Fig & Arugula Salad with Fig Vinaigrette – one of my favorite dishes during fig season. While the fig season is fleeting, they are truly one of the most decadent fruits of the year – but you have to catch them fast. Other favorites include Port-poached Calimyrna Figs stuffed with Ganache, Stewed Fig Bordelaise served over Beef Filet, Toasted Almond & Fig Tarts. We always encourage our clients to take advantage of fig season with dishes like these.
One of my favorite parts of summer is lemon verbena – it loves the heat and humidity and grows like crazy in New York. There are many uses – ice cream, sorbet, custard, whipped cream, cocktails – but my favorite is (pictured above) – no-bake lemon verbena cheesecake. It’s a cross between a cheesecake, a semifreddo and a mousse. The texture is so light, yet the flavor is intense. I often serve it with stewed blueberries for a perfect taste of summer!