Lemonades

If alcohol is not a part of your summertime drinking line up, don’t fret—varieties on a classic summertime favorite will have you drunk with delight.

Lemonade should no longer be just Minute Maid. The Dish experienced some incredible ginger lemonade at Mojo Coffee and at Taim that has her making daily rounds for her fix.

Of course, ginger lemonade can be made at home. Make a lemonade base by squeezing lemons and adding simple syrup (water boiled with sugar) to taste. Next add ginger syrup, found at any grocery store.

The possibilities are endless for creative lemonade. Add grated cucumber for cucumber lemonade. It will go wonderfully with a cold chicken salad with cilantro and sesame dressing.

Boil stalks of lavender into your simple syrup concoction for lavender lemonade. Imagine how delicious the drink will be while sipping it on the porch, nibbling on scones and strawberries!

Mix equal parts cranberry juice and lemonade for a tart refresher that will compliment any summer pork dish, or perhaps simple Cuban sandwiches.

Le Pain Quotidien has mint lemonade that I crave when I wake up late at night and the air conditioner isn’t on. This one’s easy to make: simply mash some mint and sugar into the bottom of your glass before you pour in your lemonade!

Thai basil is another herbal addition that will enhance and elevate your lemons to stylish, dinner party status.

For flowery lemonade, brew a strong hibiscus tea. Once it’s cooled, add it to the ’ade. It’ll be a hit with duck salad or confit.

You can achieve slightly richer lemonade by adding a splash of cream like they do at Birdbath. Called “Farmers lemonade,” the cream cuts the bite of the lemons and makes for a more sophisticated summer drink.

Anyway you squeeze it; lemonade is surely the drink of the summer.