Summer break might be a thing of the past, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate this season of relaxation. Keep reading for outdoor entertaining picks including a portable grill and two design-conscious ways to serve up drinks, the most fun wine club we've tried to date, and a handful of exciting new cookbooks and products.
Market List Notebook
Ever since discovering May Designs [1] in our Must Have box [2], I've been hooked. The custom-made notebooks have a Market List design ($23), which makes it easy to meal plan and write down a shopping list.
— Anna Monette Roberts, associate editor
Tillamookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Tillamook is taking the frozen world by storm and just launched these insanely tasty Tillamookie [3] ice cream sandwiches ($5) in strawberry, chocolate hazelnut, vanilla bean, and mint chocolate chip. But what separates these from the pack is that they're sandwiched between two crisp and sweet waffle cookies that are almost reminiscent of a brittle. I am going to be snacking on these all Summer long, that's for sure.
— Nicole Iizuka, producer
Bottle Bracket
Wine clubs can be a great discovery tool, but few are as fun, interactive, or social as Bottle Bracket [4]. Like traditional wine clubs, Bottle Bracket sends members periodic shipments of top-notch wine — in this case, four bottles every other month, for $100 per shipment. How it stands out from the saturated market is in format. Set up as a dinner-party-ready game, each shipment includes four bottles of the same varietal from the same region (June is Pinot Noir from Sonoma County, CA) with concealed labels. The game is in blind tasting and then ranking the wines (valued between $20 and $40) in order from least to most expensive using a March Madness-style bracket game board, and then seeing how accurate your ranking is, all while getting gleefully tipsy in the process.
— Nicole Perry, assistant editor
Bruce Kalman Collection Porchetta Rub
Porchetta may be one of the most delicious dishes on the planet, and now chef Bruce Kalman has made making porchetta just a little easier with his spice rub [5] ($12) featuring Portuguese sea salt, fennel, and rosemary. This spice rub doubles as seasoning for grilled veggies and french fries. You're welcome.
— Brandi Milloy, reporter and producer
Counter Culture Coffee 20th Anniversary
Coffee aficionados will appreciate Counter Culture Coffee 20th Anniversary Coffee [6] ($16). This limited-edition roast (available until the end of June) features a single-variety, single-origin organic coffee from Hacienda El Roble, "one of the world's most environmentally sustainable coffee farms," according to the coffee company. This coffee is so sweet, smooth, and round-bodied, you'll prefer it black.
— AMR
DIY Branded BBQ Tools
Nothing says "happy Father's Day [7]" like a personalized gift, and I am obsessed with the kits from Darby Smart [8] like this DIY branded BBQ tool set [9] ($64). I know my dad will absolutely love it.
— NI
Maangchi's Real Korean Cooking
I'm a little bit obsessed with Korean food but still a novice at cooking it myself. Maangchi's Real Korean Cooking: Authentic Dishes for the Home Cook [10] by Maangchi ($30) is just the guide I've been waiting for. Not only do the pages hold recipes for a wide variety of Korean standards, but it also includes a helpful photographic guide to staple ingredients, making navigating and shopping at an Asian supermarket all the easier.
— NP
Bubbled Beverage Dispenser
This handblown Bubbled Beverage Dispenser [11] ($298), made of recycled glass, stainless steel, and sheesham wood, is as gorgeous as it is functional. It makes any icy beverage even more attractive.
— AMR
Bicycle-Mounted Wine Carrier
To me, Summer means picnics, and picnics mean wine. I'd love to outfit my bike with this elegant leather wine holder [12] ($65) to make transport of this key picnic element all the easier.
— NP
The Charted Sandwich Board
This Charted Sandwich Board [13] ($29) may be the infographic of all infographics — it shows off all the classic sandwiches that exist around the world. It seems like just the thing to hang in the office and to refer to when making lunch.
— AMR
Foodie Dice
Decide dinner by the roll of Foodie Dice [14] ($38). Each of these wooden dice features a protein, cooking method, grain, herb, and seasonal veggie so you can spontaneously combine ingredients for a recipe-less meal.
— AMR
New Prairie Kitchen
Typically I skip over chef-driven cookbooks, as the recipes within aren't practical for home cooking. I'll make an exception for New Prairie Kitchen: Stories and Seasonal Recipes from Chefs, Farmers, and Artisans of the Great Plains [15] by Summer Miller ($30). A compendium of recipes sourced from chefs, farmers, and artisanal producers based in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota, it sheds light onto what's cooking in an oft-overlooked region of America. A good chunk of the recipes are multicomponent affairs best suited to restaurant kitchens, but plenty are accessible, enticing, and interesting.
— NP
Woodbridge Wine 'Cue Sauce
Punch up your Summer barbecue with this flavorful vino sauce [16] ($7). Sweet, tangy, and perfect for alfresco dining, it's sure to be my go-to dipping sauce for everything from grilled bratwursts to pulled pork sandwiches.
— BLM
Briefcase Barbecue
I live in an apartment with no balcony, but this portable tabletop Briefcase Barbecue [17] ($375) seems like something I could store inside and easily pack up for a park picnic.
— AMR
Galvanized Beverage Tub
A major aesthetic upgrade from a classic plastic cooler, Birch Lane's oval beverage tub [18] ($53, originally $59) is perfect for keeping drinks chilled at backyard barbecues. Once the Summer entertaining season ends, I'll use it for overflow drink storage at house parties.
— NP
Woouf Yummy Chocolate Donut Bean Bag
How sweet is this Woouf Yummy Chocolate Donut Bean Bag [19] ($135)? It makes me want an entire Willy Wonka-inspired room with cupcake chairs and cotton candy pillows. For the person who loves doughnuts just as much as I do, this colorful and fun beanbag is a total home must have.
— BLM
Soup & Sandwich Ceramic Tray Duo
Easily my favorite go-to meal after a long day is a warm cup of soup and a grilled cheese, so when I found this Soup & Sandwich Tray [20] ($30) I was instantly smitten. Its sleek and practical design makes eating fun and cleanup a breeze!
— NI
BottleKeeper
Nothing kills a Sunday funday like warm beer. Enter BottleKeeper [21] ($20). The stainless-steel container lined with a neoprene sleeve not only keeps your beer colder longer, but it also keeps your beverage on the DL.
— BLM