Nothing says summer like food fresh off the grill! We’ve collected some tips for you to get the most out of your grilling this summer! Enjoy!
1. At BLT Burger in Las Vegas, chef Laurent Tourondel brushes burgers with butter while they’re on the grill. The natural sugars caramelize, making the meat extra-delicious.
2. Chef Nate Appleman of A16 and SPQR restaurants in San Francisco swears by coating vegetables with a mayonnaise-based marinade; it creates a beautifully blistered crust when grilled.
3. When grilling a meal, chef Robert Del Grande of Cafe Annie and Bar Annie in Houston threads ingredients for sauces onto skewers to cook alongside the meat. While the meat rests he purees the sauce ingredients in a blender.
4. Jerk chicken gets its aroma from being grilled over wood from pimento trees, the source of allspice. Chef Jose Garces of Philadelphia’s Amada mimics jerk by soaking allspice in water, then throwing the berries onto hot coals.
5. Chef Robert Del Grande swears by his grandmother’s trick: “I saw her do this when I was a kid. She would tie fresh herbs to a brush and baste chicken on the grill with it. Some things just stick in your mind.”
6. Chef Emeril Lagasse honors simplicity in his new book, Emeril at the Grill: “I keep lemons, limes and oranges on hand for spritzing over simply grilled meat, seafood and vegetables. Then I drizzle on olive oil.”

7. To keep fillets intact, chef Anita Lo of Annisa in New York City wraps them in briny grape leaves—a tasty combination.
8. Even on a clean grill, lean foods may stick when placed directly on the rack. Reduce sticking by oiling your hot grill rack with a vegetable oil-soaked paper towel: hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.)
9. Food safety is a top priority, so keep these simple rules from the USDA in mind: avoid cross-contamination by using separate cutting boards, utensils and platters for raw and cooked foods; refrigerate foods while marinating; and never baste with the marinating liquid. (Make extra marinade just for basting or boil your marinating liquid first.)
Do you have a favorite recipe for the grill? We’d love to see it!

Since our weather is finally beginning to feel more like summer, we wanted to spotlight something related to an activity that Minnesotans do mainly in the summer: SWIMMING! It is finally time to grab your beach towel, sunblock and flip-flops and hit the beach!

If last year’s suit isn’t cutting it, keep these tips in mind when you are shopping for a new swimsuit:

1. Elongate a petite frame with a one-piece suit that has thin vertical stripes. Lend short legs length with a suit cut high on the hip.

2. Use blocks of color to divert attention from wide hips or a belly bulge. Wear one-piece suits with a dark-colored, solid lower half and a lighter-colored or printed bodice.

3. Give a square or boyish figure the appearance of a waist with a one-piece or tankini (a bikini with a top shaped like a tank top) that has a darker color from the crotch to the middle ribs and a lighter color over the chest. Consider a skort – a combination short and skirt to conceal and divert attention away from a too-round bottom.

4. Minimize a full chest with a dark, monochromatic bodice that has a high or square-cut neck. Make sure the suit offers ample support to resist drooping or sagging, and choose a wider-cut bottom to balance your overall look.

5. If you have toned legs and beautiful shoulders, flaunt them in a string bikini or cutout one-piece swimsuit.

6. Choose suits with at least 15 percent spandex to minimize flabby areas.

One of the hottest trends this summer for suits is the stylish one-shoulder number. Taking the lead from the current trend in one-shoulder toga-style dresses and asymmetrical necklines, this year’s single-shoulder swimsuits are sophisticated and beautiful. The diagonal line narrows across the upper body for a flattering look.  Plus one shoulder will be without tan lines that way!

Don’t forget to slather on sunblock while you are out there enjoying the sun and sand! Stop into Belladerm to stock your beach bag–we have amazing products to guard your skin from harmful rays! Enjoy your summer and whatever swimsuit you decide to wear, just make sure it is one you feel comfortable and confident in, and you can’t go wrong!