At Anna's Table: As Soon as You Have Procured a Fresh, Ripe Fig, Pop it into Your Mouth Immediately and Savor the Honeyed Sweetness – This, for me, is the Definition of Simple Luxury

Autumn leaves, figs in a pan and vase of dahlias.

And just like that we are in the middle of October. It's always at this time of the year I marvel in wonder at the passing of time and how we got here so fast. After a joyously warm start to the season, it finally switched to the distinct cooling that comes with mid October. A road trip from my home in the North Fork to Pennsylvania showed the beginnings of ‘The Turn’ (as I call it): the countryside transformation from lush green to layers of sumptuous rusty browns, muted burgundies, and ochres in the landscape. Now we're looking to crops to harvest in October to bring that rich color and bounty of the season to the table.

(Image credit: Future / Anna Last)