Maybe especially after the brutally cold winter we had here in Chicago, I've been making an effort to savor the pleasures that the return of spring and summer bring. I was thinking that it would be fun to read a thread like "today I (we) have been eating" that focused on the firsts of food and drink that come around as summer begins. I realize that this might not seem interesting right now to DiningBuzz fans in the southern hemisphere, but perhaps it'd still work if we expanded the definition to be "first of the season" for whatever season you're in.

For me, yesterday's was my first insalata caprese of the summer. It's too early for decent tomatoes here, but I got a nice Canadian hothouse-grown heirloom tomato at the grocery store, and with fresh basil, Bel Gioso (Wisconsin) sliced mozzarella, and some balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper, it was the start of my summer.

Today, my first at-home Pimm's cup: Pimm's #1 and ginger ale on the rocks. Next time I may go to the trouble to get out the cucumber and orange slices too.

Not yet, unfortunately, but much anticipated: cherries; supposed to be in season, but I'm not seeing any on the trees around here or in bulk from Michigan yet. All I see in the store are red and Rainier cherries from Washington at $5.99 and $6.99 a pound, respectively. At those prices, I'll wait a while.

Soft-shell crabs and Copper River salmon are just starting to show up here.

Also last night, first corn on the cob, 3/$1, which if available in stores here at this time of year must be coming up from Florida or Georgia, but nonetheless another much-anticipated taste of summer.