Spaghetti, lamb chops and meatloaf: These are the comfort foods I equate with fall. They were among a regular menu of meals my mom made for the family during the cooler months of the year.
   
Our summer dinners were usually cooked out on the patio. My dad was great on the grill, and he made a mean rotisserie chicken. But as the weather changed, so changed our dining habits. My mom took the cooking indoors, and she’d spend hours in the kitchen fixing dinner. It always smelled glorious – especially when she made spaghetti.
   
That was a Sunday ritual, and it ushered in the change of seasons. She’d spend all day Sunday making the sauce from scratch. She’d cook up a big pot of marinara. It didn’t occur to me at the time, but I’m sure it was a well-conceived effort to make weeknight dinner planning a little easier – you know how hectic the fall is, with school schedules, after-school activities and homework.
   
And one pot of her sauce? Heck, that was three dinners right there. She’d pour it over pasta or chicken and sprinkle some Parmesan on top.
   
She’d start early, first sautéing the garlic and onion, then browning the meatballs, then stewing all the tomatoes and other vegetables for the sauce. And then she’d let it simmer for hours. It warmed the house and the soul.
   
For me, that’s what fall dining is all about – hearty foods that give me comfort on a chilly night. Spaghetti does the trick for me. For my husband, it’s a thick, juicy steak.
   
With fall upon us, it’s appropriate that our cover story offers a roundup of restaurants that serve the kind of heartier fare that suits the season.
   
So stay warm and eat well!