I remember the first time I went to a private club with my “lady friend,” Leah. Even though Leah was in her mid-30s, and I was in my early 20s, we became fast friends. Both of us were married to high-profile men. Her husband was an uber famous country singer; mine the CEO of a public company and the darling of Wall Street. The topic of our lunch conversations was frequently about the care and feeding of high-maintenance men, although today, neither one of us would put up with that.

Frequently I ordered what Leah was having. Nothing prepared me for the delightful chilled avocado soup at the club, and I ordered it again and again. Sometimes Fred, the maitre’d, would garnish it with cold lobster or crab. I think I may have had a tiny crush on Fred.

Here’s an easy as 1-2-3 recipe for Chilled Avocado Soup that reminds me of my lunches with Leah. It has three, easy-to-find ingredients and requires no cooking. Serve with crostini and a light, white wine. Perfect for a hot summer night. Here’s to you, Fred.