Playlist #18: Hello Summer!

Once again, summer is (very soon-to-be) upon us — and to make sure we squeeze every last drop from these sun-kissed months, we compiled a shortlist of seasonal must-haves. They’ll have you ready to slather on sunscreen, roll out the pop-up tent and soak up the sun like Sheryl Crow in 2002.


By: Kourtney Paranteau

1. Hometown Hero 

Our city of Portland, OR, is in no short supply of cutely alluring storefronts, and Based General Store is no exception. The new kid on the block in downtown’s bustling West End, Based has us gearing up to dip into our summer slush fund with their fun pop-ups, stylish cafe, freshly cut flowers and curated pantry goodies. Plus, they offer a brunch worth the effort of parallel parking, and that’s saying a lot.  

2. Long Distance Crush

Even though we’ve been known to side-eye our neighbors to the north, we admit that a chunk of our skepticism comes from a place of friendly competition and kid-sister syndrome. So, putting our differences to the side, we’re celebrating Seattle-based Atoma, who continues to wow us with dishes like pommes paillasson with caviar and homemade sourdough crumpets. Plus, they have the accolades to back it up, having been named a 2025 James Beard Award Finalist for Best New Restaurant.

3. Beverage Pairing

We’ve sipped on Straightaway Cocktails for years now, but we’re feeling renewed excitement with the release of their Blanco Margarita, a back-to-basics rendition of their best-selling classic Margarita — perfect for grilling season. Let’s face it: after marinating meat, constructing a striking salad and firing up the grill, the idea of shaking up a homemade margarita feels just over the line of what we feel like accomplishing. Throw one of these 4-packs into your cooler and you'll absolve yourself from one more hosting duty.

4. Pantry Pal 

west~bourne has us fan-girling over their trés chic, California-harvested avocado oils for cooking and finishing our al fresco snacks all summer long. Their small but mighty catalog treats avocado oil with the elegance of fine olive oils, inspiring us to put in the extra effort to create dishes worthy of its dreaminess.
 

5. Reading Material

We all have our favorite recipes, but it’s also fun to snap out of our comfort zone and try new dishes, especially with so much prime produce springing up at the farmers market. Enter In the Kusina by Woldy Reyes, a cookbook so captivating and artfully presented that you might mistake it for the latest issue of Vogue. Organized into Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer, In the Kusina features Woldy’s take on classic Filipino dishes with a vibrant, vegetable-forward twist, so you’ll feel nourished no matter the season.

6. Entertainment

Personally, peak entertainment for me is watching the scene in “Hacks” where Ava, justifiably so, throws a whole branzino at a window. That said, asking someone to binge-watch three seasons just to arrive at this scene feels rude (though, if I’m honest, you’ll thank me later), so we point you toward another fun item to pass the time: Lingo’s Street Food Playing Cards. Featuring English translations of foods from Italy, Japan, Mexico and France, the playing card/foreign language brand’s foray into the food universe provides a gamified tour of global street food while teaching us new words like “farinata” (an Italian chickpea pancake). 

7. Merch

Even though we’re pretty sure we’re not quite cool enough to be a regular, we have to hand it to Venture's Heaven 469 Incense, developed for Bar Part Time. Featuring notes of yuzu, vanilla, and sage, your living space can smell as alluring as the Bay Area's (or the “world’s”, as they claim) hottest wine bar, all without buying a plane ticket. And while our closet is bursting with t-shirts, hats, totes, and hoodies from establishments we want to broadcast we’ve been to, we respect Bar Part Time’s ephemeral reminder to re-live our visit to their bustling, DJ-inhabiting bar with our senses as opposed to pure braggadocio.

8. Equipment

Like many Pacific Northwesterners, after six months of dependence on an oven and stove-top, we’re making sure every drizzle-less dining moment has an element that’s been smooched by the outdoor grill. While Made In’s lineup contains countless indoor kitchen essentials, it’s their Grill Press that we’re building our meals around this summer. From diner-esque breakfasts to burgers, crispy-edged smashed potatoes, and seared steaks, this versatile accessory quickly earns its keep.
Hot Tip: Pair it with our Made In x JSC Seasoning Trio, inspired by smash burger toppings (think Secret Sauce, Smoky Onion and Pickle), and you’ll be king — or queen — of the grill.

9. One of Our Own

Ok, yes, as always, we’re modestly tooting our own horn — but after the point we just made about grilling season, we also wanted to highlight our Grilling Trio. This curated set features a triptych of high-quality Jacobsen Co. Seasonings: Steak, House Special and Italian. Like all the best trios (think Charlie’s Angels, Destiny’s Child, The Powerpuff Girls), each flavor brings something different to help you easily elevate your grill game.