As summer deepens in Colorado, home kitchens are often abandoned. The heat outside dampens the urge to crank up the oven, turn on the stove and even nuke food in the microwave. The Pikes Peak region’s restaurants – especially those with patios – bustle with kitchen refugees who are eager to have someone else cook their meals and, as a bonus, do the dishes afterward.

In my experience, the heat also changes food preferences. All tastes for anything hearty or heavy disappears, and in its place, we crave fresh, light food and often, raw or lightly cooked meals served cold or at room temperature.

Thankfully, our local eateries more than adequately step up to the task of satisfying summer cravings, offering many cool, light options perfect for eaters looking to beat the heat.

The Blue Star1645 S. Tejon St.632-1086, thebluestar.net

A go-to favorite in the region, the Blue Star can be counted on for quality and creativity, and their summer menu does not disappoint. In addition to long-standing favorites, like their Old School Iceberg Wedge Salad ($8), you can now find the St. Germaine Watermelon Salad ($8). The moist, sweet fruit is a treat paired with the tart vinaigrette, spicy arugula and Pecorino cheese shavings.

The cheesiest by far, though, is definitely the cold Blue Cheese Vichyssoise Soup ($4 cup, $6 bowl). For a summer soup, it’s on the rich side – just the cup will likely content even the biggest cheese-lover – but it’s also richly delicious.

However, one dish above all others should draw diners to the Blue Star this summer: Seabass Ceviche ($9). Meaty cuts of fish are topped with creamy avocado and crispy tortilla strips to create a cooling, decadent seafood treat.

The Golden BeeThe Broadmoor1 Lake Ave.577-5776, broadmoor.com/golden-bee

Few places are more convivial than the Golden Bee, where evenings are filled with total strangers singing to live piano and servers throwing bee stickers onto your clothing. Summers draw in a large tourist crowd to the (nice and cool) basement pub, but locals should also be tempted to join in the fun and enjoy a meal, which always begins with the spreadable house cheese and crackers.

In terms of cool, summer foods, consider the five-piece Boddington’s Ale Poached Shrimp Cocktail ($12.50). The spicy cocktail sauce is fantastic, though the taste of the beer is faint. Or, their Farmhouse Spinach Salad ($6.75) is practically inhalable and includes blue cheese, walnuts, golden raisins and the unusual sweet parsnip chips.

For lovers of powerful and piquant foods, though, the Ploughman’s Lunch ($12.50) will bowl you over with bold, complex flavors. Accompanied by rye bread, the platter features Stilton blue cheese, cheddar, paté, ham, liverwurst and pickles.

Nosh121 South Tejon St.635-6674 or 634-6674, nosh121.com

Yes, Nosh is cool in that it’s ultra hip, both in terms of décor and imaginative food. Their huge patio outside the Plaza of the Rockies and adjacent to the Pioneers Museum as well as several fresh, summery dishes also make Nosh an ideal summer destination.

The eatery serves my favorite dish of the summer thus far: Potachos ($7 small, $13 large). As the name suggest, Potachos takes the concept of nachos but substitute in sweet-potato chips for the standard tortilla. The chips are made in house, topped with pickled onions and fresh slices of jalapeno, and aserved with a bright, spicy queso sauce that will knock your socks off.

Also innovative is Nosh’s take on the classic caprese salad, switching the traditional tomatoes with sweet roasted beets and adding two versions of pesto ($9 small, $17 large). Plus, Nosh perfects what I think is the perfect summer dessert: crème brulee, cool custard inside lightly torched to caramel. Spring for the Brulee Trio ($9.75) to sample small portions of orangey creamsicle, berry and salted caramel brulees.

Wooligan’s Deli and Café823 North Tejon St.578-9443, wooglinsdeli.com

Few foods can beat a great sandwich to quench your hunger without heating you up, and Wooligan’s stands ready to serve. Located near Colorado College, the atmosphere is youthful and fun, more like a coffee shop than a deli – though they do serve a mean cup of locally roasted java.

The best of the food choices is hands down the chicken salad, which is available in a sandwich ($6.79) or on a salad ($6.99). Herby and nutty, the chicken salad is studded with sweet raisins, and in the salad form, the chicken itself is tasty enough to serve as a dressing over the greens and veggies.

The meat of the menu is the vast selection of sandwiches, though, ranging from bagel melts and grilled sandwiches to the cold selections. In terms of the latter, with its thick, fresh wheat bread, the Turkey Avocado with Provolone ($7.29) rises above sack-lunch average to become a filling but light meal, accompanied by its side of either chips, potato salad or veggies and ranch dip.