Letter from Steve

Summer is simplicity. It’s the season when Mother Nature makes us grateful for the smallest of gifts, like a warm breeze or a bite of juicy strawberry. It turns us all into kids again, giddy at the thought of a day outside.

That enthusiasm runs through all the stories in this second issue. I am honored to publish a personal essay from Sara Moulton, former Gourmet Magazine executive chef and Food Network host, about idyllic summers spent at her family’s Massachusetts country home. It’s the perfect story to take with you to the beach or the lake, where you can stare out at the water and enjoy its calming effects.

There are also plenty of delicious recipes to inspire your ultimate picnic or backyard cook-out. “In Season” features frozen treats from some of the country’s best pastry chefs like Gale Gand, Malika Ameen, Celeste Campise, and ice cream wizard Jeni Britton Bauer. The sundaes, floats, and ice cream sandwiches are easy enough to whip up on a lazy summer afternoon, but beautiful enough to serve to company. Kids—even the grown-up kind—are sure to enjoy eating them as much as I enjoyed photographing them.

“Weather Permitting” is especially fascinating in this issue because of the unpredictable spring weather that complicated farmers’ harvests across the Great Lakes region. Some of our favorite fruits suffered because of late frosts, but the ones that are at markets now look and taste as beautiful as ever.

Whether you spend your June and July at the lake, the beach, or just in your own backyard, don’t forget to pause to ask “Who’s Hungry?™”

STEPHEN HAMILTON