Top Chefs Reveal Their Favorite Summer Foods

Just one bite of your favorite summertime food instantly takes you back to your fondest memories of summer. It’s the crisp, refreshing sweetness of watermelon as you take a break from the pool, the smoke infused goodness of a sizzling burger at the family Barbecue, and the cool, smooth taste of ice cream as you wind down from a long day in the sun. These are the memories and flavors of summer we love. But what about the top chefs in the world? What are the foods that defined their summers? Let’s take a look!

Barbara Lynch – No. 9 Park, Boston
“My mother had nine kids so every day was at the beach no matter what, and she made the most amazing tuna fish sandwiches with sliced pickles, pickle juice, mayonnaise and white bread.”

Christopher Kastow – The Restaurant at Meadowood, Napa
“I remember we would pull up to the coast and prepare shore lunches; the fish were cleaned right there—guts thrown to the gulls. The fish were then dusted in cornmeal, cooked in a cast iron over the fire, and served on white bread with butter and lemon. It was simple and delicious. I think it speaks to the idea that setting, feeling, and mood—9 times out of 10—will trump technique and intention.”

Michelle Poteux – Bastille, Alexandria
When I think of summer, I think blueberries and blackberries. … When I was a child, I would visit my grandmother in Ozark, Ark., where we would pick blueberries and blackberries in the summer heat. Then we would take them home, bake with half and freeze the rest. I love to eat frozen blueberries and blackberries for this reason.”

Jamie Bissonnette – Coppa, Boston
“My mother used to buy Italian salad dressing and pour it over cucumbers from my grandma’s garden, carrots and red onions and let it sit on the table. It was our snack we would eat all summer long before dinner.”

What makes a great summer food is clear, it is not just the incredible flavors, but the time you spend, with the people you love, enjoying it.

We would love for you to share your favorite summer foods in the comments below and to follow our blog “The Flavor” for great summertime recipes like this one: Latin Sliders with Jalapeno Peppers.