Salsa Lesson

Get creative with a sweet and spicy recipe for the brightest berry of the season

Chef Stan Chamberlain knows a thing or two about summertime fare—he grew up catering outdoor events for his grandfather’s once famous joint, Bill Stanley’s Barbecue and Bluegrass in Asheville. Now, he heads the kitchen of the award-winning Crippen’s in Blowing Rock. This time of year, he recommends using summer’s flirtiest fruit, the strawberry, in a salsa that can work as an appetizer, accompaniment for chicken or pork, or even a refreshing dessert. The freshness of the berries and cilantro and heat from the jalapeño hold a bright punch of  flavor. “Strawberries are a sign of summer for me,” says Chamberlain, “something to look forward to.”