First Dinner of Summer

It's officially summer. The moment I want to set every table outside, I know that it's here. Last week I only had eyes for the patio. Plus, there was Mexican take-out on the way, and what better meal to inaugurate the season?

Eggplant fries, beef skirt steak taco and a chicken verde taco with pickled red onions were compliments of Sonora Grill. If you haven't been yet, seriously, forget your dinner plans and head immediately to the Midtown Global Market. One bite of those cornmeal-crusted eggplant fries dipped in aioli and you will love me. And then two days later when your obsession has taken hold and you can't fathom eating anything else, you might hate me. But it's worth it, so go!

Here's the other reason I was so keen on eating outside: 

Happy, "new" patio furniture! In place of chair cushions so weather-worn you'd mistake them for softball bases, I covered the seats in a bright, inexpensive Ikea fabric. I spray painted the wrought iron furniture a few years ago. It's amazing what a staple gun and a little muscle can do.

What are your sure-fire signs of summer? Cooking every meal on the grill? Cracking open a new bottle of Hendrick's and keeping the fridge stocked with tonic and limes?

Italy, Dish by Dish

It's finally sinking in. In a little over a week, I will be stepping on a plane and flying to Rome. For twelve days I'm going to wander through piazzas, marvel at ancient ruins and Renaissance art, and most importantly, eat everything in sight. 

I'm not ashamed to admit that the majority of my trip-planning has been spent dreaming of food. From Rome, my family and I are making our way toward Venice, Florence, Bologna and Siena. In my mind that translates to a steaming bowl of Bucatini all'Amatriciana with guanciale (cured pork jowl), fried Roman artichokes, paper-thin slices of Prosciutto di Parma, and plenty of Tuscan wine. If I don't gain weight on this trip, I will have done something wrong.

Forget Rick Steves. Here are the books I've been reading in anticipation:

Cooking with Italian Grandmothers is an especially gorgeous book. Part cookbook, part history of Slow Food in Italy, this book chronicles a way of life I hope we never lose touch with.

I've never been to Italy. Do you have any recommendations for me? Any food, sights, or experiences I shouldn't miss?