Heirloom Tomatoes

Cool, my post here got deleted. Here, let's try this again:

Yes, it's true. Heirloom tomatoes are bursting with flavor, and need very little help (salt, pepper, olive oil) to come alive. Brandywines are one of my favorite varieties. They're one of the varieties that havn't had the potato shaped leaves bred out of them. A large part of the flavor, too, comes from the fact that most tomatoes at farmers markets are actually allowed to ripen on the vine. The farm I used to work on would pick tomatoes every other day, separating full reds from pinks, which will turn red in 2-3 days. Even the ones picked pink taste 100x better than grocery store tomatoes that are picked green and sprayed with methane to force ripening. On the flip side, the farm I worked at would not ship tomatoes for orders as it is too labor intensive to safely pack flats with soft, ripe tomatoes.

For a real treat, whip up some beer bread (super easy to do from scratch. Really, SUPER easy), cut slices and toast them. Lay down some fresh basil leaves, slices of mozzarella and tomato slices over that. Salt and pepper and you're good to go.

If you want need more beer to make it so your post doesnt get deleted flavor you can ALWAYS make a pale ale based citrus dressing

 

I friggin love heirlooms!! The colors, the varieties, the textures... droool!!!!

Nothing beats fresh toasted bread from the farmers market, a dash of mayo spread on, cracked pepper, fresh basil ripped from your garden, slice of heirloom tomato on, pinch of salt...

friggin heaven... that's summer.. basil and tomato on toasty semolina... I am cryin...

 

+1 to Brandywine heirlooms!

 

Agreed. Sooooo much variety. Another good one: get as many varieties and colors as you can and make panzanella. Toast up some croutons, chiffonade some basil, dress (again) with EVOO, salt and pepper. Let the croutons soak up some juice and ENJOY (with beer)

 

How many +1s can a post get? I'll throw mine in as well! It's amazing the reaction you get from someone who tries one for the first time. "Whoa, what is that?" "That's what a tomato is supposed to taste like, my friend."

Here's my quick go-to celebration of heirloom tomatoes (I'll admit, I don't know enough about the varieties, but I've tried this with a few different types and it's always great.)

Sliced heirloom tomatoes
Sliced avocado
slice of cave-aged gruyere cheese
robust rosemary sourdough bread (or any flavorful sourdough you can get)

Put all the slices together on the bread and drizzle with a little bit of California Olive Oil and sprinkle with a little sea salt. Makes a great sandwich.

Wash it down with a Lagunitas Pils. That's your Sunday lunch right there! (I've yet to add fresh basil, but I'm going to have to now!)

 

So one more thing to add to my "Things to try on my next trip to US" list: Heirloom Tomatoes. Specially if I'm with my girlfriend, she loves tomatoes. But I'd rather have some other brew than a Lagunitas Pils, maybe a Censored.

 

I just picked up some heirlooms at a farmer's market today, they were so much sweeter and just outright flavorful than regular ones I almost couldn't believe it. Made some "bruschetta" on rice cakes and had a FW Solace with it for lunch and it was amazing.

 

Oh really? Does this means might have the chance to find it here in Brazil, or is it just a name? No harm searching.

 

I am not sure how tomatoes in my area are going to turn out, it's been murderously hot. Last year was very dissapointing at the farmers markets in my neck of the woods.

 

I'm thankful for the localvore movement here in VT that allows me to buy so many varieties of heirloom veggies at our local farmers markets all over the state!

 

Agreed. Jeez, if you're willing to drive 15-20 minutes you can find one every day of the week. Here's to hoping this season stays dry and we don't get too much of the late blight. I'd like to be eating tomatoes into September!

 

Heirloom droooolllllll... whenever I teach a cooking class or explain to a customer about heirloom tomatoes, theyre always like "what? THOSE ugly things?" and my soul dies a bit... until they taste them and go holy shit... what have I been doing?

 

I know someone who will only by tomatoes if they are red,.... Its an uphill struggle...

 

Get a couple of pruden's purples, really, really ripe. Step two is throwing said tomatoes at their face. When the tomatoes explode and drip down to their lips they will know the glory

P.s. do not try if you intend on keeping said friend around

 

An excellent place to get heirloom tomato seeds, as well as other veggie seeds is http://www.seedsavers.org/Items.aspx?hierId=89 I'm growing "Italian Heirloom". They have a huge catalog of seeds, and I'm certain the brewers here can find ingredients to use. As a bonus, many of the seeds are certified organic.

 

I was actually able to grow some after a couple tries last year here in Sacramento.This year the plants aren't growing as well and it's even been much hotter.So good when sliced just with a sprinkling of salt.Or with a little Olive Oil and Balsamic drizzled on.Good with or without fresh mozzerella.