The Char & Chill Menu: 5 Seasonal Recipes, Grocery Lists, Prep Lists, Wine Pairings
a bannnngin' cookout menu to use this July (or all summer long) no grill needed!
Happy July!! If you’ve been here for a minute, you know that I was expecting our second baby boy in June. Wellllll, I’m so happy to report that he is here and will be enjoying his first family cookout this month… with this menu! Meet Oliver Luca Oppenheim, born June 20th at 3:06PM! He’s my sweet summer boy and we couldn’t be happier (minus a long and hard c section recovery, but totally worth it.)
If you’ve been wondering why I’ve posted less notes on Substack, this is why. :) But I’ll be back with my weekly videos, free recipes and more soon. And I’m of course continuing my monthly menu club booklets and exclusive weekly recipes for my paid members!
Ok, now let’s get to this menu! I wanted to make this for all of your summer cookout needs, including July 4th. That’s why I’m releasing it tonight on June 30th, instead of July 1st — just to give a little more leeway for your planning.
Don’t let the name fool you — you don’t need a grill to put the char in the char & chill menu. While it’s inspired by some of my best childhood memories: spending all day and evening at my grandparents’ pool, where everything smelled like the grill, and the food hit differently because we were barefoot and sun-kissed and surrounded by all my cousins. But, all the recipes here can be made with a stove top or oven, instead of a grill!
Char & Chill is nostalgic but elevated. Familiar but chef-y. Every recipe brings a little bit of that flame-kissed energy with cooling contrasts and fresh summer flavor. Whether you're hosting a backyard dinner party or grilling on the porch with your family, this spread brings the flavor—without breaking a sweat.
Here’s what’s on the menu:
The Drink
Strawberry Frosé
Just frozen strawberries and rosé—but blended together, it becomes the juiciest, most refreshing cocktail to cut through the July heat. I like to freeze the mix ahead of time for that perfect slushy texture.
The App
Grilled Caesar Salad with Charred Lemon & Parmesan
Iconic. Smoky romaine kissed by the grill, finished with crispy sourdough strips, charred lemon halves, and a zippy homemade Caesar dressing.
The Side
Herby Roasted Potato Salad with Corn, Bacon & Tomatoes
This is my tried and true potato salad—roasted for depth, tossed warm with fresh herbs and whole grain mustard dressing. Sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, crispy bacon... need I say more?
The Main
Smash Burgers with Special Sauce & Sweet Pickles
Crispy-edged patties, creamy tangy sauce, shredded lettuce, and those nostalgic bread & butter pickles. Serve with cold Champagne and pretend you’re at the bougiest backyard cookout.
The Sweet
Blueberry Sugar Cookie Bars Alla Mode
A gooey, buttery cookie bar with freeze-dried blueberries, served with vanilla bean ice cream. You can make it ahead and serve cold, which is honestly ideal in this heat.
As always, in my menu booklet, I included:
All the recipes listed above
Make-ahead timelines for easy prep and dinner party execution
A grocery list organized by store section
Wine pairings for each course (yes, even dessert)
A printable menu card for your dinner table, if you’re into that thing!
If you’re not already in the club, I’d love for you to join my Monthly Menu Club to get this full booklet (plus all my past and future ones!) along with exclusive weekly recipes that you won’t find anywhere else.