I could eat a salad and be perfectly happy year around. If, that is, the vegetables or fruits included are somewhat in season. A hothouse tomato just wouldn’t appeal to me. It lacks freshness and well, they’re just mushy.

The rules for summer apply — if it’s late summer and tomatoes are vivid and ripe, saturated with flavor, you’ll be all good. Luscious tomatoes are the most important component of the classic house salad.