Heirloom tomatoes – Apples of Love

Sensual pleasures of Heirloom tomatoes

Jul 6, 2006 Jacqueline Church

I'm all hot and bothered and heirloom tomatoes are to blame. Not complaining, oh no. The French had it right, these are "apples of love."

If you've never had an heirloom tomato, you probably have no idea why folks like me get into a lather this time of year.

The French had it right when they named this noble fruit. Even though my compound butter was deemed "Better than Sex", I bow to a perfectly ripe, heirloom tomato. But we need proper introductions before we begin.

Varieties abound

Mr. Stripey meet Paul Robeson. Tigerella meet Pleated Zapotec. Black Krim meet Copia. This could actually be an interesting drinking game...but seriously, these are all names of the season's first heirloom tomatoes.

Awakenings

Like an overheated teenager, I'm fairly bursting with anticipation, eager for that first juicy, mouth-filling, mind-boggling, toe-curling heirloom tomatoes experience.

I must tell you this is one of the most life-changing experiences one might have with food. Many of us grew up with tomatoes of one sort: reddish-orange, from the supermarket, with about the same texture and flavor as, say...cotton, or Styrofoam. Ho hum, so this is a tomato?

Then there comes the first flash of possibility...perhaps Mom throws a cherry tomato plant in the ground next the house. Perhaps a neighbor brings over a couple of extra tomatoes from their garden. When this new thing, the garden tomato, hits your tongue - you will never be the same. It is a revelation.

Think of the transformation between the time when kissing seems "yucky" and the moment when we have our first real kiss. Mm-hm...somewhere in the deepest regions of our, um, well, let's say, consciousness, something goes "Oh! That's what all the fuss is about. Now I get it..!" All of a sudden, life makes sense.

So, if you can resist eating them unadorned, (and I take no position on this), here are a couple of my favorite ways to enjoy heirloom tomatoes:

• Panzanella Take some good day-old Italian bread, toss it with olive oil, salt, garlic and parsley - toast in the oven under a broiler (keep an eye on it!) When the croutons are just browned, remove and cool. Chop up tomatoes, fresh basil, bit of red onion, then mix with bread. You can make a little vinaigrette with good olive oil and vinegar - amount you will need will vary depending on the juiciness of your tomatoes.
• BLT - Fine tomatoes deserve fine "B" or "P" - Pancetta, or good bacon like Niman Ranch, with lettuce (also coming into the farm markets now) or arugula, on some lightly toasted bread, little mayo. Heavenly blend of salty, sweet, crisp and juicy.
• Caprese salad - Alternate slices of tomato with slices of mozzarella. Sprinkle with a chiffonade of basil, drizzle best olive oil. S&P.

But why bother, a little slice of heaven with a few flakes of sea salt, really almost all a girl needs to be happy. Phew, going to go cool down now...

• Update: Mark your calendars for TomatoFest! The place to be for tomato lovers: Quail Lodge Carmel California, September 16, 2007. Click here for more info.

The copyright of the article Heirloom tomatoes – Apples of Love in Gourmet Food is owned by Jacqueline Church. Permission to republish Heirloom tomatoes – Apples of Love in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Tomato Fest

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