Summer is officially here and it's hot. One of the most sought-after recipes of summer is a surprise to me.

Readers are asking for chicken salad recipes. And not just any chicken salad.

People seem to be craving an old chicken salad recipe we used to make at Acquired Taste Gourmet, my tiny restaurant that was open from 1992-1998.

We used this chicken salad in tiny finger sandwiches for wedding and baby showers, on French bread for everyday sandwiches and even in little phyllo cups for elegant appetizers.

It was always very popular; I just didn't know it was memorable enough to garner recipes requests almost two decades later.

It's hard for me to believe that people even remember the place, much less the chicken salad from there. But in the interests of my readers, I can easily reveal the recipe now.

Really, I think the big secret to this chicken salad isn't really a secret at all.

We used to make a garlic dill mayonnaise that added a special flavor to the chicken salad. Pairing that with sliced red seedless grapes and toasted pecan pieces makes for a unique and frankly yummy chicken salad, best paired with a crusty French bread for sandwiches.

Using meat from skin-on bone-in roasted chicken breasts definitely ramps up the flavor in the chicken salad, too. But in the interests of avoiding the kitchen this summer, I suggest using meat from a rotisserie chicken that the grocery store cooks for you.

So, for old customers and new readers alike, here it is. The Acquired Taste Gourmet chicken salad recipe. Enjoy!

Acquired Taste Chicken Salad

2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1/2 cup sliced red seedless grapes
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
1/4 cup Garlic Dill Mayonnaise, more to taste if needed
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all the ingredients together well. Add extra garlic dill mayonnaise if it is needed to bind the salad together well. Chill for an hour or more, covered. Serve surrounded by bread or crackers, or spread on crackers and garnish with a pecan half.

Garlic Dill Mayonnaise

1 cup mayonnaise, more to taste
1 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 teaspoons dried dill weed
Mix all the ingredients well. Use as a condiment in place of regular mayonnaise with fish or chicken.