Grapefruit

Grapefruit and oranges, at their peak around the holidays, are like a beam of sunshine in the bleak midwinter. Here, a beautiful salad of juicy jewel-toned segments swims in a bright simple syrup infused with the licorice notes of star anise.

Quickly candied grapefruit peel adds a fresh zing.

The secret ingredient in this dish is a surprisingly modest one: grapefruit. Its tartness balances the unashamed, almost swaggering richness of scallops bathed in a butter sauce.

Rosé wine with fresh fruit adds the right touch to this spiced-up menu.

These tartlets from Sam Mason are great with or without the Edamame Ice Cream. Any extra marmalade is delicious on toast.

Editor's note: The recipe below is from Mark Bittman's Quick and Easy Recipes from The New York Times.

For something refreshing after a rich meal, look no further than this classic combination of Campari and grapefruit.

Pamplemousse is the French word for grapefruit, which is one of the main ingredients in this vodka drink.

This sweet-tart cocktail will take you from Florida to Kentucky to Vermont for a sampling of eastern-state offerings.

The Standard Hollywood, which serves celebrities such as Heather Graham and Megan Mullally, has a trendy diner feel, but you'll find more than the burger special on the menu. Executive chef David Linville offers international treats like this salad with protein-rich lean flank steak.

Chef Kerry Simon (celebrity fans at his showy Las Vegas restaurant, Simon Kitchen and Bar, include Kate Hudson and Lucy Liu) is bringing his simple, organic American cuisine closer to the stars with the planned opening of Simon LA at the Sofitel Hotel this month. This succulent salad provides vitamins, including A, C and folate, among others, plus some zinc from the hearts of palm and juicy ruby red grapefruit.

Said to be created for Ernest Hemingway by Constantino Ribalaigua Vert at El Floridita in Havana. Editor's note: This drink comes from And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the World in Ten Cocktails by Wayne Curtis (Crown Publishers) and was featured as a Cocktail of the Month.

It's tough to find a better source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids than salmon. Add greens, grapefruit, and avocado, and you're well on your way to your 5 a Day.