Supermarket Gourmet
by Buck Reed
Get Your Patriotic Grill On
I don’t care about your politics, race, creed, or religion. I don’t even care how you voted. It’s 2026, and it’s time to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday. So, this Fourth of July isn’t just another grilling holiday. This is the big one. Time to roll out the big guns and get something on the flaming charcoal.
A perfectly good, well-seasoned burger or a fire-kissed hot dog isn’t an awful way to go, but this is a big kahuna holiday. You need something with a little flair, a little wow factor, which is, at our heart, an American virtue. Doing one better than the person down the street is, at the very least, The American Way. Yet, making his barbecue look sad and pathetic is, in fact, your patriotic duty.
Adding something with pizazz to your grill is the order of the day. One thing that comes to mind is a whole grilled fish. I like red snapper, but trout or even a whole salmon is a good idea as well. Make sure it is ordered from your seafood counter, Pan Ready, and place some herbs like parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme (Simon & Garfield can’t be wrong) in the cavity. Tie it up and give it a go.
Another favorite is Grilled Leg of Lamb. Carefully butterfly it out, and smear with olive oil, garlic, oregano, and paprika, and keep it moving on the grill. It might be Greek to some, but they make great American citizens and offer some great additions to our culinary melting pot.
Next, we have a salute to the Washington politicians and their spending habits by preparing pork belly. There are so many ways to go with this that I am certain you can find a spectacular recipe to braise it a few days before and reheat it over the hot coals. Add a tasty sauce, and you should be able to make something way better than any bill a congressperson puts forward to spend our money on.
I know I have mentioned this before, but it needs to be said again. I love grilled fruit and pineapple. It is a big favorite of mine. It easily accompanies almost any dish on the grill but is also a wonderful side dish or even a dessert. It’s a game-changer, which is how Super Bowls are won—a concept that all Americans should be able to identify with.
Don’t forget the smoker. Brisket is a good idea, but take a page from Ben Franklin and get a whole turkey. Plan ahead, brine your bird, and fire up the smoker early. For something a bit quicker, try smoking a variety of sausages. In the spirit of our diverse makeup, put some hot and sweet Italian sausages, brats, and chorizo in the smoker, and make a stunning platter of sliced, delightful morsels.
If you are going to add a new dish to your grill game on the big day, you need to practice at least once. Make a plan that General Patton would be proud of and execute it. It’s how we beat the Axis and how you will make our 250th memorable. Just don’t slap any buck privates (we should skip that tradition).
