CheekyChicago

In Chicago, June ushers in outdoor dining, short summer Fridays, weekends at the lake front beach and Grant Park festivals. It’s the time for T-shirts, shorts, sneakers and sunglasses. It’s when young and old alike seem to hear the cry “School’s Out!!” and adopt a relaxed state of mind.

At Quartino, where we try to maintain a relatively informal mood year round, things lighten up even more than usual this month, which is a transitional time for us. Memorial Day in late May marks the unofficial beginning of summer, but it can still feel like spring when June begins. In fact, at Quartino, our menu offerings combine a youthful spirit with a sophisticated decadent pleasure; for example, mussels,  halibut and skate become available.

It isn’t until June that the crowd at Quartino transforms as an influx of out-of-town customers, clearly enjoying the respite of a vacation, fill the restaurant and terrace. Fewer suits occupy the lunchtime seats and the dinner crowd lingers later into the evening. Yes, they would like an after-dinner drink!!

When it comes to cooking in June, the growing heat suggests summer seafood preparations such as Sauteed Skate Wing with Fennel Salad and “ Salsa Verde,”  Seared Walleye Pike with Shaved Celery and Warm Grape Salad or Steamed Mussels with “ Acqua Pazza.” These welcomed, culinary creations  have the ability to create heat-induced illusions of lunching at a café on the Italian Riviera rather than on the corner of Ontario and State Street in Chicago.

June is also a time for picnicking in earnest. My wife and I enjoy spending considerable time with our daughter and son during this month, and any parent reading this will relate to the fact that, if you have kids, you have to do a lot of planning around food. There are a host of family favorites that we rely on from Quartino when we head to a park or beach.

We often opt to call Quartino and pick up Wild Arugula Bruschette, Sicilian Eggplant Bruschette, Baby Spinach Salad with Pears, Walnuts and Ricotta Salata and Tuscan Sausage with Roasted Bell Peppers. The ideal way to enjoy the summer days.