A Different July Fourth

This is by far the strangest July Fourth weekend any of us have experienced. As the past few months have taught us anything is that we need to care for our families and others. How do we do that? By offering good food, whether homemade or restaurant bought.

Families can still have barbecues even if they're socially distanced.It can be done. Even if it's just the immediate family there's still can be hot dogs and hamburgers, graced with sides of macaroni and potato salads. If more people are coming then check out Melissa Clark's article in Wednesday's New York Times Food section about a barbecue in the age of Covid 19, There won't be shared ribs or s'mores but you can have delicious grilled chicken that everyone can take off the grill themselves, along with bags of chips and homemade  no bake butterscotch custard. You can still have beach and park picnics if you're six feet apart from everyone. Some snack bars may be closed yet there may be food trucks offering everything from burgers to taco in the beach and park parking lots. If not, then get out the cooler and stuff it with picnic classics. Think hero sandwiches, chock full of such treats as mortadella and prosciutto , graced with tomatoes lettuce and some kind of dressing. For a more sophisticated vibe try pan bagnat the Provencal classic that has everything in it from hard boiled eggs to anchovies in it along with tomatoes and Dijon mustard. Have bottles of sparkling mineral water to wash it down along with flavored seltzers.

If that's not your style, then eat out. Many restaurants and even diners are now offering outdoor dining, perfect for the evenings. Event tents are popping up in their parking lots , protecting tables and customers. They're worth visiting (although if it looks too crowded, think about ordering the food and bringing it home). There's something about dressing up after three months of lock down wearing ratty clothes and actually eating something you personally haven't slaved over. It's time to get that shrimp cocktail with the giant shrimps or the filet mignon with pomme frites. Better yet it's ordering all the fun food like pot stickers or mozzarella sticks , washing them down with fancy drinks or large refreshing glasses of iced tea. For those who love the different ethnic cuisines, it's spending a warm night enjoying pasta under the stars or chicken curry amidst balmy breezes. Take advantage of the coffee shops and bakeries too.  Some also have tables and chairs set up on their sidewalks too. Meet friends for iced coffee and cupcakes and catch up on what's been going on.

Yes, this will be a July Fourth for the books. Make the most of it. Use it as a template for the holidays to come. Just remember to care for family and friends. Offer them good food, whether from your grill or your favorite restaurant,