But the zucchini pancakes were lightly done with a fresh zucchini taste that combined well with the accompanying yogurt-tomato sauce.

Bring a backpack to carry the fresh zucchini, corn, tomatoes and cantaloupes you'll want to buy from the locals' wagons.

An unusual companion on the plate was a timbale of cinnamon-accented couscous (a bit dry), and the more predictable sauteed fresh zucchini and green beans.

It features a zippy tomato and onion sauce with fresh zucchini and tastes good.

A recent version of the meal included a whole artichoke stuffed with fresh zucchini, peppers, mushrooms and toasted almonds, a fresh strawberry sorbet intermezzo, Ross's summer lobster stew and a strawberry-feast dessert.

The potatoes are flavorless and the fresh zucchini needs salt.

I've had people come up to me and say, 'I've never seen fresh zucchini before.'

Very fresh young zucchini are excellent grilled with new potatoes and scallions and sprinkled with herbs from the garden.

"I can't put turkey lasagna with fresh zucchini on the menu for all the schools in the city," Mr. Collazo said.

I live in a suburban neighborhood in New Jersey, but close at hand are the farms and roadside markets that provide fresh zucchini and corn and tomatoes in high summer.