What to Eat When it's Too Hot to Think

PLUS a TikTok trend worth trying and a couple GREAT restaurants

It’s hot. It’s SO hot. In fact, I was recently informed by Katie that this July set a world record for the hottest month on Earth! Ever!

Since that fact is wildly depressing, this is a compilation of hot weather recipes that make me wildly happy. I hope they will do the same for you.

The Only Acceptable Fruit Salads

Fun fact about me: I don’t like fruit salad — or at least, traditional fruit salads. Something about pineapple juice leaking onto unripe melon with a random apple slice in there seems… criminal. But summer is the best season for delicious fruits, so here are the only acceptable fruit salad recipes (imo):

• Melon Salad with Pistachio Dukkah

• Watermelon Cucumber Salad

• Sweet Summer Salad

• Ripe Peaches + Burrata. Any combination of that.

3 foods you should definitely be grilling (if you aren’t already)

I’m a big fan of grilling, although I was terrified at first. Definitely had to FaceTime my brother-in-law, John, when lighting the coals ignited larger flames than I anticipated. But hey, I haven’t burned anything down (yet)! And honestly, it’s the best way to impress your friends and transform something ordinary into "something fabulous,” as Ina would say.

LETTUCE

• Grilled radicchio and kale salad with orange and hazelnuts

• Grilled Romaine

POTATOES

• Grilled sweet potatoes with hot sauce butter, chive soured cream and pumpkin seeds

• Grilled fingerling potato salad with chipotle bacon vinaigrette

CORN

I’m dying to try this TikTok trend

I like to think that I’m skeptical of viral food trends, but this one has me drooling. Pineapple. Mango. Peach. I want to try all the frozen granita!!!

@blairhortonVIRAL PINEAPPLE SHAVED ICE is definitely worth the try! @littlefatboyfrankie made strawberry shaved ice a viral sensation and I had to try it with pineapple. Because I love pineapple, but also because I was nervous about micro planing a smaller fruit 😝😝 As a texture girlie I can tell you that this 1000% hits the spot! Plus it’s truly the easiest thing to make! @littlefatboyfrankie topped his with condensed milk, so I tried it with condensed coconut milk, but it honestly didn’t need it all. Let me know if you try this and what you think! #viraldessert #viralrecipe #viralrecipes #shavedice

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When in doubt, just eat out. Specifically, at Chifa.

Tiradito: Japanese sea bream chilled in a peppery orange and lime sauce, garlic, yellow chili topped with salsa criollo, sweet potato and toasted Peruvian corn

Seasonal Special: Fries topped with grilled veggies and Filet Mignon

Please don’t miss Chifa, a family owned restaurant in Eagle Rock. The vibes are great. The food is greater: so much flavor while maintaining balance in each bite. The unique combination of Chinese and Peruvian cuisine was so memorable I cannot wait to go back for the rest of the menu (plus the MERCH).

Remember that when all else fails, fish tacos are still cheap and delicious.

Especially fish tacos from Via-Mar in Highland Park

Wishing you health and happiness in the midst of this relentless heat.

Happy Eating!!

Mary