Is there any such thing as summer comfort food?
Just about everything that falls in that category in my list is winter-time fare (with the exception of all-season chocolate, of course) Do you have any summer comfort foods?
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61 Comments:
My FAVORITE summer comfort food is sandwiches made with home-grown tomatoes!
I also enjoy other favorite foods, my brother's barbequed chicken and fresh caught walleye simply panned sauted. Living in a place where winter is cold and snowy, don't get the chance to cook outside all year round!
GolfGirl at 12:14PM on 09/05/08
Fresh garden-ripe tomatoes on "soft" white bread with some mayo and a shake of salt and pepper. OR
A just picked tomato.
bubbamom at 12:32PM on 09/05/08
For me personally, summer comfort food=cherries!
In the past, ice cream and ice cream sandwiches (not so much this year, but other summers).
For other people I know, summer comfort food=various summer cocktails, white wine, iced tea, watermelon, salads with blue cheese dressings and/or olive oil and vinaigrette, hot dogs and hamburgers, barbecue, fruit pies, lemon pies, key lime pies, pecan pies.
Oh yeah, and buttermilk biscuits with coleslaw or other mayo-based slaws and salads, lobster and baked potato--typical picnic foods or shore- type foods.
HeartofGlass at 12:44PM on 09/05/08
gazpacho brightly spooned in balloon glass
hiyayakko teetering over low earthenware vessel
cucumber sandwich limply napping on plate of fine china
with sangria, with sake, with lapsang souchong
foodvox at 12:48PM on 09/05/08
@GolfGirl & bubbamom: fresh tomato sammies are the thing. I like the bread to have a little "tooth" though, like a big slab of ciabatta. Wash it all down with ice cold sweet tea. I dream about this meal on dreadful winter days.
Melinda at 12:50PM on 09/05/08
Fresh cream peas or purple hull peas, fried okra, fresh tomatoes, yellow squash casserole, a hot pan of cornbread and a big pitcher of sweet tea! Yum!!
Chef Jo at 12:50PM on 09/05/08
blt's,peach crisp.mmmmmm
bisbee at 12:51PM on 09/05/08
i know sounds strange as a summer comfort food but fresh homemade roasted tomato soup is my go to comfort food all summer.
huneybumper at 12:52PM on 09/05/08
A bacon lettuce and tomato sammy, with just enough mayo, fresh cracked black pepper, on toasted white bread (something with nice crusts but a soft interior). Make that tomato a juicy beefsteak still warm from the vine - YUM!
Maureen at 12:54PM on 09/05/08
Sweet green peas, straight out of the pod. Utter summer perfection.
You also can't beat a toasted tomato sandwich with a tiny bit of mayo, a shake of salt and grind of pepper.
And home made dill pickles.
Oh yeah ... summer comfort food ...
AmazonGoddess at 1:10PM on 09/05/08
Tomato and mayo sandwich
Chicken wings from the grill
Burger and shake
Ice cream cone
dbcurrie at 1:18PM on 09/05/08
Tomatoes, mayo, squishy white bread, S&P...These are things dreams are made of. I am staring at my tomato plant, willing the suckers to turn red. Add some Cumberland peaches and I would die a happy woman:-)
Josdean at 1:20PM on 09/05/08
a perfect fresh jersey tomato with just a bit of salt
VerasTastyFreeze at 1:24PM on 09/05/08
Homemade ice cream
Peach cobbler
A big wedge of watermelon that is a meal in itself
holdthemayo at 1:26PM on 09/05/08
Chilled avocado soup with jumbo lump crabmeat, sliced tomatoes with S&P, corn on the cob, a chilled glass of Fume Blanc on the deck. That is summer comfort at my house. I am still ready for the cooler weather though! ;-)
izatryt at 1:28PM on 09/05/08
Korean nengmyun and zaru soba, although I just realized I haven't had much of either this summer!
marieinla at 1:30PM on 09/05/08
Yes.
Ice cream cone.
Ice CREAM CONE.
Ice
Cream
Cone.
Yes.
foodvox at 1:31PM on 09/05/08
Tomato sandwich and ice cream....not at the same time though!
mepolo at 1:36PM on 09/05/08
whole belly fried clams with a beer and an ice cream cone for dessert. YUM
jlbrach at 1:37PM on 09/05/08
BLT'S with fresh tomatoes and peach pie!! (but not at the same time....although...I guess you could....)
waterbaby at 2:03PM on 09/05/08
Grilled steak salad with a freshly prepared marinade and vinaigrette. I have a great recipe. Fish tacos with a tangy/spicy fresh crema and crunchy red cabbage. Oh, and that gazpacho sounds wonderful. I never think of that, maybe this weekend. @foodvox, do you have a good recipe?
And of course, everyone is right about the tomatoes.
carolrsf at 2:04PM on 09/05/08
Comfort in summer is sure different from comfort in winter. I want to be cooled off and at rest, soothed and relaxed.
So for me it's:
BLT's on toasted bread with mayo, s & p.
Fried whole belly clams with lemon.
Iced tea with lemon and sugar.
Chilled white wine.
Fuzzy navels with lots of slushy ice!
moibec at 2:06PM on 09/05/08
potato salad. almost any variety so long as I'm eating it straight from the tub.
ice cream! my husband can eat it all year long, but it's summer only for me.
mojito with mint from the backyard.
ansate at 2:08PM on 09/05/08
Another tomato sandwich vote here - I like mine on a slice of good toast, with a smear of soft goat cheese and a well-salted ripe tomato.
Although there's a lot of comfort to be had from the elusive ripe peach that you eat over the sink. Oh, and cherry pie.
cyberroo at 2:18PM on 09/05/08
i like those ice cream sandwiches. especially those generic grocery store brands with the weirdly soft chocolate cookie outside. and super fast melting vanilla ice cream sandwiched in the middle.
ah... one of those always hits the spot
foodinmouth at 2:27PM on 09/05/08
OK, I'm totally in on the mojitos. I haven't been able to find a decent one since leaving Texas. Let me tell you about the best grilled cheese and tomato sandwich I've ever eaten. McGurk's in St Louis. Caramelized onions, fresh tomatoes, cheddar, gruyere and Goat cheese. OMG! The freshness of the tomatoes, the gooey tanginess of the cheeses (goat cheese!) and the sweetness of the onions. I've honestly never tasted anything so good and I love good food.
What's a whole belly clam?
carolrsf at 2:48PM on 09/05/08
Summer comfort food = anything just picked and eaten. I love the taste of tomatoes eaten off the vine warmed by the sun; and peaches.
HelloChris at 2:56PM on 09/05/08
I can't believe I'm the first to mention fresh,sweet corn on the cob! I like mine with sour cream and coarse salt. Set a fresh tomato sandwich made with toasted whole-grain bread, mayo and lettuce (ok bacon too) along side or a juicy burger fresh off the grill with everything except mustard and ketchup... Can't beat a tall, cool iced tea to wash it all down.
A northwest native has to mention the clambake with corn on the cob, butter and a some sourdough bread to sop everything as high on the summer comfort food circuit as well...
czken at 3:20PM on 09/05/08
Barbeque. Anything grilled. Followed by ice cream.
beth1 at 3:21PM on 09/05/08
@czken ~ I mentioned corn on the cob, just didn't sound as exciting as your description. :-)
izatryt at 3:24PM on 09/05/08
corn on the cob
chips and salsa with a cocktail in the backyard by the pool
cherries
figs
agk685 at 3:25PM on 09/05/08
Pho tai. :P
I also enjoy bun tom thit nuong cha gio.
I really like to spice things up in the summer, winter, spring, autumn... :)
Cassaendra at 3:37PM on 09/05/08
Smoky spare ribs, baked beans, corn on the cob dripping with butter, perfectly ripe fruit - especially peaches and strawberries
Nicholas H at 3:47PM on 09/05/08
@carolrsf - here is the gazpacho recipe I use . Not "authentic" but it works even when the tomatoes suck. Which can happen often enough here and there even in the summertime. :(
Then there's a Maine Shore Dinner . That's summer comfort food, too. But I really believe the geography is as important as the food items for this one. :)
foodvox at 3:59PM on 09/05/08
I definitely think of pizza as comfort food and don't have a problem eating it in the summer! :) I also enjoy milkshakes or smoothies which I find very summer-ific.
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 4:18PM on 09/05/08
Thanks foodvox, I'm making it this weekend.
I STILL don't know what whole belly clams are...
carolrsf at 5:10PM on 09/05/08
Mojitos anytime!!!
Tomato and mayo sandwiches
Pasta with home grown basil and oregano with a little olive oil and grated asiago cheese cures what ails ya!
finsbigfan at 5:25PM on 09/05/08
BBQ Chicken, Corn on the Cob and Very Cold Beer.
LizSherman at 6:50PM on 09/05/08
Carolrsf -
Whole clams/belly clams are what people south of Rhode Island call an entire clam that is floured and fried - in any number of batters, seasoning etc.
My brother lives in MA and he laughs at me because fried clams up there are always "whole" clams and not the strips of the clam the way most parts of the U. S. see.
They are, in my opinion, to die for.
My summer comfort food would be belly clams followed closely by a lobster roll - both butter and mayo based.
But simplicity is best and that tomato sandwich with great mayo (Hellman's please East of the Mississippi) is perfect love food. Dare I ask for Wonderbread lightly toasted - straight from my youth!
Nonny at 7:43PM on 09/05/08
caprese
fresh mangos with chili powder
smoothies
salads
(eaten on the porch, of course)
joyyy at 7:56PM on 09/05/08
Thanks Nonny. I agree, whole clams are the way to go.
carolrsf at 7:59PM on 09/05/08
NJ gelatis (italian ice and soft ice cream), watermelon and big juicy peaches!
jpmcd at 8:23PM on 09/05/08
Caprese salad, crab cakes, and watermelon. If my mom is cutting up a watermelon when I visit the house, I'll stand next to her at the kitchen sink and she'll give me the rinds so I can eat the last bit of pink, just like when I was a kid :)
poke87 at 8:29PM on 09/05/08
Anything on the Barbie, corn on the cob, shrimp cocktail or ceviche and popcicles.
pjracz10 at 4:02AM on 09/06/08
I agree with most entries so far, corn on the cob, ice cream, potato and egg salads. In general, things that are sweet rich and or creamy.
Did anyone mention fried chicken?
blankplate at 9:35AM on 09/06/08
homemade peach tart with lots of whipped cream mixed with creme fraiche spooned over the top.
spaghetti pomodoro with sungold tomatoes.
a pint of tristar strawberries from the greenmarket, eaten directly from the carton, all to myself.
cybercita at 9:37AM on 09/06/08
oh, and i almost forgot. a half cup of milk, a couple of teaspoons of instant espresso, a tablespoon of agave nectar, and a tray of ice, whizzed in the blender until frothy. a milkshake for breakfast! can't get any more comforting than that.
cybercita at 12:31PM on 09/06/08
Coleslaw with enormous lumps of crab in it. Chocolate milkshakes made with extra malt powder. Baba ganush & hummis with fresh pita. Corn cut and scraped from the cob, sauteed on butter--just add salt and coarse ground pepper. And I agree with everyones' "warm and ripe from the garden" suggestions.
SallyMutant at 8:20PM on 09/06/08
potato salad, hamburgers, spare ribs, hot dogs, macaroni salad, pasta salad, summertime bbq food is the ultimate comfort food! i'll take a burger, rare, with avocado and homemade mayo over a chicken pot pie or braised anything, any old day.
midgepingleton at 8:56PM on 09/06/08
a big fat slice of a freshly picked Brandywine tomato.
kathyvegas at 10:38PM on 09/06/08
anything hot off the bbq with cold salads like pasta salad or coleslaw.
ag3208 at 10:44PM on 09/06/08
oh wow.... many things come to mind that say summer. everything from key lime pie and limeade to steamed littleneck clams, good old Hebrew National hot dogs with mustard or a nice juicy cheeseburger fresh off the grill. And how can you forget Ice Cream? Ben and Jerrys New York super fudge chunk or chunky monkey.
When i used to work in New York City i'd go over to the farmers market over at Union Square for heirloom tomatoes of every color and pick up some of the fresh bread as well. you really can go on and on with summer foods.
dozertx at 8:33AM on 09/07/08
peach pie, strawberry rhubarb pie and of definitely a BLT
SusanP at 9:14AM on 09/07/08
BLT with Miracle Whip on 12 grain bread the way my mommy makes them; sushi and a cold beer; seafood enchiladas - scuse me, I have to go find a drool rag...
cowprintrabbit at 10:39AM on 09/07/08
Grilled Chambersburg peaches. I've been making this about once a week. I serve them with fresh whipped cream and shortcake.
( . . . as mentioned in another thread, when in desperate need of immediate comfort while not around the kitchen, I'll often grab a small box of Good & Plenty or get a DQ Blizzard. Yeah. I eat junk.)
Susquehanna at 10:47AM on 09/07/08
Before I found out I had Celiac, my favoite was a sandwich of homemade bread, homemade mayo, and a nice, thich slice of just-picked-from-the-garden beefsteak tomato. *swoon* -- If I found out I had an hour to live, this would be one of the things I would choose to eat, and damn the Celiac! LOL!
These days, though, I'm loving for locally-grown corn-on-the-cob, steamed or grilled, and served with with flavored butters or oils, and grated cheese.
Also, I don't know if this is considered summer or not, but I love a big soft baked sweet potato eaten with some coarse salt. It's like candy.
Brownie at 11:44AM on 09/07/08
Fish Tacos
Avacado
Lime
Pacifico...
Perfect!
jam114 at 2:16PM on 09/07/08
mint chocolate chip ice cream
frozen yogurt
watermelon
corn on the cob
guacomole
hot dogs
Meewlee at 10:37PM on 09/07/08
A strawnana from Gilles' frozen custard (vanilla custard, fresh sliced strawberries, and bananas).
Grilled chicken thighs with barbecue sauce.
Huge wedges of watermelon.
Corndogs (it's a fair/carnival thing)
BangieB at 11:07PM on 09/07/08
any food that tastes better when you are outside.
before you say, "that's any food!" stop and think! do mashed potatoes and pot roast taste better outside? no. Do pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw and cold beer taste better outside? yes.
as do popsicles, ice cream, grilled anything, fresh and raw garden vegetables, watermelon, and pie.
delilah at 11:30PM on 09/07/08
Long, slow, smoked Pork butt, potato salad, smokey and sweet baked beans, creamy cole slaw and a big glass of sweet tea. Now that sounds like Southern Comfort Food to me!!
Comfortcook at 9:25AM on 09/09/08