It’s 99 effing degrees. You can’t cook. You can’t walk outside to dine in a neighborhood restaurant. You feel guilty for dialing up delivery…because it’s that hot outside.

Well folks, it’s time to bring the people to you.  I selfishly gifted a Weber Q 200 Portable Gas Grill to someone special in my life. A small gas grill that can easily perform illegally on rooftop or fire escape…not that I am promoting such behavior, but it’s summertime in New York City. Hot as balls. We’re making “black-out” plans on where we’ll meet in the event of a brown out. Carpe Diem! Grill in inappropriate places!

urban inter-apartment grilling

Grill on the fire escape and quickly hide the evidence.

Bitchin’ Midweek Swelter-Q Menu:

Bevi: Homemade Arnold Palmer with Tito’s vodka

Watermelon Salad with grape tomatoes, feta and basil vinaigrette

De-constructed Guacamole Salad (see Ina Garten)

Burgers stuffed with Goat Cheese (3 parts sirloin mixed with 1 part ground beef. Fresh garlic, fresh shallot, salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, thyme, more pepper, 2 eggs (per 3 lbs), whatever else you feel like adding just do it but only a little)

Bakery buns toasted (so much better with real buns and not those crap options in the bread aisle. But also not the end of the world).

Serve with red onion thinly sliced, iceberg lettuce, tomato slices and the fat dip from your childhood: mayonnaise.