In the July Orange Coast, I chat with Dana Point author Sara Forte, whose very popular Sprouted Kitchen blog led to a book by the same name, which garnered a James Beard Foundation award nomination earlier this year. Quite an honor for a first book! (I also wrote about Forte’s “tastier take on whole foods” in Taste of Orange County last fall—don’t miss the triple-coconut loaf recipe.) In our July story, Forte mentions a summer-perfect cocktail, and was happy to detail the recipe for this blog when I asked.

Grapefruit-Berry Gin Smash from Sprouted Kitchen’s Sara Forte

For the drink, you could easily use vodka or even tequila, but gin is my spirit of choice.—Sara Forte

3 ripe strawberries

Few mint leaves

2 teaspoons honey or agave nectar

2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice

2 ounces gin

Soda water

Crushed ice

Muddle strawberries and mint in tall glass. Add honey or agave, grapefruit juice, and gin; mix to combine. Fill glass with crushed ice and top with soda water.