So Cal, California – The Tomato Patch

Tomato season is here and they are robust, juicy and sweet.  Pick the best vine-ripened crop you can find, preferably at your local Farmer’s Market, and build a tasty stack of summer flavor.  The recipe below has a Southwestern kick. Experiment with other ingredients to compliment any meal, especially outdoor grilling fare.

 

Mapping the Day

The staked vines were taller than I was. Bounties of red ripe tomatoes were hanging from the rows of plants. “Go ahead, pick the one you want,” said the green thumb.

 

Local Story

I remember gingerly stepping through the rows and looking up. The red globes of goodness were bigger than my tiny hands. I reached up and easily plucked the ripe fruit from its vine. “Take a bite, just like an apple.” Still warm from the sun, the luscious vine-ripened tomato squirted juice down my face and shirt. That was the best tomato I had ever eaten.

 

View from the Table

I am not a green thumb, but our neighbor came to dinner a few days ago and brought a handful of her first picks of the season. There is simply nothing like the flavor of fresh picked tomatoes. I am so happy it’s tomato season.

 

Summer Tomato Stack

 [button link=”http://roadtripflavors.com/recipe/summer-tomato-stack/” type=”big” color=”green” newwindow=”yes”] RECIPE[/button]