Sauce so good you could pair it with dirt.
This is the golden hour for sauces, dips, dollops, drips, and spoonfuls straight from the jar. This is when the sauce shines. And yes, I’m sharing my top 5 summer sauce recipes with you.
Sauce isn’t just a mood—it’s a lifestyle, and I’m living it year-round.
Now listen, sauce gets an unfair rep in the summer. People assume it’s too hot, too heavy, too much when the sun’s out. I’m here to shut that down. Summer is peak sauce season.
We’re not talking about slow-simmered bolognese here (though I’d never say no). I’m talking vibrant warm sauces, room-temp magic, and chilled drizzles served with a cube of ice while you recharge in the sun.
Sauce You Can Spoon
Saying goodbye to July, but not goodbye to my favorite summer produce.
Sauce is everything. Let me set the scene: You’re finally beachside, parked under the first patch of shade you’ve seen in days. A chilled glass of crisp white hits the table. Perfection. Then comes your pasta vongole. You twirl your fork, two clams hanging on, and take that first bite… and it’s dry. The pasta’s got that starchy drag, the clams are cooked but chew like rubber bands.
Now, let’s run that back the right way. The pasta lands. You twirl your fork and the sauce—oh, the sauce—ribbons off in silky, lemony waves. It smells like the ocean, bright with brine. Every bite is a slurp and sigh moment. The pasta? Al dente and drenched in clam juice, not a starch film in sight. That’s how it should be. That’s the power of sauce.
I paint the picture with clams because that’s my favorite pasta…and yes, I absolutely drink the sauce. But let’s be real, summertime is sauce time. It’s pesto on everything. Blistered tomato magic. Sweet and spicy corn, chimichurri, mango with a kick. The list goes on, and honestly? You can make a sauce out of just about anything. So this issue of The Fifth Course is dedicated to sauce and a few things in between!
Meal Out:
I recently ate at Kiko in Hudson Square. The vibes were impeccable. Beautifully decorated, great service, and a menu that kept me intrigued - and delivered. We sat inside and i immediately ordered their pineapple and celery cobbler to drink (spirit free, for a change of pace!) as I perused the menu.
My food order:
Apps:
Head on prawns xo butter, crispy alliums
Boston Mackerel salted plum butter, jimmy nardello and toast
Chicory & Red Cabbage peanut-tahini and lime dressing, dukkah, herbs
Mains:
Tagliatelle with sungold tomato, xo sauce, pecorino and basil
Half Sasso Chicken aromatic soy sauce, szechuan peppercorn
Double R Ranch Flanken Short Rib preserved peppers and perilla
Usually, when chicken is on a menu, I don’t go out of my way to order it. But something about the sauce (re: the theme of this newsletter) drew me in. And boy, was I right. Probably one of the best chickens I’ve had in NYC. The pasta and the short rib were also impressive, don’t worry.
Sides:
Long Island Corn sweet peppers, bonito butter, savory
Corn was the star of the show for me - super creamy and savory with just a touch of sweetness.
No desserts this trip!
Meal In: Sauce on Sauce
I'll keep the words brief and let the recipes speak for themselves. Here are my go-to summer sauces that completely transform in the summer when the produce is at its peak. This is their time, and we should let them shine!
Here are my top 5 summer sauces:
Click each one to snag the recipe! I promise you and your taste buds will be happy.
High Chair Talk:
An absolute winner meal for my child this week! Coconut-crusted salmon. Paired with watermelon and Lentil pasta! Such an easy yet elevated meal, and the kiddo was pleased! She is a salmon lover, but she ate the hell out of this!
Side Plate
Here’s what’s catching my eye, palate, and inbox this week, along with a disappointing review
Food: Spotted this teeny tiny coffee spot in Downtown Brooklyn called Le Cafe Coffee after a long run, drawn in by what looked like the ideal bagel situation. And it delivered: perfectly toasted, the right amount of crunch, generous smear.
Date Night: Wine and a movie in a Lazy Boy might sound uneventful - but trust, it was anything but. Friday night, Garry and I snuck out for two glasses of wine at Skin Contact (plus some dreamy giardiniera and nduja with bread), then strolled over to the IPIC Theater on Fulton
We don’t get out to the movies much these days with a little one at home, so this felt like a real treat. Reclining leather seats, cozy blankets waiting for you, full food and drink service during the movie—yes, please.
We saw F1. Brad, you’re perfect.
A disappointment: I know this might ruffle some feathers, but I left Rhythm Zero in Greenpoint feeling… zero impressed. I get it—it’s got that effortlessly cool vibe. Maybe too cool? I came to sit and work—no wifi. I brought my own little yogurt parfait, which apparently caused a problem. Coffee? Meh. Staff energy? Kinda icy. Look, maybe I caught them on an off day. I’m all for second chances, but the first impression was not great. Maybe ill try a different location next time…
Sound Bites
July’s Playlist<3
That’s it for now! Enjoy the last day of July! Can’t wait to chat in August <3
xx
Gina