It’s a collaboration for the books: famed local chain PS.Cafe teams up with the US Department of Agriculture for an all-American menu for July.

O, say can you see…! Hang the star-spangled banner and light up the proverbial fireworks. July is here, which means it’s the most American time of year. For the occasion of the Fourth of July, PS.Cafe has partnered up with the most unlikely of collaborators: the US Department of Agriculture. Together, the partners have devised a classic menu that odes to the US of A — culminating in an exclusive menu for the month that explores the American way of bigger-is-better culinary opulence. Expect classics like the ol’ fashioned Apple Pie (made with 12 whole apples!) and cookout faves like BBQ Short Ribs and Chilli Con Carne specials; where each dish is deftly designed to serve up an authentic taste of the American approach to cuisine.

Founded by President Lincoln in 1862, the USDA has evolved to handle and dole out policies and regulations related to American farming, forestry, ranching, food quality, and nutrition, which sums up that this partnership comes authentic with an official stamp of approval. With this guarantee, PS.-patrons can look forward to only the best produce that tempers the restaurant’s entrees and mains. For one, the Pulled Pork Burger ($28) comprises USDA-certified pulled pork, amply dressed with apple and parsnip slaw, apple compote and fresh lettuce and tomato, and accompanied by the PS.Cafe signature shoestring fries. The Beef Tacos ($19) even come integrated with the gleeful havoc in its user experience — loaded to the brim with fresh pico de gallo, crisp guacamole and chipotle mayonnaise.

Best of all, this collaboration is a timely reminder that PS.Cafe has never forgotten its roots, given that the restaurant chain is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. In what seems to be an unintentional ode to all the first dates that have transpired in the institution’s four walls, the Fourth of July menu has also opened up to include a no-mess section. Finger-licking specials thus get elevated into easy-peasy etiquette-appropriate courses. Case in point? The Slow-Braised BBQ Short Ribs ($45) dish takes the ‘fall off the bone’ expression to the next level. Tender beef short rib slices (sans rib) are doused in housemade barbecue sauce, accompanied by onion-dusted corn ribs; that together, create a dynamic flavour firework with none of the chaos that might scare off a second date. And to round off the meal (or date), PS.Cafe’s mixologists have concocted a pleasant kicker of a cocktail. Inspired by Hollywood and a riff off the classic New York Sour cocktail, the Popcorn Sour ($22) marries a red wine floater into layers of popcorn syrup and Maker’s Mark whiskey. Because if you’re going to celebrate, why not go all out?

The seasonal menu is available from July 1-31, at all PS.Cafe outlets islandwide. Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our June/July 2024 issue.