Here’s a menu with easy grilled lobster from Costco and three kinds of salads. This would be great for celebrating Father’s Day, and speaking of which I’m also sharing cool gifts to make the dad in your life feel special.
I also want to share a lovely French cottage-style home in Montecito, California. It feels classic with beautiful fabrics and beamed ceilings. And yet casual with striped rugs and comfortable furniture.
It’s Five Faves time with Annie and Cindy!
1. French – California Home Decor Inspiration
I don’t often go through magazines more than once, but this recent edition of House Beautiful had me reviewing this 1920s home to absorb all the details over and over.
Interior designer MATTHEW O’DORISIO INTERIOR DESIGN AND DECORATION, writer JESSICA CHERNER, photographer KARYN MILLET, stylist LINDSAY REID
The use of textiles and the pattern mix is warm and appealing.
This feels very collected.
The formality is toned down with wicker, white-washed wood, the art, and the rug.
Such lush fabrics!
2. Grilled Lobster From Costco Dinner
Lobster is sort of a splurge for most people so this is nice for a special occasion, like Father’s Day.
- Shrimp Ceviche Appetizer Cups — Mercedes’ recipe
- Caprese Salad Sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic, salt, pepper
- Kale and Romaine Caesar Salad
- Chive Pesto Potato Salad recipe below
- Grilled Uncooked Lobster Tails from Costco — These come in packages of four for around $50. We bought two packages to have leftovers for lobster rolls.
1. Butterflied lobster tails: Cut the shell with a pair of kitchen shears, but go no further than the tail. 2. With a knife, split the meat along the same path as the shell cut line, being careful not to slice all the way through the lobster. 3. Lobster is grilled over direct medium heat. Rub the flesh with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 4. Grill the flesh side down for approximately 5-7 minutes, then flip and grill another 4-5 minutes on the other side. Baste with melted unsalted butter and salt and pepper. Serve with individual cups of drawn melted butter.
3. Chive Pesto Potato Salad
Chive Pesto Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 2 lbs baby potatoes, halved
- Kosher salt
- 8 oz green beans, cut into 1" pieces
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup parsley leaves
- 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1/2 cup chopped chives
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine potatoes with enough salted water to cover by 2 inches: bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a brisk simmer and cook until potates are completely tender in the center, 8 to 12 minutes, adding the green beans during the last 1 to 2 minutes of cooking. Drain, then return the mixture to the hot pot and let rest until very dry, about 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a food processor, pulse pine nuts and garlic until finely chopped. Add the parsley and pulse, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl, until well combined. With the machine running, drizzle in oil and purée until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and add the chives and lemon juice: mix well.
- Add warm potato mixture to the pesto and season with salt and pepper. Mix well. The salad can be made 3 hours ahead and kept refrigerated. Bring to room temperature and toss well before serving.
4. Lobster Roll With Leftover Meat From Costco Lobster Tails
The day after the dinner party, we had enough lobster to make these. Just mix the ingredients and load up the roll!
5. Cool Gifts For Dad
What father doesn’t look sharp in a fresh classic white French Lacoste shirt (size up) • Kindle reader (Howard wants this–nice for reading outside) • grilling apron (you can get it in a matching child’s size too)• delicious Japanese Barbecue sauce (our son, Tommy just turned us on to this great sauce)• awesome reasonably priced electric wine opener (a gift to Howard from my sister) • French steak knife set (we love ours–stainless steel and dishwasher safe) • Tommy Bahamas OluKai flipflops • Faherty swim trunks
If you are new here, each Sunday I share my top five favorite things along with my friends, Cindy and Annie. It’s like our weekly “catch-up” phone call. You can read more Five Faves Articles Here.
Let’s see what Annie and Cindy’s Five Faves are this week:
Hi Mary Ann,
I love that HB home. Wow, every detail is wonderful!
Your recipes look delicious. I can’t believe Father’s Day is just around the corner.
Have a wonderful week.
Karen B.
Mary Ann, I think we do have similar taste! Isn’t that home beautiful? Funny we both saw it and had to share..Something about it is just fresh and modern with the prettiest details, but not too formal!
Howard is cute. Love that he cooks so much. We will save this recipe. Maybe we have to try grilling our own lobster. I will encourage Max! The salad looks great too. xo
Wow, what a gorgeous home … and in my favorite California town. Running to Costco for lobster tails and forwarding your post to Jim … who’s in charge of the grill. I’m going to try the bbq sauce … but won’t wear my striped shirt. Wink. xo
I, also, like the shirt! And this view to your dining room… could you show it more clearly? Good recipes, fun post!
I am so happy I read your email today. We went to Costco and got the lobster tails and loved them! Lobster rolls for lunch tomorrow. Thanks for sharing your grilling methods.
That’s so great to hear!
I to port over that house in Montecito in house beautiful. Lots of charming ideas, of course, it started the charming architecture!! I’m gonna check out and see if we have lobster in our Costco. It’s always a favorite of mine.!!
That’s true that the house had some cool old architectural features.
May I ask where to find the shirt your husband has on here? Looking for ‘untuck’ shirt for my hubby that are not for 25 year olds! :). Now you can tell your hubby a reader wants to buy something he’s modeling! :O 🙂
Mary, Howard IS flattered! It’s at the cleaners but he says its either Lands End or J. Crew.
Mary Ann- that lobster from Costco make me want to get a Costco membership again! Yum! Love your father’s day picks…that apron reminds me of the one you gave me for my birthday last year from SF! We love it and it hangs on a hook in the kitchen!
I love that house! Funny that you and Kim shared the same house! Great minds…
xx
Howard still loads up on paper goods and soaps at Costco but we don’t go as often.
Good Morning Mary Ann,
I love your suggestions for Father’s Day meal. Yum, Lobster!
I loved the decor on that house also, except I personally detest stripes, so I would choose differently. That’s just me.
Question. In the bedroom, I was surprised by the use of the Grey quilt on the bed. There are so many changes of color in the bedroom and yet, it looks great in photo.
But on looking closer I felt the color of grey was not best choice. I would like to know what you think.
Have a great lazy Sunday, Patty
I see what you mean…probably even ecru or the white shade in the background of the bed.
Howard has some great gifts on his list!! I loved that home in House Beautiful too. I am saving all of your recipes! I love lobster! This post was packed with great info!
I’ve made that Chive Pesto Potato Salad a few times now, but I don’t like boiled potatoes. So, I roasted them and the green beans with great results–400 degrees for 20-25 minutes. I’ve also cheated and used regular basil pesto (that I keep in my freezer) to which I add the lemon juice and chives. I also add lemon zest just because I like the brightness it gives. As Kay Chun said in her introductory NYT note, the recipe is very adaptable. It’s been a very popular addition to our table.
This sounds amazing, Mary.