Take advantage of sweet autumn pears in this crisp, hearty salad. Most varieties of pears will work well here, but beautiful red Bartletts make an especially colorful presentation.

With its simple, assertive flavors, this salad makes a great prelude to hearty fare like steaks or a roast. You might try shaved Parmesan as an alternative to the blue cheese.

This dressing is tart and intense, and is thus excellent on rich dishes such as shellfish or raw fish such as tuna. It is equally fine on starchy salads, such as those featuring white beans, and on radish or cucumber salads, which are assertive enough to stand up to it, it also works on simple leafy salads.

The gentleness of champagne vinegar makes this dressing less acidic than typical vinaigrettes. Use it on anything from simple butter lettuce to peppery arugula and garden herbs.