Starter

These crab cakes get an extra kick from the chili-garlic sauce, available in the Asian foods section of most supermarkets.

Round out this meatless — but hearty — main course with a big spoonful of deli pasta salad on a bed of arugula, and end with purchased tiramisù topped with berries.

If you can't find fresh lobsters, frozen lobster meat can be used.

This salad was inspired by a couple of dishes our food editors encountered at restaurants in Rome.

For a picnic, we love this soup chilled, but it's just as delicious served hot.

You can use small manila clams or cherrystones if you can't get cockles. You can also use mussels, but the cooking time will be slightly shorter.

The flavors of gremolata — the garnish of finely chopped lemon peel, parsley, and garlic that traditionally tops osso buco — are terrific with asparagus. The asparagus can be blanched and chilled one day ahead.

Complete the menu with a tomato and red onion salad, sourdough bread, and poached pears (or canned) with raspberry sauce.

"Being a vegetarian, I was delighted to find a hearty meatless main dish at the Stamford Plaza hotel in Auckland, New Zealand," writes Barbara Abbott of Santa Rosa, California. "The mushroom risotto was outstanding; I'd be pleased if you could get the recipe."

The salad can remain at room temperature up to two hours before serving.

Tyrenies Variation on a theme: These Kimolos cheese pies are one kind of dozens of similar cheese pies found throughout the Cyclades.

This lovely side can be made a day ahead.

The perfect appetizer with Champagne.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min