Today at the Hollywood Farmers Market I found my new sweetheart!

Well, she's not exactly new. She and I renew our vows about this time every year. But before your raise you eyebrows and get all Jerry Fallwell on me, let me just say that my sweetheart is corn.

Sweet, sweeter, sweetest corn. We all love her. She's sweet and sexy. But you gotta know a girl that sweet is bound to get around. Still, you don't see me getting all jealous do you? I'm a big boy. I know what's going on. In fact if I were as sweet as corn I'd expect to be slated onto quite a few dance cards myself. Besides, when it comes to sweet summer corn I don't mind sharing– hell I don't even mind sloppy seconds. Corn is plentiful this time of year, and I know she'll be back to woo me again and again.

When a girl is this sweet, I think she's far more interesting if she's a little spicy too. So I am using sweet summer corn– off the cob and in a pudding. Not the kind of pudding you might think. This is a side dish, that would work as a main course too. The sweet corn gets a bright kick in the pants from cilantro, sweet peppers and bold jalapeno. The classic Mexican cheese, queso fresco makes an appearance. It is easily found in Southern California and adds an authentic flair. But Monterey Jack could be substituted.

Am I bad?

I made a zucchini dish again. Baked Zucchini with Pancetta & Breadcrumbs.

Which sounds delicious. But you see, I am an omnivore (in theory).

I use this label (though I hate it) not because I eat meat and vegetable, but because I want the culinary world spread at my feet. I want to experience the exotic, taste the unusual. I want to travel to far away lands without even leaving my kitchen. I want it all and I want it on my plate (in theory).

Because (in theory) I am not the kind of person who chooses to limit myself, I can’t imagine, with all that life has to offer, why I would ever say to myself: “Oh, I no longer need those experiences. I am happy with just these experiences.” That’s the point of being an omnivore, right? The choices and experiences should be limitless (in theory).

But (in reality) I am a crappy omnivore. Sometimes I forget to even put meat in the dinner. Heck we eat vegan meals several times a week. Maybe my grocery skills are lacking? Just look inside my shopping bag. Too many of the same old things.

I know you love your grill. In fact I have seen you in that backyard of yours cooing into its grates. I bet you grilled half the summer away with that smoky look of longing burning in your eyes. The lusty licking of flames doesn’t scare you. Yep, you and your grill got a good thing going on.

I get the attraction. The lure of tasty summertime meals served charred and smokin’ in the sultry summer air is enough to get anyone’s grill on.

But be honest– after an entire summer of grilling are you feeling restless? Are you longing for something sautéed and saucy? It’s only natural. Flames are great, but do you ever wonder what sous vide would be like? What? I am just asking…even a grill master has the right to look around a little bit, so long as you keep your tongs in your apron.

Now I am not suggesting any drastic changes between you and that sweet grill of yours. I know it's a mighty sexy beast. But maybe just maybe you've grown tired of the same old routine. Maybe grilling has lost some of its heat.

Well, lucky for you, grilling isn’t just for burgers, steaks and chicken! So put your brain to work and spend the last rays of summer fantasizing about fun foods that you may not have considered grilling!

That's just what me and my old grill did. We shook things up. Introduced a few new flavors. Nothing exotic, nothing dangerous. But the thrill of the unfamiliar reminds me just what a grill I got. Look at the hot mess we made! The bread is grilled, the prosciutto is grilled. Even the avocado is grilled!