Summer living is easy except when it’s not. Trying to beat the heat of a Virginia summer sometimes feels like an effort in futility. This year it doesn’t have to be. The latest trends are guaranteed to make your summer as cool — literally and figuratively — as possible.
Beat the heat by turning off the oven. Give your range a rest and rely on the summer salad trend to keep you cool. Pick up Jeanne Kelley’s “Salad for Dinner” at La Cuisine and try the baby greens with Quince Vinaigrette, artisanal cheeses and charcuterie. It makes the perfect summer supper for one or many. Serve your cheeses and charcuterie on a chilled Himalayan Salt Block from Olio Tasting Room to keep everything cool. Their olive oils will make the vinaigrette below extra tasty.
Ann Tuennerman of Tales of the Cocktail festival, says frozen drinks are making a big comeback this summer. The daiquiri is returning along with fresh new cool takes on classic cocktails. Can you say frozen Moscow Mule? Red Barn Mercantile stocks a wide selection of cocktail staples. Try the recipes in Maria del Mar Sacasa’s book, “Summer Cocktails” or pick up Arrowhead Farms’ Spitfire Margarita Mix for something quick. Mexican spirits are still a strong trend in cocktails. Pick up Bittermilk’s Oaxacan Old Fashioned mixer from Curated and serve your favorite new cocktail on a tray from Acme Midcentury to amp up your cool factor.
Seersucker is a summer essential. To keep your cool this year pair Sara Campbell’s classic striped seersucker swing dress with the latest trend in foot wear, white leather sneakers. Crisp, polished and a little bit retro, the white sneaker is this year’s go to summer shoe. Try the Blair by Vince from The Shoe Hive.
If you’re going to be strolling Old Town, shopping its boutiques, or attending the Monaco’s Yappy Hour, then be sure to keep your pup cool with the Ultimate Cooling Coat from the Dog Park. Dog friendly establishments are a trend that is on its way to becoming a standard. As dogs become more than just pets, more businesses are opening their doors to them. Old Town has never been more pet friendly than it is today.
Frozen cocktails, oven free dinners, and Fido by your side sounds like the ideal way to keep cool and be cool this summer. Wouldn’t you agree?
Quince Vinaigrette
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
3 Tablespoons quince paste
1 garlic clove, peeled
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (available at Olio Tasting Room)
Combine the vinegar, quince paste, garlic clove, and salt in a blender. Blend until the quince paste is smooth. Add the olive oil and pulse briefly until blended. Season the dressing to taste with freshly ground black pepper. (Dressing can be made one week ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring the dressing to room temperature and whisk to blend before using.)