What August Inspires

When August arrives, Autumn suddenly seems to be looming on the horizon, reminding us of everything we love about summer, and of how little time we have left to enjoy it. You might say that August is the time when the mortality of the year registers for the first time. An appealing approach is to make the most of every day, to leave the air conditioning behind for the sun-filled outdoors and to savor every last grain of sand in summer’s hourglass.

One of the ways my family and I seize the precious days of August is by spending as much time as we can outside. We spend most of our extended weekends outdoors, from breakfast in the garden to dinner beside the grill. When we go to the Lincolnwood pool, it becomes an all day affair, with an ice chest full of home cooked foods to last until sunset.

To facilitate the flexibility August inspires, Quartino features a number of alternatives. Homemade Bigoli with Venetian Duck Ragu, for example, may become a favorite last-minute lunch or the contribution that your friends insist you bring to every potluck gathering. And the I Rotoli di Mozzarella filled with one of five varieties of fillings to choose from, makes a fantastic main course salad as well as an appealing first course.

August marks the arrival of some fabulous vegetables. Tomatoes, in every conceivable shape and size, are so intense and dependable in August that we have chosen to offer Heirloom Tomatoes with Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Puglia. Eggplant, too, is at its best in August and is put to use in Eggplant Parmigiana which is served hot, directly from the oven. However, I must admit that my children do enjoy this preparation cooled and at room temperature. Eh, kids know best!