Erica’s Annual Beach Bash…

Earlier this summer, Peterson’s Happy Hour contributor Erica Okone took time out from creating whimsical wine charms to throw her annual Beach Bash.

That's Erica--beach, beach, beach...

As she lives steps away from the surf in Long Beach, New York there’s no shortage of water or sand or or sun or fun…

… or refreshments, like Peterson’s Bug Zappers and mititei (or mici) —  Romanian tubular meat patties, a Beach Bash tradition supplied by friend Suzanne, who picks them up at Muncan Food Corp in Astoria.

Grillmaster Phil cooks up the mititei

Mititei means “small ones” and the addictive, savory morsels may contain pork, beef, lamb or a mixture, and are usually made with some version of sodium bicarbonate — either in the form of soda water or baking soda. In advance of a Peterson-tested version, here’s a  mititei recipe to try at home.

The guests dip their toes...

Long Beach sunset