Summer Laze

Welcome back to The Meat Platter. We’re glad you are here!

Everyone’s OOO is on, people are schlepping their gear to the beach, and we are just over here trying to keep you all entertained. Is it working?

We say it a lot when making our playlist, but this June playlist may be in the running for GOAT. It’s not only quintessential to the season, but it’s just good.

Might we recommend a cold drink in hand and a breeze in your face to enjoy to it’s fullest potential?

If that’s not your vibe, head over to our Spotify. There’s a little bit of everything over there and we are rocking the variety all day everyday.

One of the more interesting beverage trends right now is the reemergence of ultra-light craft lagers.

For years every brewery was chasing double IPAs, pastry stouts and barrel-aged everything.

Now many are moving back toward pilsners, lagers and easy-drinking session beers like Classic City Lager and Small Beer.

The reason?
People actually want to enjoy a brewskie without feeling like they just ate an All-Star Special.

More restaurants are building dog-friendly patios because people increasingly plan weekends around whether the dog can come.

Around Gainesville, a handful of spots have figured it out: water bowls, shaded seating, plenty of room to stretch out, and good food for the humans. That's a win-win in our book.

Nofo Brew Co may have our favorite- located directly on the Midland Greenway and adjacent to a dog park, it’s truly fun for the whole crew.

A few years ago everybody had umbrellas. Now it feels like every third family has a Shibumi.

The Shibumi essentially became the YETI of beach shades. It uses wind instead of fighting it, which is why you see them absolutely everywhere on Southeast beaches now. The newer Quiet Canopy version even addresses the biggest complaint people had: the flapping noise.

Full disclaimer: we aren’t sold on these things. But watching people fight to figure out which direction the wind is blowing is pure entertainment.

Are we reaching a point where charcoal grilling gets the convenience of pellet grills? For years the tradeoff was simple:

• Pellet grills = easy

• Charcoal = flavor

Companies are now trying to erase that distinction (sort of). Weber's upcoming 2026 lineup is getting folks particularly excited, specifically the new smart charcoal products. They are introducing a Performer Smart Charcoal Grill with Wi-Fi connectivity, app controls, and automated airflow management to regulate temperatures during long cooks. They also unveiled a Kettle Smart Ring attachment that can turn a traditional kettle into a smart grill.

Did you know the original Weber kettle was created in 1952 by a metalworker named George Stephen who cut a buoy in half and added legs to it?

More than 70 years later, grill companies are still trying to improve on that basic design.

Which is either a testament to innovation... or proof he got it right the first time.

Watermelon is having a grilling moment this year. Sounds weird. Works incredibly well.

The high sugar content caramelizes over heat and takes on a smoky flavor that pairs shockingly well with:

• feta

• mint

• hot honey

• tajin

This is one of those recipes people make once and immediately tell someone else about. Or at the very least make your friends leave feeling really impressed, saying “I wouldn’t have ever thought about that”.

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What do you call a factory that makes okay products?

—A satisfactory.