Apple Walnut Salad

This is one of our favorite, go-to, salads since it uses ingredients we almost always have around. The sharp taste of the red onion and tang of the cheese goes perfectly with the sweet apples and is a great start to almost any meal.

Summer on the Coast of Maine

The lovely village of Kennebunkport

The Portland Lobster Company

180 Commercial St, Portland, ME, 207-775-2112 www.portlandlobstercompany.com

On vacation and spending a few hours strolling through the main district by Portland's waterfront, we were hungry but didn't want a full sit-down restaurant lunch. We soon found ourselves at the Portland Lobster Company and we knew we'd found exactly the right spot. Place your order at the counter for authentic Maine lobster rolls or any one of a dozen other seafood or non-seafood options on the menu board and you'll be handed an electronic lobster that will vibrate when your order is ready. Step out to the narrow patio right over the water, find a plastic stool next to the counter and enjoy both the view and the amazing live music.

Brown's Old Fashioned Ice Cream

232 Nubble Road, York, ME, 207-363-1277

Did you say ice cream stand or tourist trap? People who knew we were going to be vacationing on the southern coast of Maine told us we must check out this fixture for a true ice cream delight. Pre- vacation research on the area also found lots of Internet praise for Brown's ice cream. Well, we intended to head to Cape Neddick anyway to see their famous lighthouse and we didn't need our arms twisted to sample some ice cream on a summer vacation.

One Dock at The Kennebunkport Inn

One Dock Square, Kennebunkport, ME, 207-967-2621, www.onedock.com

One Dock is located in the heart of Dock Square, the center of the hustle and bustle of summer high season in Kennebunkport. But, it's pretty dining room sits just above the fray in a quiet, comfortable room.

Pier 77

77 Pier Road, Cape Porpoise, ME, 207-967-8500 www.pier77restaurant.com

Before coming to Kennebunkport on vacation, we researched the local restaurants and Pier 77 seemed one of the more attractive casual choices. An 8 minute drive from our inn and we were on the dock at Cape Porpoise. August is high season on the coast of Maine and 6:30 on a Thursday evening already meant a nearly full parking lot.

Captain Jefferds Inn

5 Pearl Street, Kennebunkport, ME, 800-839-6844 www.captainjefferdsinn.com

Located just a short stroll from the main square in Kennebunkport, this historic house was re-fashioned as a bed and breakfast in 1980 and has been in the hands of it's present inn-keepers for the past five years.

Pear, Roquefort and Walnut Salad

This salad has a special place in our hearts since it was the starter to one of our favorite meals on a wonderful Christmas vacation several years ago. It remains our special occasion salad.

Cucumber Salad

My mother used to make this all the time and it's also Brian's favorite. Actually, I've never met anyone that didn't like cucumber salad. I'm sure there are some variations to the basic recipe but this one is our house standard and always a hit.

Union Square Cafe

21 East 16th Street, New York, NY, 212-243-4020 www.unionsquarecafe.com

It's ironic that two native New Yorkers had never been to a New York institution and two food lovers had not visited a restaurant consistently rated in the top 10 for the past two decades. And so, on a perfect summer day, we headed downtown for lunch at Union Square Cafe and then a shopping trip at the big farmer's market in the square. After a meal so long in coming, does USC deliver on it's hype? It sure does!

Heirloom Tomato Panzanella

We find that this salad really highlights the freshness of its ingredients. We especially love it in summer but anytime we find great tomatoes is the right time for panzanella!

Centolire

1167 Madison Avenue, NY, NY, 212-737-7711 www.pinoluongo.com/centolire.html

I'd been to Pino Luongo's uptown homage to his Tuscan roots twice. My first visit was not long after it opened in 2001 and I was dazzled. A return visit a couple of years later produced the same delight. And so, I was anxious to take my partner in love, food and crime to what I considered one of the finest Italian restaurants in the city. We'd been talking about it for several years and yet something always got in the way so we were both excited about our dinner reservations this past Saturday night. Centolire!