There’s Vodka in my Fruit

Over the last few years my alcohol preference has gone from vodka soda to beer or wine. But for special occassions, I’ve been known to have a cocktail or two. And after being introduced to vodka fruit, I think I’m going to be indulging in more scandalous cocktails more often.

On my trip out to Fire Island this weekend I was pleasantly greeted with a fairly large container of what my friend Mike calls Vodka Fruit. Although this wonderful concoction is bursting with flavors, I was surprised to learn that its merely the combination of two luscious ingredients fresh fruit & premium vodka. Since this incredibly simple recipe was already a success, I became excited by the possibility of enhancing its flavor with other fairly typical pairings like mint, simple syrup, or any  number of liqueurs.

But until I test the waters, I’ll stick with the basics:

VODKA FRUIT RECIPE

Ingredients

• One handle of premium vodka such as Grey Goose or Ketel One (DO NOT CHEAP OUT)
• 2 pounds of fresh fruit (strawberries, pineapples, mangoes, oranges, nectarines and watermelon are all good choices. DO NOT use apples as they oxidize and will ruin your fruit mix.)
• One 3-4 quart plastic container

Preparations

1. Wash and cut fruit into bite size pieces and place in plastic container.
2. Pour vodka over fruit until the contents of the container is full.
3. Let vodka and fruit soak for TWO FULL DAYS prior to eating.
4. Enjoy the succulent vodka soaked fruit on day three and the refreshing vodka fruit cocktail on day four.

*Serving Tip: This winning combination is most definitely a crowd pleaser and even makes a nice after dinner drink/snack. I highly recommend serving it at a party or small gathering. Its vital that the fruit soaks for a two day period so that it absorbs as much vodka as possible. And don’t forget to use premium vodka!

Fire Island BBQs

It’s already day three of the new J-O-B and all I can think about is my next trip out to Fire Island. Though working at Discovery is incredibly exciting, it’s hard not to reminisce of indulgent weekends filled with sun, bbq, Whitney’s Market sandwiches, & inordinate amounts of liquor.

But the best meal I had all weekend must have been at the Bernacchio Family BBQ. With a piece of equipment like the Weber Summit Grill, I knew the Bernacchios meant business. This six burner propane machine was as beautiful as it was impressive. When I saw a big hunk of prime rib slowly roasting over a fresh new que, I knew my weekend had peaked. This was the best there was to be eaten in Fire Island, well compared to my share house and Whitney’s sandwiches.

And after roasting in its own juices for an hour and a half in an array of dry herbs and olive oil, the Bernacchio Prime Rib was ready to be cut and devoured.

This perfectly cooked prime rib was tender and seasoned so well it had no need for condiments. And for me, a condiment-free piece of meat or anything that matter really speaks to the great quality and prudent preparation of the meat.

 And lucky for me, the sides were plentiful! A bright green pasta salad filled with fresh broccoli & penne accompanied my wonderfully medium rare prime rib. Though the meal wouldn’t be complete without a helping of Rachel’s brownies that admittedly did disappoint. But with Rachel’s crumbcake as the savior, I still managed to satisfy my sweet tooth and my expectations of her infamous fire island gold mine.

Rachel's Brownies

A delicious ending to a breezy summer day or the perfect meal before a night of debauchery? I’ll let you be the judge.

And to get your BBQ on THIS weekend, head over to Madison Square Park for the Big Apple Barbeque Block Party. Hearty $8 plates will be served from 15 different restaurants spanning 10 states across the US. Among the elite are Ken Callaghan’s Blue Smoke, Pete Daversa’s Hill Country, and John Stage’s Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. Let the games begin!

Bay Shore Fare

After getting stuck in about two plus hours of traffic heading out to Fire Island, my friends and I had JUST missed the ferry. Given that the next ferry heading out to Ocean Beach was two hours and twenty five minutes away, we had an opportunity to try some of Bay Shore’s local fare. And at that moment, there was nothing I wanted more than a warm cup of New England Clam Chowder from Molly Malones. 

 How we decided on Molly Malones, I’n not quite sure. Maybe because it had the most obnoxious green sign or because they serve Irish American Cuisine which made me quite skeptical. After all, I’m always up for a culinary adventure. But after perusing the menu, the only thing Irish about the place was Corned Beef and Cabbage sandwich which I could have sworn is a Jewish dish, but who can really be sure?

Molly Malones specializes in seafood, but also serves up a bizarre assortment of standard American dishes like chicken & turkey blt sandwiches and Italian classics like chicken parmigian. But despite the diverse cuisine, odd decor, and large families dominating in dining room, the food was pretty good all around, and especially the New England Clam Chowder!!!

 Molly Malones New England Clam Chowder was creamy, clamy, and delicious! And if I wasn’t planning on laying out on the beach all weekend, I would have devoured three more cups! But as for my main course, not so much… For the first time in a while, I ordered wrong. Anything but the Turkey Club probably would have been the better choice, but I went with my gut. And at 8pm on a rainy Thursday night my gut was saying Turkey Club.

Don’t get me wrong, the sandwich was good. The bread was nicely toasted, the bacon perfectly crisp, and they even put the mayo on the side without me asking! But it was  just not as good as the chicken parmigian and the grilled chicken sandwich my friends ordered.

I believe these pictures speak for themselves. So if you’re stuck at the Bay Shore ferry with some time to kill, check out Molly Malones. From the chicken parmigian to the clam chowder, it’s tough to go wrong. Though I’ve also heard Nicky’s clam bar dishes out a tasty soft shell crab sandwich. The choice is up to you my friend.

MOLLY MALONES

124 Maple Avenue

Bay Shore, NY 11706