Summer specialties

The idea of seasonal cooking is very much in vogue today. "Christmas in July" may work as a department store promotion, but it doesn't translate quite as well to the kitchen. Instead, restaurants are focusing on menus that feature the best of each season, drawing on global as well as local sources

Alfresco dining is another aspect of summertime, and it seems to bring with it an increased appetite for barbecued and grilled foods. The Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, with more than 70 establishments in seven states and Japan, welcomes summer by offering outdoor dining options at many of its Chicago-area restaurants. At the Big Bowl locations, for example, windows are thrown open to let the outdoors in. Seasonal menu offerings include appetizer specialties such as a soft shrimp summer roll, and drinks range from homemade ginger ale to tropical cocktails and specialty iced teas. Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! provides an 80-seat outdoor dining section and a selection of light summer tapas, created by Chef Gabino Sotelino, that can be washed down with traditional sangria. Papagus Greek Taverna provides an outdoor cafe experience as well, and its summer menu highlights fresh vegetables and grilled foods. Speaking of grilled foods, among this month's recipes you'll find ideas for grilled lamb cutlets as well as barbecue shrimp from Ruth's Chris Steak House.

Salads celebrate the season, too, with their selling points of freshness, coolness and lightness. Look for the menu suggestions we're providing; watermelon salad, snap-pea and shrimp salad, a Thai-inspired beef salad and curried pasta salad with cucumber raita. Also featuring seasonal produce is the recipe for summer squash and Georgia pecan saute. Don't forget dessert, either, whether it be a selection of seasonal fruit sorbets, or something like the peach tart with pistachios from Brew Moon Restaurant and Microbrewery. You'll find the tart described in our recipe section, along with other menu ideas.