Summer is the most indulgent of seasons, bringing to mind lazy days at the beach, swinging in hammock, romantic walks, stargazing...oh, who are we kidding? Summer is really all about the food!
Okay, okay -- it can be about the drinks, too.
To gather the best summer treats from all over the world, I tapped the formidable collective wisdom of About.com's Travel Guides and Food & Drink Guides last summer. They had so many deeelish treats that I couldn't resist posting this again. Here are 36 more reasons to hope that summer never ends.
Summer Treats in the United States
Whether your travels take you to a destination inside the continental United States or beyond the lower 48, you'll find plenty of ways to indulge this summer.
- Head to Hawaii for a Luau, suggests John Fischer, Guide to Hawaii/South Pacific Travel.
- Sip on the Best Margaritas in the Southwest, with the assistance of Elizabeth Rose, Guide to Southwest US Travel.
- Sample New York City's best ice cream, collected here by Heather Cross, Guide to New York City Travel.
- Do yourself a favor and snack one of Britt's glazed donuts, in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, urges Sheridan Alexander, Guide to Southeastern US Travel. "It's worth a special trip for anyone visiting the
Wilmington and Carolina Beach area in southeastern North Carolina," she says. - It's always summer in Puerto Rico, says Zain Deane, Guide to Puerto Rico Travel, which means these delicious dishes are perfect for the season. Even better: grab one (or more) of these terrific Puerto Rico cocktails.
- Sink your teeth into one of Chicago's best hot dogs! Prescott Carlson, Guide to Chicago Travel, spills the details on where to find them.
Summer Treats Around the World
Your passport can take you to many great goodies!
- Sample a British food delight and try Elderflower Panna Cotta, suggests Ferne Afrin, Guide to U.K. Travel. It's even more fun if you've foraged for the elderflower yourself on a food safari.
- While you're in the U.K., treat yourself to a traditional British cocktail and have a Pimm's, says Elaine Lemm, Guide to British & Irish Food.
- In Mexico, you've got to have some flan. "A classic Mexican dessert- rich, cool and refreshing," says Chelsea Kenyon, Guide to Mexican Food. She also suggests one of my all-time favorites: Jamaica, or Agua Fresca made with hibiscus. "Perfect for poolside relaxation," she says, and I couldn't agree more.
- Hang out at the best beer gardens when you're in Munich, Germany, suggests Birge Amandson, Guide to Germany Travel.
- In Peru, chill out with a frozen Pisco Sour, suggests Marian Blazes, Guide to South American Food.
- In Crete, sip a Kanalada, says deTraci Regula, Guide to Greece Travel
- In Singapore, here are the ten dishes you've simply got to experience, according to Michael Aquino, Guide to Southeast Asia for Travelers.
- When you're cruising on Celebrity Solstice, head to the Sunset Bar, and order a Eureka, which is the signature cocktail of the ship's Lawn Club (which has real growing grass!) It's got gin, cranberry juice and an extra ingredient - fresh cucumbers "which makes it a great summer libation." says Linda Garrison, Guide to Cruises.
- What's a Caffe Shakerato? James Martin, Europe Travel Guide explains this caffeinated Italian summer treat.
Ice Cream and Other Brain Freezers
The ultimate warm-weather treat are the ones that require freezing -- it's just not summer without a good ice cream headache. Here are some ideas for frozen fabulousness.
- Andrew Collins, Guide to Gay & Lesbian Travel has a bit of thing for ice cream. (And since we're well acquainted, I feel I can point this out.) He's got several suggestions for finding ice cream around the US and the world. His favorites are Amy's Ice Cream in Austin, Herrell's in Boston and Freddo in the San Telmo area of Buenos Aires. In the category of ice cream's close cousins, he recommends Hawaiian shave ice and popsicles in Nashville.
- You can't possibly visit Italy this summer and not have gelato! "The ultimate Italian treat and it just might be the best ice cream in the world," says Martha Bakerjian, Guide to Italy Travel.
- Beer and ice cream are great on their own, but would you believe they're even better together? I certainly do. Bryce Eddings, Guide to Beer recommends this adult version of an ice cream soda: Framboise Lambic beer (a Belgian raspberry beer) served with mascarpone ice cream. Bryce tracked it down at La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa, but if you're making it at home, Jessica Harlan, Cooking Equipment Guide, has the scoop on homemade ice cream machines. (For a slightly less intricate summer beer beverage, try a Shandy: beer and lemonade. Of course you can make it even better by making your own lemonade says Syrie Wongkaew, Guide to Australian and New Zealand Food.)
- If you can get behind beer and ice cream, how about...lobster ice cream? Kim Knox Beckius, Guide to New England Travel tells you where to find it.
Summer Treats in The Great Outdoors
Dining al fresco is one of summer's greatest pleasures. That's right, 'tis the season to picnic.
- Susan Breslow Sardone, Honeymoons/Romantic Travel Guide, has the skinny on planning a perfect picnic.
- Pack up some Mushrooms Provencal, or Chickpea Salad, suggests Culinary Arts Guide Danilo Alfaro.
- What's a picnic without tempting desserts? Barbara Rolek, Guide to Eastern European Food has a number of delicious and heatproof dessert ideas, including Bulgarian Grilled Peaches. Bring along Applesauce Cookies, suggests Kevin Weeks, Guide to Cooking for Two. And while it's hard to bring ice cream on a picnic -- much more in frozen treats in a moment -- you could bring this Root Beer Float Fudge, says Elizabeth LeBau, Candy Guide. Or pack my favorite dessert, which is strawberry shortcake -- here's a recipe from Carroll Pellegrinelli, Guide to Desserts and Baking. Teri Gruss, Guide to Gluten-Free Cooking, has a recipe for Gluten-Free Lemon Meringue Pie . And you'll please a crowd with this Canadian specialty, Butter Tarts says from Jane McLean, Guide to Canada Travel.
- The ultimate long picnic is camping -- which would hardly seem right without s'mores. Here's a video on how to make s'mores, and some recipes, courtesy of David Sweet, Guide to Camping.
A Picnic of Kauai Sunrise Papaya.
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Photos: Alison Stein Wellner
Alison – have you ever tried Capogiro Gelato in Philly? I’m a big fan of their sorbet, which is the creamiest sorbet (you’d swear there was dairy in it!). They focus on a lot of ’seasonal’ and ‘local’ flavors, my favorite being the fig sorbet. Their gelato is also incredible. In addition to the usual suspects (hazelnut, chocolate, banana) you’ll also find some flavors that seem to be unique to Capogiro (salt, honeysuckle, carmelized marshmallow). So worth the trip (they have three or four locations, most within walking distance of Rittenhouse Square.