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Hutsepot, the Belgian cabbage and potato stew!

I'd have Jamie Oliver over. With the simplicity of his dishes and his wits, I think that would make a hell of a relaxed, fun and delicious dinner.

Summer is all about mojito's for me. Good thing mint is like a weed, growing in front of my house.

I'd grow sage. No doubt!

Morocco, for the tajine. Vietnam, for the street food. Calabria, for the inventive use of peperoncino.

chocolate mousse, any day!

Allen & Son's, Chapel Hill, NC.

Depends on the mood, but usually dark :)

Another hidden gem is the Portland Western Culinary Institute restaurant. For $25, you get a 5-course meal that can't be beaten in quality. And you get the slightly clumsy but still enjoyable and funny service for free!

http://www.wci.edu/restaurants.asp

Oh, and don't miss the Portland Farmer's Markets, in particular the Saturday market on the PSU campus. It's one of the best I've seen in the US. The vendors are very knowledgeable about their produce, and the food stands are incredible (esp. the mobile woodfire oven pizza and authentic tamales).

I first had arugula at a table outside a restaurant in Trastevere (Rome), on a lazy, warm summer evening. The arugula leaves formed a bed for the incredibly tasty beef tagliata that formed the secondo of my dinner.