The Gift of Simple Syrup

Waking up in New Orleans around 7 am, where I learned to cook with my mentors years ago, I got ready for my day and walked out into what seemed like an insurmountable wave of heat—so thick and dense that it felt like pushing through a packed subway car during prime travel time in New York City. I was in awe of the Southern humidity; whether in a good or bad way remains to be seen.

But alas, my one savior after that day of hard work came—a large glass of sweet tea. The culture surrounding late afternoons in Louisiana was perplexing to a West Coast kid: people sitting on their porches, sometimes with their feet in a kiddie pool, chatting with strangers passing by as if they'd been friends for years, sipping on one of two things—a really cheap glass of wine or sweet tea. I initially thought the tea was obnoxiously sweet, like an overly sugared batch of Kool-Aid. But like that heat, or the Southern 'be courteous to thy neighbor' mantra, it stayed with me and became embedded in who I am, much like most generational things we adopt as we grow older.

It was here that I became aware of how often blueberries are used in Southern drink recipes. While not as traditional as ingredients like lemons or peaches, blueberries are popular in Southern beverages like Blueberry Sweet Tea, Blueberry Lemonade, and some cocktails. I liked the taste, so I created a recipe.

Blueberry Simple Syrup

It's simple for a reason: two parts sugar, one part water, and a half-pint of blueberries. You can add this simple syrup to nearly anything—coffee, adult beverages, or to impart flavor or sweetness that may otherwise be lacking, like in our previously mentioned tea.

Here is a recipe we have been using:

1/2 pint fresh blueberries

2 cup sugar

1 cup water

Zest of 1 lemon

1/8 tsp salt

• Bring all ingredients to a rolling boil, then turn down to a simmer for 12-15 minutes. Note- The blueberries should, within this time frame, release their juices and turn to pulp.
• Allow to cool to room temperature, then pass contents through a mesh strainer.
• Store, refrigerated, in a 24-oz mason jar or plastic deli container.

Over our culinary legacy as chefs, we've learned to enhance flavor by adding fruits, herbs, spices, or even savory elements like bacon fat. That may sound odd, but when I say 'Bacon-Infused Old Fashioned with Smoked Orange Bitters,' it suddenly sounds more alluring. The beauty in most great things in cooking is simplicity, much like those late afternoons in Louisiana.

Have freedom with your creativity!



Add it to iced tea with muddled blueberry and a sprig of mint!

Add it to a Vodka Soda with a squeeze of lemon!

Try the recipe with strawberries instead of blueberries!

Have fun with it. After all, cooking is supposed to be fun.