Feasting on Summer
Posted by melissamccart on August 7, 2008
This week’s Time Out New York cover reads “25 Outdoor Things to do Before Summer Ends.” While I’ve biked, hiked, and kayaked plenty the last couple of weeks, much of what I’d like to do before Labor Day centers around food. So I’ve started a wish list that may be a little ambitious, but makes me less wistful during the final days of summer:
1. Tom Brown’s summer Rum Punch at Cork ; 2. Rustico’s brew pops and one of Greg’s craft beer six-packs to go; 3. heirloom tomatoes from Toigo Orchard for salads, sauces, and tomato sandwiches; 4. pickled watermelon; 5. Dairy Godmother on mint chocolate chip, caramel cashew, or Bordeaux cherry days. 
6. Redwood for whole grilled rockfish; 7. super spicy takeout from Silver Spring’s Thai Market (to test whether hot foods really do cool you down); 8. pizza, beer, and music at Comet Ping Pong; 9. candied habanero margarita at Bourbon;10.grilled fish caught by my father.
11. jerk chicken on someone else’s grill since I can’t have one; 12. a seat on Poste’s patio for a glass of rose and a flowerpot filled with ricotta stuffed squash blossoms; 13. homemade peach or berry gelato made with milk and eggs from South Mountain Creamery; 14. Ray’s Hell-Burger; 15. Jamie Leeds’ summer succotash at Hank’s Oyster Bar. 
16. grilled sausage at a Nationals game or hot dogs on the patio at PS7’s;17. ceviche at Oyamel; 18. Dog Days of Summer any day in August from 4-7 on the patio at Buzz Bakery; 19. Quarterdeck’s or Cantler’s crab; 20.Todd Gray’s burger on brioche (or really, anything) at Equinox.
21. pork barbecue, somewhere: I need guidance; 22. a refreshing Campari apertif made by Chris Cunningham at Dino; 23. lemon pine nut bar with blueberry compote and gelato for Lickety Split at Restaurant Eve; 24. Gruner Veltliner at Vinoteca or a half-dry Riesling at Proof; and 25. a sunset Sunday lowcountry boil with friends.
What are you craving before summer’s end?
(photo of Ray’s Hell-Burger by Samer Farha)
Mary said
THIS IS A GREAT POST. I’m craving a GIANT lobster roll from a real lobster shack in Kittery Maine.
Phil said
Awesome post, Melissa! Have you tried KBQ for BBQ? I haven’t yet, but have been meaning to find an occasion to trek out to Bowie to do so, maybe in conjunction with a Bowie Baysox game.
Monica Bhide said
Great post!
Irving Streete said
Regarding barbecue: If I were free this weekend I’d motor down 301 towards the Potomac River Bridge in deepest Southern Maryland, pick up some barbecue from one of the regions too-few genuine shacks and then head over to Lil’ Margaret’s to eat the ‘cue while listening to a proper down-home bluegrass festival. Cheapest vacation you can take: two hours and a million miles away from DC.
JB’s barbecue is almost all the way to the bridge. Go through the intersection with the huge hand-painted Lil’ Margaret’s sign to the next intersection, taking a left at the Pizza joint/liquor store. There may be a plywood sign on your right with “barbecue today” and and arrow painted on it. The shop is easy to miss, about a mile down the road on your right, with another sign. But if you roll the windows down, you can generally smell it before you see it: J.B’s Bar-B-Que, Rt 257 Newburg MD 20664. The chopped pork is their best offering.
I’m also partial to Sonny’s: 29144 Thompson Corner Rd. Charlotte Hall– State Road 236 just SE of Route 5. I like their ribs.
There’s also Randy’s and Johnny Boy’s, but they’re so well known they’re less fun.
Also, there are tons of places selling fresh and steamed crabs all over the area, and a gang of Amish farms selling fresh produce and meat on Rt. 236 (check the Post’s recent article).
Lil’ Margarets:
http://www.lilmargaretsbluegrass.20662md.com/
Blog Round-Up: 8/10 « thrifty/epicure said
[...] 25 DC food things to do before Labor Day. I’ve accomplished three so far, and I might catch one or two more; the thriftiness cred, however, would suffer with a few of these. Nonetheless, I envy anyone who catches all 25. Good luck! [Counter Intelligence] [...]
Washington City Paper: City Desk - Our Morning Roundup said
[...] Intelligence lists 25 things to do before summer ends among them: drinking rum punch at Cork and eating whole grilled rockfish at [...]
So Good Blog/News Round-Up 8/12/08 | So Good said
[...] Counter Intelligence writes a wish list of 25 foods to eat by end of summer. [...]
Alicia said
Best pulled pork sandwich I’ve had around here was from the Apple House in Front Royal, VA – http://www.theapplehouse.net/. They smoke the meat themselves behind the restaurant and the bbq sauce is made with their own apple cider. They also make some great baked beans and cider donuts.
August Baker’s Dozen « The DC Dish said
[...] hard to believe summer is over. Melissa at [Counter Intelligence] makes a list of things to do eat before Labor [...]