Going upscale isn't limited to picking restaurant fare

By BILL DALEY
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Even the Three Stooges never were as simpatico as bacon, lettuce and tomato, which is why the BLT has to be the simplest and most sublime sandwich ever invented.
Some days, though, you want to gild the lily just a little bit, and this recipe for upscale BLTs moves the sandwich from a simple lunch to a more adventurous summer dinner.
While any old bacon will do, try to use one of the artisan-style bacons available now, such as applewood-smoked bacon. Replace rubbery out-of-season red tomatoes with locally grown heirloom yellow and toss out the iceberg lettuce for a more exotic green, arugula perhaps. Lastly, replace the white toast with French baguettes split in half and spread with an herbal mayonnaise.
MENU
Marinated mushrooms, smoked almonds, olives, sardines
Upscale BLTs
Peach ice cream
TIPS
Substitute prosciutto for bacon.
Don't like tomatoes? Replace with roasted red peppers, preferably your own.
Pluck out some of the soft inner portion of the bread to make more room for the filling.
BEVERAGE PAIRING
Iced tea would be refreshing. For wine, you could use an Oregon pinot noir to underscore the bacon's smokiness or match a crisp riesling to the tomato's sweet acidity.
UPSCALE BLTS
1/2 pound bacon
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
2 large yellow tomatoes, thinly sliced
2 cups loosely packed arugula
2 baguettes, split horizontally
Place the bacon in a large skillet over medium high heat; cook, turning occasionally, until crisp and brown on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove from pan; drain on paper towels.
Mix mayonnaise with fresh basil in a bowl. Spread evenly onto baguettes. Arrange tomatoes on baguettes. Top with bacon slices and arugula. Place bread tops on each; slice on an angle to create 4 sandwiches.
Yield: 4 servings.
Nutrition information per serving: 1,221 calories, 32 percent of calories from fat, 44 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 26 mg cholesterol, 180 g carbohydrates, 29 g protein, 1,921 mg sodium, 16 g fiber.