Weeknight Kitchen

With a nice chunk of garlic-rubbed, olive oil-soaked, grilled bread called fettunta, and a glass of chilled white wine, this is a wonderful summer meal.

Grate 2 sweet potatoes (I don't bother peeling).

Soba noodles, hearty and flavorful Japanese noodles made from either buckwheat only or buckwheat and wheat flour, pair perfectly with peppery watercress and a spicy dressing.

I could live on this. It's so easy and yet utterly beautiful looking, I always feel better after eating it.

If the BLT ranks as one of the world's great sandwiches, imagine what the combination can do for a salad.

There's still a little chill in the air when the first peas are ready for picking. This soup is perfect in the spring when young lettuces are around.

This recipe is full of fresh flavors and takes no time to make.

Six recipes for paper parcels: Fish with XO Sauce, Garlic Prawns, Spiced Chicken, Coconut and Lime Salmon, Chilli Jam Tofu and Moroccan Mussels.

Being a Top Chef contestant can be grueling and exhausting and crazy fun. When we're all wiped out from nonstop competition, we do what we do best: eat good food. Some of my most memorable meals with those talented chefs involved banh mi, traditional Vietnamese sandwiches that layer cured meats, sausages, and pickled vegetables in small, soft versions of French baguettes. I love anything with pickles and fresh cilantro! I've put those flavors in a burger patty here and sandwiched them in my favorite French roll: buttery brioche. The rich bread makes all the difference, as does high-quality pork.

This green-on-green pasta is the essence of springtime, and I start to crave it as soon as the first crocuses appear. The combination of asparagus, nutty Parmigiano-Reggiano, and the delicate accent of basil is perfection.