While I’ve pretty well settled in on the tomatoes I like to grow, having a tasting brunch provides a good excuse to have friends over for a little get together. Plus, it can reconfirm what I believe I know about which varieties to grow. This year from my garden, we tasted – Cherokee Purple, Yellow Brandywine, Better Boy, Persimmon, and Green Zebra (I had no ripe Red Brandy’s) and from Dennis’ garden – Celebrity and Beefsteak.
Here they are ready to taste – each tomato plate was labeled A-G and each serving plate was marked A to G around the edge to help us keep them straight.
The clear winner was the Cherokee Purple, with Beefsteak and Yellow Brandy coming in second and third. The perennial past winner, Better Boy, and Bev’s favorite, Persimmon, were tied for last. Both were less acidic and more watery tasting than normal and I believe is a testament to the impact weather and water can have on the flavor in a given year.
Here they are ready to taste – each tomato plate was labeled A-G and each serving plate was marked A to G around the edge to help us keep them straight.
After the tasting, we got down to the serious part of the day – eating and refreshments.
We served biscuits and croissants and with bacon and country ham from (both from Benton's), tomatoes, onion, cheese, and jelly, plus fresh fruit and a delicious green chile and egg casserole brought by friend Nancy. For dessert it was Ina’s Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins (delicious) using the recipe from Cathy over at Wives With Knives and a peach pie (from the freezer) ala mode. Here’s the chow line.
We washed it all down with an assortment of liquids including coffee, iced tea, wine, mimosas, salty dogs, screw drivers, tomato juice, and anything else that could be made from the on hand ingredients.
While the prediction was for 90+ degrees, temps and a chance of storms, thanks to overcast skies, it was pretty pleasant on the dock and since the last guest left around 6pm, it must have been a pretty successful outing.
All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.
One year ago: Stewed Okra And Tomatoes
Larry
A tomato tasting - how fun. Cherokee purples are my favorite too. And I totally agree that the weather can effect how watery a tomato can be in a given year. The seeds for the Cherokee Purple were developed in Tennessee by a man who was given a century old seed passed down to him by a Cherokee Indian.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in south Arkansas tomato country where they grew a pink tomato and the Chamber of Commerce held a tomato festival every year in its honor. They always had an all tomato luncheon and your tasting party reminded me of it.
Sam
Love this tomato tasting idea. I agree, just like grapes, the weather affects our tomato flavors. We should start publishing a Tomato Juice Spectator magazine. I swear that first Beefsteak I put on that BLT was about the best tomato I've ever tasted. Now all I need is my Brandywine to produce. All I'm getting right now are Early Girls. Man does that buffet look wonderful. Wish I could have been there.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful feast! Never tasted the Cherokee purple...will have to put that one on next year's growing schedule.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, you folks sure do know how to party down at Almost Heaven South!! Look at all those tomatoes!! Delicious!
ReplyDeleteHey Larry & Bev!
ReplyDeleteLaurie here...It was a great tomato tasting party & excellent fare to feast on! Being that we arrived at 11:15 am & left around 5:00 pm, I'd say it was a good get together all around. Beautiful weather for having a party on the dock! Thanks for the invite & friendship! David & I had a great time! You both know how to throw a party!!
Fun!! I grew Cherokee purples last year, the never ripened :( After reading your post I wish I had planted them again this year, a good tomato is a GREAT thing!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a lot of tomatoes. I'll bet they were wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWow, does that look like a fun day. Although our farmers' market has a good selection of tomatoes it doesn't come close to what you were tasting. The whole menu sounds delicious. I'm so happy you enjoyed Ina's recipe for blueberry muffins. Thanks so much for the link, Larry.
ReplyDeleteWish I knew more about tomatoes... I know that there are some of the summer tomatoes I absolutely love... THEN--I'll get another one and it truly gags me... I've never been crazy about tomatoes ---except the fresh ones in summer, so I really have to like one to eat it. BUT--if I like it, I LOVE it.... Wish I knew which one it is that I love so much. I know I cannot stand them mushy...
ReplyDeleteBetsy
Larry what a great idea to have a tomato tasting party! I bet they were all delicious. :)
ReplyDeleteYour feast looks perfect too!
Darn it - that does it! I'm moving p there!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to do a serious side-by-side tomato taste testing. My faves are always Beefsteak and Better Boy. We canned 18 quarts last month and now the tomatoes are just saying "We're tired and it's too hot to produce much more!" Looks like a great day on your dock, so peaceful on the lake! I'll have to check out Cathy's (Ina) muffins now.
ReplyDeleteLarry, in your little sidebar bio you stated that you are originally from Northern West Virginia. My husband, Bill is from Athens, Ohio and we'll be driving right through that region in a few days to his 50th high school reunion. It's been about 15 years since we've been there.
ReplyDeleteLarry, It was all good! I loved those blueberry muffins...must have eaten 6 of them! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed in the flavor of our tomatoes this year, we only grew Romas. Then again it is no surprise that yours turned out so well, with your mad gardening skills and all :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent idea for a party!! I'm green with envy that you have so many red tomatoes. I'm starting to get our Juliette and the little orange sweet ones (whose name evades me) but the Celebrity vine is all green - but they were planted mainly for a crop of large green tomatoes for my chow chow in the fall.
ReplyDeleteI looooove tomatoes of all sorts - this is a wonderful idea for a party!
ReplyDelete