While noodle soups and hearty pies are the perfect winter meals, these hot summer days make me crave lighter, more refreshing fare — cool salads, light seafood, and crisp fruit. Cooking lighter doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor; maximizing your use of fresh and fragrant herbs, and fruits and veggies that are in season, can bring out naturally delicious flavors in your dishes.

Some of my favorite summer recipes are spicy shrimp guacamole crisps, deconstructed Mexican-style corn, and peach and tomato caprese salad. You can easily do variations on all of these, adding or substituting in your favorite produce. It’s also fun to share family-style, so you can try a little of everything. And when the weather is nice, bring your food outside! I love a lazy weekend afternoon meal al fresco — on a rooftop, in the park, or on the deck. Pair your summer eats with some cold and refreshing drinks, and you’re good to go.

One of my favorite weekend activities is strolling through the local farmers’ market — seeing the vibrant colors of fresh fruit and veg, smelling the just-baked bread and pastries, and listening to local producers talk passionately about what’s in season. It’s amazing how so much sensory delight can be packed into just a few blocks of stalls. Whether it’s Boulevard Raspail in Paris, Borough Market in London, or Dupont Circle in D.C. — now home to my local Sunday market — there is something so inviting and inspiring about the art of the market.

For me, farmers’ markets are the perfect place to get inspiration for what to cook during the week. For one, you know the produce on sale is typically what’s in season – that means that those tomatoes are going to be perfectly ripe and ready for a fresh salad, and those berries are going to be fresh and juicy and ready for a pie. You also know that what you see in the market is locally sourced, and as close to fresh as you can get to actually going into your own backyard (for us city folks who don’t have a yard). And often times, I stumble upon new produce or products that are specific to the particular region where the market is based. In those cases, it’s fun to think about how I can incorporate those new ingredients into familiar recipes.

So next time you’re ready for your regular grocery run, consider stopping by your local farmers’ market – it’s a great way to get inspired and support your local businesses. And if you’re ever in Paris or London, be sure to check out some of my favorite markets there! See the full lists: Paris and London.