My college daughter Abby spent the summer working alone in Chicago, so when she came home to New York for a bit before going back to school, I asked her an important question: What should I eat while I’m here?
There has been a new one since she last came home. Bagel Spot I figured she’d be interested in seeing what the fuss was about since the family group chat in our neighborhood was going crazy. I also figured she’d be interested in finding some steamed rice rolls right away. Condolences or go on a pilgrimage Sal & Carmine For her favorite New York slice. But her response – and I swear I never paid her to say that – was, “I want to eat at home.”
What she missed most, it turns out, was home-cooked meals, especially the ones she associated with summer: tomato sandwiches, blueberry pancakes. Grilled Salmon Salad. Veggie Burger. Oklahoma-style burger grilled on top of grilled onions.
Sliced tomato salad with feta cheese. Potato salad with dill. Corn dripping with butter. S’mores.
Needless to say, finishing up the Last Gasp Summer Checklist was a task I was excited to support, and we were able to review a good portion of it before sending her off to school earlier this week.
What’s on your last-day-of-summer checklist? What do you absolutely want to do before Labor Day?
PS Five recipes for dinner back home and using corn, tomatoes, or both.
