The building blocks of a summer harvest feast in my region are tomatoes, corn, eggplant, summer squash, cucumbers, peppers and fresh herbs. Also on the list are summer fruits such as watermelon, cantaloupe and peaches. Use these as the primary ingredients for your dinner club menu this month. With the addition of pasta and grains, your club can create a delicious and satisfying gourmet feast and nobody will notice that meat is missing.

Setting the Stage

Make your table look as sun-kissed as your menu by decorating with yellow and gold. 

• Use a plain, white linen tablecloth as a fresh canvas for your other decorations.
• Choose bright yellow napkins. Tie each of them with a raffia bow. Tuck a fresh daisy under the bow.
• Choose your favorite as a centerpiece: a basket of dried, golden wheat; a bowl of fresh lemons intertwined with golden ribbon; yellow cherry tomatoes mixed with green laurel leaves in a tall vase; partly husked ears of corn in a rustic basket,
• Fill vases with large, fresh yellow flowers such as daylilies, or my favorite, sunflowers.