BINGO! My summer eating bucket list
The ultimate game, filled with summery cocktails, al fresco meals and experiences only available in Newfoundland
I have never been a big fan of New Year's resolutions, so this year, Adam and I spent New Year’s Eve creating and drawing our own bingo card for 2025. It’s filled with delicious things to cook, adventures we've always talked about having, and some big goals. Bingo cards are so low pressure, plus if you get a line, that dopamine rush ain’t bad either, am I right? A line just means I’m having fun! They make things flexible, fun and help celebrate (and cherish) the small things in life, along with the big ones.
Last weekend, I was in Halifax for my 10-year journalism school reunion at King’s College, and we also played Bingo! But not in the way you might think – one of our lovely classmates, Christian, created our very own Bingo card with facts about what our classmates have been up to in the past decade, and we had to find the person that corresponded with the fact. It was a great way to catch up with old friends and learn about everyone’s life since the journalism boot camp nearly destroyed us all.
So, in the spirit of taking full advantage of these short Newfoundland summers, I have devised the ultimate eating bucket list, filled with summery and fresh cocktails, al fresco meals and experiences only available in Newfoundland. It’s helped me be more thoughtful about how to spend my free time, to seek out new local experiences and to try new foods! There are things I’ve always wanted to do, some new social media trends and some things that are basically a requirement for my summer eating. I’ve already crossed off a few of these – and a few need further explanations – but here is the Summer Eating Bingo for 2025.
The SUMMER EATING BINGO, explained
Here are a few explainers (and links) to the squares, and why I just have to eat ‘em!!!
Enjoy a meal on the Pedestrian Mall: Relatively self-explanatory, but I have to say keeping Water Street pedestrian only in the summers for the past five years might be one of the best things the City of St. John’s has ever done. Now, if only they would let food trucks and vendors set up in front of Atlantic Place… Either way, I love sitting on one of the patios and enjoying a drink and a meal and people watching – or the “puppy parade”, as Adam refers to it, since he’s much more concerned about dog-watching.
Make Savoury S'mores: I saw this trend on social media and knew I wanted to try it! Instead of marshmallows, you toast Babybel cheeses over the fire and slap them between two crackers with some salami instead of chocolate. Noms!
Eat at the Wharf in Quidi Vidi: Another must-do activity in the summer for me. I have my eyes (and stomach) on the fried seafood tower from Johnny & Mae’s Sea Treats food truck down there for the first time this year.
Make a delicious camping meal: I already did this, and I plan to do more in August. I made Andrea Buckett’s Three-Ingredient Macaroni & Cheese from her new book The Essential Cottage Cookbook while camping in June, and it was so creamy, so good, so easy!
Enjoy a Tomatini cocktail: Another social media trend, but I have been loving filthy dirty gin Martinis lately and adding a hint of tomato is right up my alley – just Google it.
Make Kraft pasta salad: IYKYK, this pasta salad is a classic for BBQs in my family, and the simple addition of chopped apple and cubed cheddar cheese has made me the star of many summer potlucks. And yes, I’m talking about that green box next to the real KD in the grocery aisle.
Seoul Night Korean food night: Seoul Night is a new Korean restaurant that opened up in the old Chinched space on Bates Hill. I cannot wait to try their fried chicken!
Relish a Lambrusco Spritz: I have long been a fan of Lambrusco (a red sparkling wine from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy) and of course the Aperol Spritz, so naturally I have been eager to try one of these. Piatto Pizzeria has been advertising a spritz flight on their Instagram, and this might be the perfect place to relish a Lambrusco Spritz.
Try the McDonald’s heist menu items: Lured by social media’s infatuation with international menu items from the golden arches, Adam and I went and tried the ones now available in Canada. The Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich from Japan was fantastic, the McPizza bites from Italy were pretty good (I think they were not prepared the right way), and the German Big Rösti was meh, but it was a fun meal!
Here are a few I’ve already checked off so far this summer — what delicious things are on your bucket list this summer?