Cookbook Shelf: The Fire Island Cookbook

Fire Island is one of New York’s most beloved destinations for a summer getaway.  A quick ferry ride off of the south shore of Long Island, here, the only items on the “to do” list are sunbathing, relaxing, eating, and washing it all down with some fabulous wine. The Fire Island Cookbook is the perfect companion for any summer destination. 

Food and travel writers Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, also known as the World Wine Guys, have compiled this collection of recipes that take at-home cooks from Memorial Day to Labor Day, containing virtual dinner parties organized by themes and 14 complete menus from appetizer to dessert.  The bonus? The Guys take the guesswork out of pairing food and wine and provide the perfect wine accompaniments for each course.

Mike and Jeff divide their time between their homes in New York City and Spain resulting in an undeniable Latin influence on their food. While the recipes in The Fire Island Cookbook are inspired by the authors’ travels to Italy, Greece, Cape Cod, and of course, Fire Island, and include all-American summer fare such as blue cheese, bacon and fried onion sliders, The Fire Island Cookbook also incorporates several Latin themed spreads from regions like Mexico and Spain.  The “Paella Beach Party” menu, for example, features a World Wine Guys adaptation of the Spanish staple and is featured below. Made with shellfish and chorizo, it pairs well with a Dominio de Tares Godello, a dry white wine from the Bierzo region of Spain. Other great Latin menus include “Noche Caliente Spanish Dinner” which features gazpacho and Spanish-rubbed steak, “Portside in Puerto Vallarta” which includes homemade tortilla chips, and a light Mayan chicken and lime soup, and the “Labor Day Caribbean Barbecue” that centers on spiced ribs, mango and black bean salsa, and a true Latin staple: red beans and rice.

If you love The Fire Island Cookbook as much as we do, stay tuned! Mike and Jeff’s next book, Wines of the Southern Hemisphere pubs in October, and we’ll have all the details.

Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, also known as the World Wine Guys, are wine, spirits, food, and travel writers. Mike and Jeff are the Entertaining and Lifestyle Editors for Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Their articles and photographs have appeared in Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, and Saveur. Dividing their time between NYC, Fire Island, traversing the globe on assignment, and their home in Southern Spain, they have spent summers on Fire Island for the past 10 years, where they enjoy cooking delicious dinners like those featured in The Fire Island Cookbook.

Paella with Shellfish & Chorizo