As we say so-long to summer and hello to all things fall, keep this in mind: it’s not too late to throw an outdoor garden party.
Our friends Tommy Werner and Ariel Lauren Wilson did just that this past weekend as an ode to Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood, serving dishes that lean into seasonal produce and the invigorating energy that a new season brings.
“Over the past year and a half, Crown Heights’ gardens and public green spaces have been inspirations, gathering places, and refuges,” they said. “They’ve helped keep us grounded, nourished, and connected.”
To pull off your own garden party, center your menu around the best fruits and vegetables of the moment, then bring out their flavors with plenty of Gotham Greens basil. Tommy and Lauren served Fairy Tale Eggplant with vinegar-honey sauce and basil and Cornbread Panzanella with late-summer tomatoes, shallots and, yes, more basil. How great does that sound?
To tie it all together, serve a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink that works for all ages: Basil Limeade. You’ll start with an easy basil simple syrup that yields 8 servings – perfect for scaling up or down based on your own garden party needs.
Get the full recipe below!
Recipe: Basil Limeade
For the Basil Simple Syrup:
– 1 cup water
– 1 cup sugar
– 12 Gotham Greens basil leaves
For the Basil Limeade:
– 1 oz Basil Simple Syrup (see above)
– 1 ½ oz fresh lime juice
– 4 oz sparkling water
– 2 Gotham Greens basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions:
First, make the Basil Simple Syrup. Bring water and sugar to a boil with 12 leaves of basil. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat. Let syrup cool for 30 minutes with the basil leaves. Strain and refrigerate. (Makes 8 oz.)
Next, make the Basil Limeade. Combine 1 oz Basil Simple Syrup and the lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until the shaker gets cold. Pour into a tall glass filled with ice, top with sparkling water, and garnish with more basil leaves.
Recipe by Tommy Werner
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