Thoughts for Food: The Open Face

There's something inherently casual about open-faced food that seems to marry well with summer.  The open-faced meal usually involves just a handful of ingredients, simply arrayed on top a slice of good bread and finished off with something melty that holds everything together.  Prolonged kitchen time and summer weather don't often mix comfortably, so a meal that comes together in just a few minutes under the broiler is bound to be welcomed by the cook.  In our experience, anything that emerges from the oven with crispy edges, warm centers and cheesy crusts is typically welcomed at the table, too.  Thus, June's recipes will follow suit-- all open-faced and all open to your own interpretation.  Because when you're open to things, there's no limit to what you can create at the community table.