Tastes of Summer

Life is hard; summer should be easy, at least where cooking for family and friends is concerned. We want it simple, and we want the sweet, intense flavors we’ve yearned for since October—local tomatoes, corn, clams. Cubes of fish or meat and vegetables to skewer and throw on the grill. Nothing beats fresh, great Italian, especially when a great Italian is showing us how to make it. And dessert? Cold, please, like the icy drinks that go with everything. They’re all here.

By Gillian Duffy

Hearty pasta, braised vegetables, grilled calamari-- these days, we just can't get enough nouvo fare. Just in time for summer, the city's great Italian chefs-- including Mario Batali, Scott Conant, and Frank De Carlo-- tell us how to do it at home.

Stick 'Em Up

Jimmy Bradley loves kebabs-- curried or olive-drenched-- because they're as easy to grill as they are to devour, especially paired with his showstopping summer salads.

Cold Comfort

These six chefs may be hot, but their sensational desserts are divinely cool.

Highball Heights

The city's top drink maestros create icy pitchers of cocktails at once familiar and exotic-- so you can spend more time with your (very happy) guests.

They're the Top

New York's Italian restaurants have never been better or more popular. Our critics tasted everything from Babbo's beef-cheek ravioli to Gonzo's perfect pizzas in search of the ten best spots.

Text By Robin Raisfeld