Italy is a young nation in an old land. Through much of its post-Roman history, Italy was fragmented into numerous kingdoms and city-states long before it became a unified republic in 1861. The Italy of today consists of twenty different regions, each offering their own customs and gastronomic holiday traditions. Today, the whole world seemingly knows of biscotti. Pronounced in …

Well, it's been hot in SoCal. And the thought of working in my test kitchen over a hot stove seems a little much for me. So, the time is right for a late summer salad which is both refreshing and innovative. The basis for this dish comes to us from our sister publication, FOOD&WINE, courtesy of Ann Taylor Pittman and Scott Mowbray.