I have thoughts, okay? It’s hot, it’s sunny, and I have thoughts. But first, let’s address the what’s-in-your-summer-cup question.
June Coffee Date – 2019
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I have thoughts, okay?
It’s hot, it’s sunny, and I have thoughts.
But first, let’s address the what’s-in-your-summer-cup question.
This morning: iced coffee (details will be discussed, just you wait). Currently: coconut water with lunch. Last night: a Rowdy Uncle beer, from Insight Brewing, split with Bjork, to complement the carnitas and fried fish tacos from the takeout place by our house that were laced to perfection with lime and salsa verde. Yeah. It’s definitely summer, and did I already mention? I have thoughts.
What are you drinking? I am craving bubble tea right now. Someone please tell me you’re drinking a bubble tea.
Grab your glass and read on. It’s time for a few words about June!
Summer Is Fun
I just want to take a moment to say that summer is my favorite. I love it. I want it to always be summer except for literally two out of 365 days which are Thanksgiving and Christmas, during which I’d like it to be fall and winter, respectively. And spring – let’s just skip it and get right to the good stuff. Is that so much to ask?
This morning I opened the door to let Sage out, and I felt a nice wave of heat already at 6am, and I know some of you love to hate, but man, feeling that sticky air was like getting a big hug. My shoulders relaxed, I took a deep breath, and felt the little sweat droplets dripping from glass of iced coffee to my bare feet, and put on my shorts and t-shirt to go out for a hazy, sweaty, early morning run with Solvi in her little sparkly heart sunglasses, and just all the yeses for this.
I live for summer.
What’s your favorite season and please don’t even say winter.
Minneapolis Summer Passport
I bought a Minneapolis Summer Passport for, well, for Bjork, for our anniversary, but technically it’s for both of us because it’s a book for two-for-one deals that only works with two people. What do they call it again? A gift for the giver? One of THOSE kinda gifts.
Usually my problem with a lot of these deal things is that you get them and then you’re like… eh… I actually don’t want to go to any of these places.
But this one has an awesome list of places for us to check off the list this summer in Minneapolis and St. Paul: Revival, Hola Arepa, Lat14, Lyn65, The Hewing, Hi-Lo Diner, Birchwood Cafe, The LynHall, Nico’s Tacos, Pajarito, Tattersall, Black Coffee and Waffle, and more.
Also: Hai Hai, which is what is pictured above! Balinese chicken thigh with coconut rice, Thai basily gin and tonics, larb with so much chile, lime, and lemongrass that it should be worn as perfume. SO YUMMY.
If you are local, what are your favorite Twin Cities restaurants to hit up? And you know I’ll love you if you are very specific – like, where to go but also what to order, because these details are important.
The Iced Coffee Drink That Is Making Me Swoon
Alright. Here we go.
- Fill half a mug / pitcher / whatever you want with cold brew.
- Fill the OTHER half of your mug / pitcher / etc. with oat milk. Oat milk is important. The flavor and creaminess are perfect for iced coffee, better than any other nondairy milk I’ve tried.
- Add a fast but steady pour of maple syrup, and a tiny sprinkle of sea salt.
- TELL ME THIS ISN’T THE BEST SUMMER DRINK EVER. I dare you.
How I Make Cold Brew: The coffee lovers may have opinions for me but I am zero percent precious about how I make cold brew. I just use this thing* and I fill the middle filter piece with ground (decaf) coffee, and then fill the pitcher with water. I let it sit in the fridge for 24 hours (maybe 18, maybe 36 if I forget – told you, not precious) and then I take the filter out. The end.
Office Remodel Update! Whee!
We are *thisclose* to moving into our semi-finished office!
Remember how it looked before? This has truly been a total transformation.
The kitchen isn’t done – actually isn’t even started. And the rest of the offices are just big empty rooms right now. But THEY ARE ROOMS. And they are finished as in, like, we’re ready to put furniture in them! And they are so, so lovely.
Our friend Melissa from The Faux Martha is working with us to design a space that’s cool and functional and just very us. She is a genius. Stay tuned!
Back To Audiobooks
It’s been a year or so, but I restarted my Audible subscription this month! Yay!
15 minute commute x 2 x 4 days / week = 2 hours / week = 1 (audio)book every two weeks! Not bad, considering I’ve read exactly… zero books in the last 6 months.
Currently I’m reading the book Digital Minimalism which, honestly, is super boring, so I’m not necessarily recommending it as, like, a fun beach read. But it IS really fascinating and thought-provoking and challenging in a good way for me.
What books are you reading this summer? Boring ones are okay, fun ones are better.
Sagey Says
Sage wants you to know that she met a furry little someone at the park the other day WHO HAPPENS TO BE HER DOGGO TWIN! Look at these two!
Sometimes it’s easier to just stay home (okay fine it’s ALWAYS easier to just stay home), but Sage says: get out there! You can do it. Sometimes it’s scary, but stay open, stay brave, try the new thing, go to the new place… because look at who you might find when you venture out into the wild.
YOUR DOG TWIN.
I mean, you just never know.
You guys are the best.
Thanks for sharing your summer (AHEM BEST SEASON EVER AHEM) with me!
Filed Under: Life
June 28, 2019
Nice to meet you!
I’m Lindsay and I ♡ FOOD. I used to be a teacher, and now making food and writing about it online is my full-time job. I love talking with people about food, and I'm so glad you're here.
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I miss your coffee date blog posts! Are you on a temporary hiatus or are you not planning on doing these anymore?
Lindsay!!! You get me!!! I’ve been ordering boba pearls off of Amazon(less than $5!) so that I can make my own bubble tea at home!!! I’m crafting one right now! I can send you my recipe, if you’re, you know, into that kinda thing 🙂
Have you tried macadamia nut milk with your iced coffee? I had it in Hawaii, and it is SO DELISH! To be fair, I haven’t tried oat milk to compare, so I will make sure to try it. But along the same lines with the creaminess and flavour, with just a touch of maple syrup and vanilla.
This is a perfect idea. 10/10 will try <3
Almost 3 weeks into July and I am just now reading this. I love the idea of a local summer passport!! Give me all the coffee, please. Summer is the ONLY season. The End! 🙂
OMG I absolutely LOvE summer! I love dining at my favorite little restaurant and eating out on the patio with a glass of wine! Fabulous
Hola Arepa is definitely one of my top favorite restaurants in the cities. All the food is good, but their brunch is absolutely fabulous (bonus if you can score a spot on their patio). I love the arepas with black beans, guac, an egg, and tomatoes. YUM. Can’t forget the yucca fries with the aioli, of course.
I just love coming here and reading these and seeing that sweet girl’s face! She is getting so big! <3 <3
I live in Maine. We have ten beautiful days per year and freeze for the other 355. I feel you. Do you put ice in the coffee? Or does that water it down?
I can highly recommend: Revival, Hola Arepa, Hi-Lo Diner, and Tattersall!
I also recommend: Martina (it’s on the pricier side, but my brother-in-law is the bar manager!), Young Joni (go in the Back Bar to feel like one of the cool kids) and The Bachelor Farmer Cafe.
please tell me you’ve stood in line at Mucci’s at 4:50pm to make sure you get a table and a plate of their bucatini? if not, rocket that to the tippy top of the list
I loved reading this
Hi Lindsay,
We recently stumbled upon Parlor Bar and their signature burgers. It’s my favorite in the cities (and we eat a lot of burgers)- and an order of fries to share is more than enough. We also like Augustine’s Bar and Bakery for appetizers (flatbread and wings) and their Salmon entree. Favorite Thai takeout from Thai Garden down on University for their red curry that is loaded with veggies and their pad thai. We frequent La Tapatia and get anything on the menu, and also enjoy Nutmeg Brewhouse up lexington in Arden Hills (Chicken Tikka is a favorite). Oh, and have you been to The Curry Diva pop-up kitchen in uptown? A new favorite for a special occasion date night (we went for my bday and it surpassed-simple, unique, and amazing food!)
Solvi is beautiful and so are you ♥️ I absolutely love audible and the best book ever is ‘where the crawdads sing’ – one of those books you absolutely miss when it’s done. It’s perfection via audible
I’m so going to try the iced coffee! I used to live near a place that did an iced chai that was awesome with oat milk. I’m reading Ina May’s guide to childbirth as I’m due this September with my second baby! My little man is going to be a year and half when they are born (we’re having a surprise baby)! Love summer, wish I could be sippin’ on some adult beverages, but I’ll have to get creative with my virgin drinks 😉
Oh, yes, to oat milk in iced coffee!!
…. uh, that’s all.
Glad to see you’re still doing good as a side hustle bloggjng success, Lindsay. Keep doing what you do my friend. 🙂
Emily’s Lebanese Deli in ne mpls
Tabouli, Baked kibi, & the spinach pie are all my favorites.
It’s very small- you can order everything to go!
Even living in Texas, summer is my favorite season – the light and the swimming and the late-night ice cream and the cicadas and ALL the summer vegetables and fruits. Right around the middle of August though (that is the hottest part of summer for us, where it’s definitely over 100 every day) I start to wear out on the heat and bugs a little bit. Which just calls for even more ice cream, watermelon, and water time.
We do have to wait a long time for fall — it can be irritating to hit October without having been able to break out your sweaters yet! Monotonous hot weather without the freedom and excitement of summer is just…. not that fun.
I cannot imagine Minnesota winters; y’all deserve the best summer in the world!
Oooo I had the winter passport but the summer passport sounds like it has an AMAZING line-up! You had me drooling at the mention of Revival – I have to get their fried chicken every time. They also have an iced tea cocktail that I fantasize about on the really hot days. 😛
my 3 grown daughters (who never ate a spinach or a broccoli!) growing up and so it is funny that they love!!!! your blog…..they turned me on to this site too! i love it! we always ate “clean” and so i love all your recipes and look forward to the recipes and stories too! i try one every couple of weeks for my empty nest. xx laura 🙂
Pajarito…that’s the one in St. Paul right? Too lazy to actually look it up right now, but if that’s it and you haven’t gone yet, GO NOW. So good. The food, the drinks, everything—to die for. I’m very picky about Mexican and usually prefer a hole-in-the-wall establishment, but this is an exception. The drinks are strong but delicious and the Brussels Sprouts were a standout, but literally everything was amazing.
I love summer. And fall. I live in Houston and I’ve noticed that our fall is more like Minnesota summer from my [brief] visits.
I recently read: Daisy Jones and the Six and The Radium Girls – both highly recommended!
I also LOVE summer. I live somewhere where winters are chilly, damp and dark and summers are warm, sunny and perfect. So it’s kind of like, no contest. If I lived somewhere with hot, humid summers my opinion would change! I will say that I love the clothing for fall/winter though. I love layers and cozy sweaters, fleece jackets, cashmere scarves, and down vests. So when summer starts to end I feel sad, but also happy to pull out my favorite clothes 🙂
I also love summer! I love how you show how much you appreciate the little things–coffee dates, nice meals, bonding time with the little one. Oh, I actually tried the coffee recipe you posted, and I must say, it is awesome! Fits perfectly for the summer heat!
Oh fine! You convinced me! I finally bought your ice coffee pitcher thingy AND oat milk for the first time and was thanking you over and over and over this morning. You have changed my summer mornings (and let’s be real, afternoons) and bless you.