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9 Summer Snacks And Drinks The Tasty Team Is Completely Obsessed With Right Now
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The only summer snack guide you’ll need this season. I'm Claudia, an NYC-based editor on the Tasty team covering all things food, whether it's a viral recipe, the latest food drama, or politicians awkwardly standing in a Steak 'N Shake. We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. The Banana Cream Matcha Latte at Chamberlain Coffee Cafe in Venice Beach, California is THAT GIRL of summer matchas. It's available with either espresso or matcha, but in my opinion, the matcha allows you to really taste the subtle banana flavor. It's rich and creamy, but shockingly not overly sweet. The ambiance of the cafe is also so lovely, and it's the perfect beverage to enjoy while you stroll around Abbott Kinney. I also tried the Peanut Butter Mocha Latte and would recommend it if you're a peanut butter fanatic like I am. —Joelle Park, Lead Editorial Video Producer You can browse the menu at Chamberlain Coffee Cafe here. It’s a House of Smith wine summer! I recently had the chance to try a few bottles, including the 2022 Real Wine Chardonnay, the 2021 Real Wine Cabernet Sauvignon, and my favorite of the three, the 2024 Blossom Fury. If you're looking for something refreshing, bright, and perfect for enjoying outdoors, I highly recommend the Chardonnay or Blossom Fury. Blossom Fury was my personal favorite thanks to its crisp apple notes and easy-drinking character. For summer evenings on the patio, the Cabernet Sauvignon is a great choice. Pair it with a cheese board or a hearty meal, like a ribeye or New York strip steak, served with mushroom risotto and grilled broccolini, for the perfect warm-weather dinner. Cheers to summer sipping! You can purchase House of Smith's collection of Washington-based wines here. I picked up this salsa on a whim and am SO glad I did — it has quickly become my favorite jarred salsa. It's a take on salsa macha: a Mexican chili oil typically made with chiles, nuts, spices, seeds, garlic, and oil. For the sake of being allergy-friendly, Siete omits nuts but keeps all the smoky, spicy flavor of a traditional salsa macha. It also has more of a chunky texture, making it perfect for dipping tortilla chips into (be warned, though, that it's more of a medium spice, so maybe don't scoop a huge amount on your chip). I imagine it would also be amazing over white fish or tacos. Seriously, you need this at your next summer picnic. Get Siete's Salsa Soleada from Amazon for $5.99. Pickles have been having a major moment lately, and The Laughing Cow is joining the trend with its new Dill Pickle Flavor Spreadable Cheese Wedges. To celebrate the launch, the brand partnered with home cook Courtney Cook, and I had the chance to try the new flavor in her cucumber nachos recipe. It was absolutely delicious! The tangy pickle flavor pairs perfectly with the creamy cheese, making it a fun twist on a classic snack. It's great enjoyed straight from the wedge, spread on a sandwich, or even mixed into a dressing for an extra punch of flavor. Definitely a must-try for pickle lovers. You can find out where to purchase The Laughing Cow Dill Pickle Cheese Wedges here. I know, I know, coffee purists are probably shaking their heads right now. But hear me out! If there's one very important thing I learned as a barista, it's that coffee beans lose their freshness once they're exposed to oxygen and ground. So that pre-ground bag you're buying at the grocery store without a roast date? It's likely stale and will produce sub-par coffee. But Cometeer brews and flash-freezes their coffee, so it stays fresh until you're ready to use it. Because I haven't taken the plunge on a $500 espresso machine yet, I've been using Cometeer in my lattes (I'm partial to a medium roast), and I swear it tastes straight out of a coffee shop. My number-one recommendation would be the Birch Coffee Morning Blend (I just so happen to live next to a Birch, and I think their baristas can attest to how obsessed I am with their coffee), but you can't go wrong with any of their options. Get Cometeer's flash-frozen coffee from their website starting at $17.49 for 8 capsules. If you want to take your homemade lattes to the next level, you need to add Rising Star Baking Syrups to your coffee station. I recently tried the Salted Caramel and Cinnamon Baker's Syrups, and they instantly made my iced coffee taste like something you'd get from a coffee shop. What I love most is how versatile they are. Beyond coffee, you can use them in baking, drizzle them over pancakes or waffles, or add them to your favorite breakfast treats. They come in a variety of flavors, making it easy to find one that fits your taste. If you're looking for an easy way to elevate your drinks and desserts, these syrups are definitely worth trying. Get Rising Star's Baker's Syrups from Walmart starting at $7.96. In a world full of almond, peanut, and cashew butter, pumpkin seed and sesame seed butter deserve some attention too. I recently tried Eatnuf's convenient single-serve packs, which are perfect for on-the-go snacking and make portioning super easy. The ingredient lists are clean, and you can genuinely taste the quality in every bite. I've been enjoying them spread on toast with a drizzle of honey for breakfast, but they would also pair well with fresh fruit or blended into a smoothie for an extra boost of flavor and nutrition. Definitely a fun alternative if you're looking to switch up your usual nut butter routine. Get a sample pack of 2 sachets from Eatnuf for $5 or commit to a 10-pack for $19.90. People always ask me what food I miss the most since becoming a pescatarian, and my answer has been the same for years: hot dogs. There's just nothing like a glizzy off the grill or at a stadium. I've tried pretty much all the vegan dogs out there (including the questionable "carrot dog"...). Nothing quite gave me the same satisfaction as the real deal. That is, until I tried Impossible's plant-based hot dogs. I had the absolute honor of trying these at a Knicks game (Knicks in 5!) at Madison Square Garden before they officially launched in grocery stores, and I don't know what magic they've concocted, but I swear it's the best plant-based dog I've ever had. It has the signature cured, slightly smoky taste of a classic hot dog and doesn't try to overcompensate with unnecessary seasonings. The most impressive feature? That signature snap when you bite — something I always thought was impossible in a plant-based dog, but I've been proven very, very wrong. You can find out where to purchase Impossible Foods' Hot Dogs by using their store locator. "Oh, look, Claudia's talking about Graeter's again..." And I will continue to because it's some of the best ice cream around! In honor of the Kentucky Derby, the Midwest-based ice cream brand released a couple of limited-edition, bourbon-infused flavors, including my now-favorite: Backstretch Bourbon Cherry. It's a bourbon ice cream layered with real black cherries and praline pecans, and every bite feels decadent, nostalgic, and just the right hint of grown-up. Sadly, derby season has come and gone, and this flavor is no longer available. But if you want to replicate it, I'd suggest mixing Bourbon Ball and Black Cherry Chip (and adding a drizzle of hot fudge for good measure). Create your own 6-pack of your favorite Grater's flavors for $84.96 or use their store locator to find pints near you.
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