Beyond Hamburgers and Hot Dogs at the Beach

One of my favorite thing to do in Encinitas is cooking amazing food at the beach with friends and family. But having dinner seaside can and should go beyond hamburgers and hot dogs. If you need a little help 'thinking outside the bun', here's a new twist on how to have a good time at the beach, without too much preparation. 

I can't really travel right now because  I have three boys all under 6 years old. The only way I can travel is through my food. I love cheeses from around the world and pretty much always bring cheeses to enjoy at the beach, which I simply spread out on a large cutting board. I really love cheese selection. It's a good start for someone who is not too familiar with cheeses and it is the most affordable around here. After you know what kinds of cheeses or regions you like, venture to or  for the more refined and larger selections. Don't let the price scare you. Just buy one variety and add some gorgeous seasonal fruits to go with it and add crackers or salami.

I love pairing my cheese with the fruit of the month, meaning whatever is the cheapest in season at . It's always the sweetest and freshest. Last month we had lot of different kinds of grapes. Concorde  grapes and cheeses: my favorite! Now we have lots of persimmons, pomegranates and pears, which are delicious and gorgeous sliced or spread on a cutting board with cheese. You first eat with you're eyes and those are so colorful and beautiful to look at next to yummy cheeses!

Don't let the upcoming cool weather let you stay closed-up indoors away from the beach— seriously, I'm from Quebec and I wouldn't call here "cold" in the winter! Bundle up and make a huge pot of soup or chili to enjoy at the beach. Is there anything better than hot soup in a cup? I've attached one of my recipes for a simple chili, or if you have a great soup or chili recipe, make it at home and then warm it up at the beach. You can use the barbecues at the beach, just be sure to reserve one ahead of time and bring your own bag of coal. You can also use a fondue set if you have one, just be sure you do not use the blue liquid lighter fluid becuase it's too easy to spill. Instead use the little cans of jelly lighter fluid. You can find these on discount at Smart and Final.

Once you start to experiment, you'll discover there are many 'one-pot' dishes you can enjoy at the beach. For example, I made paella at brought it to the beach last week. It was a simple big pan of gorgeous to-look-at seafood and a mixture of colorful bell peppers and green peas, and I served it with tons of lemon wedges. A couple months ago, me and some of my favorite people made a big pot of clam chowder. My friend, who I now call "King Triton," dug out some local clams (and don't e-mail me and ask where he got them....I'm not telling!) Curried chicken is another dish we like to bring to the beach: a big bowl of rice and a big pot of yummy curry! You can feed a village with one pot! Just keep it simple by making one pot of something. I like eating these sorts of one-pot meals from a cup instead of bowls because if you have to stand, a cup is easier to hold.  

I also recently made bread pudding pop-overs with chocolate hazelnuts and salty caramel. I made the bread pudding but cooked it in single portions using a pop-over pan, but a muffin pan would also work. This is also easy to serve at the beach, and I just drizzled fresh heavy cream on top. 

So go beyond hamburgers and hot dogs at the beach. Serving family-style food is a way to bring people together.

I hope I’ve give you some ideas, and remember: Don't make it complicated. Enjoy the beach and the skyline at this time of year. With all the winter sunsets starting to show up, you should take advantage of it.  In a couple of weeks, many people will have friends and family in town for Thanksgiving. Why not show them how to have an easy dinner at the beach? Create memories and fill your bellies ‘Encinitas style’ at the beach!