Summer Salads

by Mark R. Vogel

"Salad is the kind of food that real food eats," proclaimed Alf, the furry alien sitcom character from the 80's. Clearly Alf's rebuking of greens revealed his carnivorous orientation.

However, his red meat of choice was cats. Most humans would prefer a plate of salad to Mr. Puss n Boots, but hey, to each his own.

Salads are certainly consumed all year long. However, because they are lighter fare and most often served cold, they are particularly associated with summer.

The culinary encyclopedia Larousse Gastronomique defines salad as "a dish of raw, cold, or warm cooked foods, usually dressed and seasoned, served as an appetizer, side dish or main course."

With the breadth of that definition, Alf's favorite dish could be considered a salad. Let's rein in the nomenclature and define salads via Merriam-Webster: "a: green vegetables (as lettuce, endive, or romaine) and often tomatoes, cucumbers, or radishes served with dressing or b: a dish of meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, fruits, or vegetables singly or in combination usually served cold with a dressing."

With this latter definition in mind, let's make some salads.

BEAN SALAD

SUMMER GREEK SALAD

AMBROSIA (Fruit salad)

GRILLED CALAMARI & RADICCHIO SALAD