National Watermelon Day in San Antonio Can be Celebrated at These Locations
National Watermelon Day is Saturday, August 3, so I wanted to let you in on some juicy food and beverage offerings around San Antonio which showcase everyone’s favorite melon fruit. Below you will find a few places worth celebrating that have fun items like a fresh melon margarita along with ideas to create from home such as a DIY dressed watermelon cider.
EVO Entertainment Group (locations in Schertz, Kyle, New Braunfels, and San Marcos, Texas)
Evo Entertainment Schertz 18658 I-35, Schertz, TX 78154
Watermelon Margarita
The watermelon rita is available behind the bar at EVO’s family-owned and operated Schertz, Kyle and San Marcos locations. The margarita is made with patrón barrel select, triple sec, agave, fresh watermelon and squeezed lime juice. ($9). Grab the rita before hitting EVO’s movie theatre or pair it with bowling and arcades.
Twang (San Antonio-based family company available in 45 states nationwide and Amazon)
Austin Eastciders Watermelon Cider with Twang-A-Rita Sangrita
One of Twang’s brands, Twang-A-Rita, is a line of tasty salts and seasonings designed to easily add flavor to drinks and upgrade beverages into cocktail bar status. Twang’s cocktail rimming blends are made with ingredients like kosher salt, real spices and cane sugar; try Twang-A-Rita Sangrita to take any watermelon drink up a notch (like Austin Eastciders’ new Watermelon cider).
Recipe:
3.5 oz Watermelon Eastciders
.5 oz fresh squeezed lime
Rim with Twang-A-Rita Sangrita
Esquire Tavern (San Antonio)
Heirloom Tomato Salad with watermelon
Located along the San Antonio RiverWalk, wanderers will find the historic Esquire Tavern – a place that touts the longest bar in Texas – and where patrons can fill up on an Heirloom Tomato Salad which is made with watermelon, feta cheese, dill, basil and cucumber vinaigrette. ($13)
Recipe to make at home:
Esquire Tavern Heirloom Tomato Salad from Chef Brooke Smith
“This seasonal salad is refreshing, hearty and bright. Large pieces of heirloom tomatoes that are seasoned heavy like a steak, are tossed with compressed watermelon, chiffonade basil, dill, fetaand pickled watermelon rind. Our cucumber vinaigrette is the perfect compliment to a beautifully ripened tomato and helps bring all of these individually delicious ingredients into a well-rounded and satiating salad.
”Tip: Do not settle when it comes to picking your tomatoes (*homegrown are the best!)
Large Heirloom Tomatoes
Compressed watermelon
Chiffonade basil
Dill
Feta
Pickled watermelon rind
Instructions: Season tomatoes, toss together with remaining ingredients in a large bowl or salad plate. Add cucumber vinaigrette dressing.
Cucumber Vinaigrette (SHELF LIFE: 2 DAYS, YIELD: 6 CUPS)
INGREDIENT:
ENGLISH CUCUMBER 1 EA
SHALLOT 3 OZ (W)
GARLIC 1 OZ (W)
RICE WINE VIN 1 CUP
EGG YOLK 2 EA
FRESH DIL ¼ #
SUGAR 2 OZ (V)
BLEND OIL 3 CUPS
SALT 1 TBL
METHOD:
PLACE CUCUMBER, SHALLOT, GARLIC, RICE WINE VIN, SUGAR & EGG YOLKS IN THE VITA MIX THEN BLEND ON HIGH
ADD DILL & ALLOW A WHIRL POOL
SLOWLY DRIZZLE OIL WITH A THIN STREAM UNTIL OIL IS EMULSIFIED
SEASON WITH SALT
TASTE
LABEL & STORE
