The scene nearly paints itself.
The once-cold steel of a grill that now blisters with energy, the billowing smoke from the hot hot heat, the shimmering water undulating in the distance, the squeals of delight emanating from children who scamper in every direction, the rippling stars & stripes staked along the garden pathway, and the crack of a wooden bat through the static hum of a transistor (okay, fine, HD) radio.
This is mid-summer in all its splendor.
The entirety of summertime, but especially the sweltering days on either side of the Forth of July holiday, is designed for all of the above.
The only real question is: what are you grilling?
It is customary for me to man the grill while at my parents’ house, to absorb into the fibers of my shirt the heavenly smells produced when flame greets meat. And so it was again this past weekend, when the Bogle clan rendezvoused in the backyard in which we grew up, poolside, to celebrate Father’s Day and to catch up on the recent past, outline with excitement our separate summer vacation itineraries, make fun of the Phillies front office, swim, splash and chow down on all that rolls off the grill in waves that outdid tween boy efforts to make the pool shimmy under the midday sun.
There was tender 100% grass-fed lamb sirloin chop, every bite packed with all-natural flavor and not a single antibiotic, organic portabella mushroom caps from just down the road in Kennett Square, rubbed with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with nothing more exotic than fresh ground sea salt and cracked black pepper. Same goes for the organic yellow squash, quartered for the grill and then cubed off of it, making a scrumptious and impossibly healthy finger food.
The star of our Father’s Day grill show made a grand entrance: the edge of eye steak, still pink inside, grilled to perfection (if I do say so myself) and sliced cinematically as an appetizer for sharing after the meat rested for a bit before being carried back outside to the tiki bar we Bogles fancy huddling around all summer long.
May I fetch anyone a beverage?
No party would be complete without a sugary treat to put a bow on the festivities and so we turned to a fresh mixed berry tart and a strawberry rhubarb pie made with local ingredients by Bread Alone for natural sweetness that was devoured by the kids and adults alike.
If you live in the NE portion of the country and have grilling plans this July 4th holiday or anytime else this summer, turn to Fresh Direct to deliver fresh-not-frozen meats (with a huge selection of grass-fed options), veggies (local, organic, and farm CSA are all choices for you), treats, baked goods, seafood, beverages and so much more right to your door. From there, you’re only minutes from creating summer grilling memories with family and friends.
*Fresh Direct provided all of the delicious food & drink I grilled, poured and plated this past weekend. They are also providing financial compensation for this story but all opinions expressed above are honest and unbiased, as always. I really couldn’t grill fast enough to match the appetite of my family who oohed and aahed over the steak, lamb, mushroom, squash and desserts.
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