From Garden to Table: Harvesting the Joys of Summer

By Chef Brooke Williamson, Modern Recipe Culinary Ambassador

Summer is hands down my favorite time of year! There's something magical about these months when fresh ingredients carry themselves without needing much enhancement. What makes summer so special for plant-forward eating, whether in your home kitchen or dining at work? Everything is more abundant, sweet, fresh and absolutely delicious. It's when produce truly speaks for itself, creating opportunities for memorable meals in any setting. At Modern Recipe, we harness this seasonal abundance to create corporate dining solutions that delight employees by using ingredients for better.

Letting the Ingredients Shine

I’m a big believer that produce can stand on its own without needing other proteins to carry it. Summer gifts us with corn, stone fruits and squashes that need no assistance from anything else. It's an incredibly inspiring season to focus on whole food plant-based eating, making fruits and vegetables the stars of your plate at work and at home. 

Speaking of stone fruits, plums and peaches are among my favorites. I love a stone fruit salad, using other ingredients simply to enhance the fruit’s natural sweetness, acidity, crunch and freshness. That’s the beauty of summer cooking: You don't have to do much to make food taste absolutely delicious. 

Nutritionally speaking, summer fruits and vegetables enhance the nutritional value of any meal without even trying. While some might swap ingredients they're not excited about for more "nutritious" options (like brown rice for white rice), summer does something magical — it creates nutritional density in produce naturally while making you crave the very things that are most nourishing for your body. 

In fact, it's the time of year when I consistently over-shop at farmers markets because I'm so inspired and genuinely believe I'll use every ingredient I buy! Summer produce is so visually appealing that you eat with your eyes first. The shopping experience itself becomes part of the joy — you can make a whole day of visiting the farmers market, finding gorgeous produce, and becoming inspired by what you discover rather than shopping for predetermined recipes. It's definitely the most inspiring time of year for anyone who loves food. 

A Garden of Delights

For those who want to incorporate whole food plant-based eating, summer is a great time to experiment! Start by gravitating toward the produce you already crave and dive deeper. Inspiration is key to changing habits. My son doesn't love tomatoes, so taking him to the farmers market and showing him a table of gorgeous tomatoes does nothing for him — but when we walk over to the corn, he can immediately think of six dishes he'd love to make with it. Check out one of my recipes for Modern Recipe inspired by the season: the Maple Heat Corncake Stack — a corncake breakfast sandwich with eggs, fresh spinach, provolone and chili maple syrup on the side. It’s become a staple in our house and might become your favorite in the workplace, too. 

I also recommend connecting with nostalgic flavors in plant-forward ways. If tomatoes aren't your thing, think about tomato dishes you love from your childhood. Did you grow up eating grilled cheese and tomato soup? What did you love about that soup? Try recreating the things that bring back great memories. 

Growing vegetables yourself can be transformative, too. Watching something progress from garden to table is incredibly inspiring. I’ve known people who grow their own fava beans who experiment with different ways to prepare them and end up loving it. That's how I got my son to enjoy so many vegetables! 

Using fresh herbs is another way to kick up your cooking. Basil, oregano, and mint add significant nutrient value while enhancing flavor tremendously. These herbs are also incredibly easy to grow yourself. 

Everyday Delicious: The Modern Recipe Way

Modern Recipe's philosophy of celebrating the bounty of the earth aligns perfectly with how I naturally cook. I think about seasons first and what's tasting delicious in my garden right now. It's all about clean, fresh, whole ingredients with high nutritional value and protein from sources that aren't necessarily animal-based. I know that when I cut back on packaged, processed foods and add more fruits and vegetables to my diet, I find that it adds so much clarity to my head and energy to my day.   

This summer, let Modern Recipe be your partner in discovering the joy of whole-food plant-based eating. If you're looking for convenient workplace options, our seasonally inspired menus showcase the natural deliciousness of summer while supporting your overall well-being and the health of the planet. Because when food is this fresh and flavorful, feeding your best self is a breeze. 

Let’s chat! Contact Modern Recipe today and learn more about our corporate dining services.