One in a Mellon

Watermelon is back in season and hitting some of our favorite Butte County restaurants. Don't miss these specials while they last!

Watermelon Salad

Unwined | 980 Mangrove Ave, Chico

Built on a watermelon foundation, this is the perfect summertime salad.

Watermelons need a hot, sunny climate in order to flourish and take 85 to 100 days to mature. Most have red flesh, but some have white, yellow, orange, or even green. Watermelon sweetness is measured on the Brix Scale, with the sweetest being in the 11 and 12 range. This brings us to the age-old question. How can you tell if a watermelon is sweet?

The other day a guy was in the market tapping on a watermelon like a bongo player at a beatnik festival. Sounds good, doesn’t it? A deep, hollow thump, a little echoey? Nope. The REAL way to determine if a watermelon is ripe and sweet is the yellow area on the bottom of the melon called the ground spot. Look for brownish or black dots—sugar spots— as they are a sign of sweetness. However, black and white specks can be belly rot. No bueno! Also, look for dull skin with no soft spots!

Watermelon is that one fruit we simply can't get enough of, and during the summer, there's really nothing quite like it. Check out our recommendations on the right and our watermelon mojito recipe on the next page!

Tiger's Blood Cocktail

Parkside Tap House | 115 W 3rd St, Chico

Sweet and refreshing, watermelon puree is the star of this cocktail.

Watermelon Sherbet

Shubert's | 178 E. 7th St, Chico

Shubert's summertime special is back for a limited time!