by Madeleine Cole
If you’re living in D.C. right now, you’re probably thinking what we’re all thinking: how the hell are there so many cicadas in my local park and what’s the best way to escape them?! In staying on brand with our magnificent city, I have the perfect solution for you...HAPPY HOUR! Is there any better way to welcome in the warm months after a very long year in isolation than with a fruity cocktail and perfect snack to pair? I can’t think of a single one.
Let me introduce myself! Hi, I’m Madeleine. I’m a bookseller at Bold Fork Books and spend most of my time thinking about food and drinks. I’ve been a huge fan of Underground Goods for a while now, and I could not be happier to have their products on the shelves in Bold Fork. As a celebration of our woman-owned businesses partnering up, I could not be more excited to share some happy hour inspiration with you all. I’m using two vintage Nick and Nora glasses sourced by Underground Goods and their incredible baguette in my happy hour this week!
Recently, I’ve been drawing my happy hour inspiration from my favorite book currently on the shelves at Bold Fork Books. The book is titled “Getaway” and it’s written by James Beard Award-winning chef and co-owner of numerous Seattle restaurants, Renee Erickson. Not only is she killing the game with restaurants in Seattle, but she is also a fantastic writer and I find myself easily getting lost in her stories about travel. This book is divided into sections based on cities Erickson has travelled to throughout her life, and each section is filled with stories from her travels and recipes inspired by those places. The recipes I used for happy hour this week come from the Seattle section and are perfect for sweaty days when you don’t want to make anything too complicated.
Without further ado, let me present the Strawberry and Black Pepper Gin and Tonic paired with Summertime Tartines from “Getaway.” The cocktail is a perfect mix of sweet, peppery, and refreshing, while the tartines are as simple as they get in the summer months. It’s the perfect pair to quickly toss together for a happy hour outside with friends and will leave you feeling cooled down as the weather continues to get hotter. And if you haven’t tried the Underground Goods bread yet...it’s time. It made for the perfect tartines, and the cocktail could not look better in the glasses. Happy hour away, friends!
Strawberry and Black Pepper Gin and Tonic
Makes two cocktails
What you need:
4 ounces (120 ml) gin
1 cup (200 g) strawberries (as ripe as they get)
Tonic water
Strawberries, to garnish
Black pepper, to garnish
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the strawberries with the gin. Strain into an empty glass.
Fill two glasses with ice and strain the strawberry gin a second time, dividing it between two glasses. Top each glass with tonic and garnish with a few strawberries, both in the gin and hanging from the side. Grind two or three twists of black pepper over the top of each drink.
Summer Tartine with Ricotta and Summer Fruit
Serves 4 to 6
What you need:
4 slices of good sourdough bread, grilled and cooled to room temperature
Salt
1 cup (240 ml) good whole-milk ricotta
1 pint (500 g) ripe summer fruit
Olive oil to garnish
Crunchy sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to finish