Omnivore - It's time for fresh figs

The heat is oppressive, but summer provides one gift I never tire of: figs. They are delicious and they have remarkable powers to heal just about everything — sort of like God.

I had my first fig of the season Wednesday night at the Shed at Glenwood. It was $3 slider night, and Chef Lance Gummere made a panino with ham, blue cheese and figs.

I've been lamenting the closing of Stella in Grant Park because the chef there used to make a flawless summertime pizza topped with figs and prosciutto. So I was very happy Thursday night to find that Grant Central was offering a pizza special with that combo, plus blue cheese and arugula. Delicious.

I'm not sure if Jake's is making their annual fig-honey ice cream now, but it's among the city's best uses of figs.

If you come across any good restaurant dishes that include fresh figs, please let me know. (And I'm not talkin' Fig Newtons.)

(Photo courtesy of Zazzle.)