I GREW UP ON THE GULF COAST, where summer meant more time on the water: sailing, swimming, nighttime crabbing, afternoon fish fries, cast-netting for shrimp, and waiting for that rare Mobile Bay jubilee. Whether you live near the Gulf, visit it frequently, or find yourself landlocked, our grilled seafood recipes (page 62) offer easy ways to bring a taste of the coast—and vacation—to your backyard.
Summer also means blueberries, blackberries, peaches, corn, tomatoes, and field peas—those vibrant and refreshing flavors that make this season the most anticipated of the year. And it’s the perfect time, while the days are lazy and the pace is a bit slower, to share summer’s sweetness with family and friends, be it a casual cookout with neighbors (“Star-Spangled Spread,” page 42) or a dinner to…
