow plate sitting on wooden slates purple in color and surrounded by flowers and herbs. Summer Salad Recipe

For this refreshing summer zucchini salad recipe, first, visit your local farmers’ market and stock up on zucchini, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Then proceed to the cutting board to chop your way toward a fresh and healthy farm-to-table meal.

How Do You Spiral-Cut Zucchini?

To spiral-cut zucchini for this salad recipe, you’ll typically use a spiralizer. First, trim both ends of a firm zucchini. If using a tabletop model, secure one end of the zucchini onto the prongs of the spiralizer and press the other end against the blade. Then, simply crank the handle while applying gentle pressure. For handheld spiralizers, you often twist the zucchini into the tool, like sharpening a pencil. While a spiralizer is the most efficient method for consistent curls, you can also create zucchini ribbons with a vegetable peeler (for wider, flatter noodles) or julienne strips with a mandoline slicer for a different texture.

More Summer Salad Ideas

Recipe and Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce

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Kimchi Melon Gazpacho

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An aerial view of two bowls of Kimchi Melon Gazpacho, orange in color, sitting on wooden slates purple in color and surrounded by flowers and herbs. Kimchi Melon Gazpacho Recipe

We know what you’re thinking: Cantaloupe and kimchi? Really? The answer is a wholehearted yes. The vegetal sweetness of the cantaloupe mellows the fermentation-driven umami of the kimchi into something unique and wonderful. And the microbiotic benefits of the kimchi make it good for you, too. This gazpacho recipe is best-served ice cold.

Kimchi Melon Gazpacho Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cantaloupe, diced
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
4 beefsteak tomatoes, diced
1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped
1/2 red onion, diced
1 clove garlic
1 tsp sherry vinegar
1/2 cup store-bought kimchi
1/4 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a blender, add all the ingredients together and blend until everything becomes a very smooth purée.
  2. Chill for at least 1 hour.
  3. Garnish with extra cucumber and kimchi and drizzle with good olive oil.

Recipe and Styling by Anna Calabrese / Photography by Dave Bryce

With Support from Buy Fresh Buy Local Western PA

TABLE Magazine is proud to partner with Farm to Table and Buy Fresh Buy Local Western PA

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Let’s Toast to an Expertly Expanded Kitchen, Ideal for Entertaining

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A gold sink faucet surrounded by a white kitchen.

What began as a galley kitchen with a breakfast nook is now a spectacular cooking and dining space, brought to life by Ida McConnell, certified kitchen designer and owner of Cuvée Kitchen Designs, Inc.

The luminous redesign is rooted in McConnell’s philosophy of “creat[ing] a welcoming, enticing, pleasing, and functional environment. A space that creates a positive visceral reaction, one in which you want to linger and a place to enjoy while performing the tasks at hand. Where form not only follows function, they are one and the same.”

An inviting island seats five and is equipped with refrigeration drawers, keeping fruit and vegetables close at hand, making prep a breeze.

The room’s focal point is the incredible stove hood, custom-detailed by a local metalsmith and flanked by arched windows. The view to the backyard invites the outdoors in, and the rounded shapes create continuity with arched architectural details on the home’s front porch. Phillip Wentzel Custom Homes was the contractor for the project.

Another showstopper? The beverage center, featuring a glass-front, built-in True refrigerator, custom painted and detailed to blend into the cabinetry. Its open facade beckons guests to gather and select a tasty, chilled drink. A HydroTap by ZipWater dispenses filtered water, carbonated water, and hot water for easy drink making. The pop of striped wallpaper draws attention without disrupting the flow.

The kitchen also features a custom coffee bar with a built-in pot filler. The barista station lives inside a tall cabinet with retractable doors that neatly hide the area when it is not in use.

Rutt HandCrafted Custom Cabinetry, supplied by Cuvée Kitchen Designs, creates seamless transitions between the appliances and storage. For example, the refrigerator and freezer are paneled to appear “more like an armoire piece,” says McConnell. Glass-front cabinets throughout are ideal for displaying beautiful dishes.

To craft a refreshing color palette, McConnell combined Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White and Hale Navy paints, Oxford Brown-stained walnut wood cabinetry finishes, and Primo Marble & Granite Quartzite and honed-white Tropicalia countertops.

By expanding the kitchen’s footprint, McConnell was able to add a hidden, walk-in pantry, expertly concealed with French doors that complement the cabinets. A step inside reveals an extensive preparation area outfitted with an ice maker, plenty of counter space, shelving, a second dishwasher, and an abundance of storage. Additionally, McConnell designed a new, functional, walk-through butler’s pantry that is in harmony with the home’s age and details.

Extensive space planning and organizational elements rounded out the project, including dividers for utensils, a knife drawer, and an array of hidden organizational features. Prior to move-in, “We walked through every drawer, every cabinet so [that] everything just flowed beautifully,” she says.

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What better way to celebrate the finished product than a dinner party? Kimberley Haugh of Kimberley Ashlee Catering created a sumptuous dinner menu, complete with wine pairings selected by her husband, Josh Haugh. The multicourse menu was served on traditional dinnerware in colors that perfectly complement McConnell’s design. Cheers!

The Menu, Kimberly Haugh of Kimberley Ashlee Catering

Shrimp Toast with Chili Aioli
Butter Tarragon-Roasted Monkfish with Carrot Purée, Finished with Watercress
Sautéed Italian Greens & Radicchio with Pecorino
Individual Truffled Chicken Pot Pies
Apple Custard with Spiced Apples & Pecans

“A good party menu is one which allows the host to relax and actually enjoy themselves. It should have “Wow!” and “Oh! And ah!” elements, but it shouldn’t be complicated.” —Kimberley Ashlee

The Wine Pairings

Waterbrook Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Beautiful and crisp with notes of honeydew and apricot

Schug Pinot Noir 2020
Light and bright with notes of red cherries, raspberries, and spice

“The Schug Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast, CA) pairs nicely with the Chicken Pot Pie and even with the monkfish as well. This light-bodied red exhibits great fruit-forward flavors of cherries, strawberries, and spice making it enjoyable with the two dishes without overpowering them.”

Appliances Sourced from Don’s Appliances

BlueStar 48” RNB Series Range with 12” Griddle
Best Built-In Hood PK22 Series
BlueStar 30” Electric Wall Oven with French Doors
True 30” Beverage Column with Stainless Glass Door
Cove Dishwasher DW2450
Sharp Microwave Drawer
U-Line 15” Nugget Ice Machine
XO Beverage Center Refrigerator
Fisher & Paykel Integrated Double DishDrawer Dishwasher
Sub-Zero 30” Designer Over-and-Under Refrigerator and Freezer with Ice Maker

Story by Nicole Barley / Photography by Dave Bryce

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