Tomatoes won’t kill you…

Sonny, true love is the greatest thing in the world…except for a nice MLT – mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe…they're so perky, I love that. Miracle Max

Tomatoes won’t kill you…even though you might believe you’ve died and gone to heaven after biting into a perfect one.

"A number of rare or newly experienced foods have been claimed to be aphrodisiacs. At one time this quality was even ascribed to the tomato. Reflect on that when you are next preparing the family salad."Jane Grigson

Being a member of the “Deadly” Nightshade slowed its acceptance, but fortunately Colonel Robert Johnson ate a basket of them Salem, NJ in 1820, proving that the love apple was more delicious than deadly. Hernando Cortez brought the first seeds back to the old world in 1519; unfortunately at first this new fruit was merely a curiosity. Botanist Pietro Andrea Mattioli named them pomi d’oro “golden apple”; he also labeled them as “mala insana” meaning “bad crazy” which scared away diners for centuries, but when they finally came around the world was forever changed.

"Hunger makes you restless. You dream about food - not just any food, but perfect food, the best food, magical meals, famous and awe-inspiring, the one piece of meat, the exact taste of buttery corn, tomatoes so ripe they split and sweeten the air, beans so crisp they snap between the teeth, gravy like mother’s milk singing to your bloodstream." - Dorothy Allison, Bastard Out of Carolina

There are now several thousand cultivars of tomatoes grown in every corner of the world, in every shape and size. Quite popular today are heirloom varieties with over 600 varieties in the U.S! Heirloom tomatoes are a nostalgic attempt to bring back tomatoes that are bred for flavor rather than shape and durability. Many of these varieties are susceptible to disease, cracking, bugs and other varmints – after all, since they taste good to humans, why be surprised that they taste good to animals? Some popular varieties of heirloom tomatoes include: Big Rainbow – a sweet yellow and red striped variety; the Blaby Special of Leicestershire, which was England’s main cultivar through World War II; the big ol’ Brandywines, ranging from yellow to purple; the huge pink “Mortgage Lifters”.
The color palette can make the rainbow blush: crimson to indigo, with many patterns and striations. A rule of thumb is when it feels like a balloon full of fudge, it’s probably ripe. Try them at room temperature for the full bouquet of flavor. Also, enjoy the miniature varieties that are appearing.

You say potato and I say po-tah-to. You say tomato and I say to-mah-to. Tomato, to-mah-to, potato, po-tah-to! Let's call the whole thing off! Ira Gershwin

In 1893, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the tomato was a vegetable in order to tax it’s import; fruit was allowed duty free at the time. Botanically, the tomato is a berry, fruit of the vine and all. It is quite often cooked and eaten as a vegetable…even in ketchup, it is a vegetable, per Ronald Reagan - discussions of him are for another blog…
Though Andre Simon said in his, The Concise Encyclopedia of Gastronomy
"A cooked tomato is like a cooked oyster: ruined." I must take some exception to his pronouncement on the ‘mater. Cooking with tomatoes is also a great way to enjoy them. High in vitamin C which aids the immune systems to fight infections, strengthens connective tissues and helps the body absorb iron; beware, the citric acid will react with aluminum, so take care in choosing your utensils. Carrots, salt or sugar all tend to ameliorate the acidic bite: go for the carrot to add depth to the sauce. Tomatoes are also high in vitamin A, which promotes eye health, strong bones and tissues. Additional benefits include high in antioxidants, low in fats and calories, cholesterol and sodium free which all contribute to your healthy menu. For a different spin, try canning, oven-roasting or drying them for future use.

It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato. Lewis Grizzard


Festivals

http://www.reynoldsburgtomatofestival.org/ Reynoldsburg, OH
http://www.graingercountytomatofestival.com/ Rutledge, TN
http://www.latomatina.org/ La Tomatina - tomato fight - Buñol , Valencia , Spain
http://www.kj.com/events/tomato-festival/ Santa Rosa, CA
http://www.pittstontomatofestival.com/ Pittston, PA
http://www.bradleypinktomato.com/ Warren, AR