Tomato Time

THIS is what we wait all winter for: just picked heirloom tomatoes, each with its own unique shape and shade, but all so sweet and flavorful you want to inject them in every dish possible. 

It’s hard to believe that the tomato was once considered taboo. Along with potatoes, eggplants and red peppers, tomatoes belong to the nightshade family, which also includes some poisonous plants.

When Spanish conquistadors brought them back to Spain from México in the 16th century, the rest of Europe would have nothing to do with them. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the rest of the continent began to accept this fruit parading as a vegetable, though just barely. Tomatoes were most often cooked for at least three hours to be considered safe and edible. Some consider this blasphemy.

“A cooked tomato is like a cooked oyster, ruined,” said the famous French food writer André Simon. Indeed it’s hard to beat the pleasure of eating a perfectly ripe tomato sprinkled with Maldon salt and a simple basil leaf or a drizzle of quality olive oil, like Agape’s Premium EVOO. There’s a reason tomato sandwiches are a thing. A real Southern Tomato Sandwich is made with white bread, but if you’re lucky enough to have Bien Cuit Bakery in your midst, make yours on two slices of their pain de mie. For something more rustic, try it open-faced on a coarse slice of miche bread from either Bien Cuit or Wave Hill Breads.Purists of course will keep it simple, as in this head-turning heirloom tomato salad which lets a medley of tomatoes have their rightful moment in the spotlight.If you tire of salads, but crave that fresh tomato flavor, consider making this yellow gazpacho. So many beautiful breads at the market would turn this summer soup into a meal.

If you must cook a tomato in summertime, tread lightly as in this lovely and super easy tomato tart. Serve with some beautiful market greens on the side and you’ve got dinner on the table in a snap.Snap peas are here and you must enjoy them with one of Aux Bonnes Saveurs earthy Mediterranean spreads. Need a serving platter for those spreads? You’re in luck, Joe Ferrara, of Sound Designs Woodworking is in the house. If you fall in love with one of his pieces – and how could you not –don’t waffle. He is only visiting us a couple of times this season. His boards do make the best wedding or housewarming gifts. For a hostess gift, consider buying some pretty pottery from local ceramicist Wendy Enoch.  And this is La Petite Occasion’s last visit of the summer so be sure to catch those small-batch caramels while you can!

Here’s a tomato-less dish that will wow your guests: burrata with crushed cherries and pistachios. You’ll need a good, sharp knife for slicing tomatoes. Lucky you! Ready Set Sharp is here this week.

Make sure to bring the kids on Saturday as Bubble Dad will be here from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and the Chappaqua Library is hosting Story time from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.See you at the market!