We are in the primetime for tomatoes, and every summer I get all anxious that I’m not taking advantage. I mean, I probably only have forty good tomato seasons in my lifetime. When I was a kid I didn’t appreciate it. Then later in life in our Matrix Reloaded sub-terrain world I will be old and crotchety and not even a perfect tomato will stop me from bitching about “kids these days” and how they don’t even value a bitcoin anymore. So yeah, I have like 25 seasons left, and I freak out and for about two weeks every dish I make incorporates herbs and tomatoes and peaches and summer weight cheeses like feta, mozzarella, ricotta, or farmer’s cheese.
Things could be worse.
One of my favorite tomato dishes is this pasta sauce method I learned from Ruhlman a few years back. It’s super quick and fresh and has a wonderful flavor and silkiness from the tomato water emulsified with butter. I made it yesterday with some dried tagliatelle from Storico Fresco. I used a hodge podge of herbs from my new garden, which is freaking amazing, now that I don’t spend $2 each for those little packets at the grocery store.
I also love quickly pan cooked cherry tomatoes mixed with some eggs. They soften up and the textures mimic each other. Here I used some yellow heirlooms from Peacthree Rd Farmer’s market. I can’t remember which farm, but if you frequent PRFM he is the “have you tried our arugula?” bro. Served on sliced tomato and pain au levain. For quick and easy soft scrambled I used the Ideas in Food method of putting eggs and butter in a zip-loc and gently simmering for a few minutes. Near perfection, without twenty minutes of stirring.
Then late last night I made a tomato pie, this time using a variation from Garden & Gun, which is a bit lighter goat cheese iteration with no mayo or cheddar. It’s different in a good way. Or good in a different way. I salted the tomatoes for about thirty minutes in an effort to implore the excess liquid to stay out of my pie.
Tonight I’m making a cucumber, feta, tomato salad, and some bruschetta.
What dishes am I missing? OH GOD THE END IS NEAR