Sunday, August 26, 2012

Heirlooms and Happiness


There are smiles aplenty at Restoration Farm.   The heirloom tomatoes - the crown jewels of the summer harvest  - are in full array.  
At distribution, we are each offered pounds upon pounds of colorful tomatoes – heirlooms, slicers, Sun Gold, grape tomatoes and cherry tomatoes.   My biceps flex as I lift the bag.
Heirlooms are that sweet spot where the sun just briefly kisses the earth leaving swatches of brilliant color.  And they are exceptionally sweet this season at Restoration Farm.  
The taste is almost impossible to describe – tart, bright, sweet, meaty, clean, sunny, fruity, acidic, rich – or the sum of all such adjectives.    Words just don’t seem sufficient.

Pop them like candy …
Or slice them atop sandwiches …
Just don’t cook the life out of them.

For me, a fresh Heirloom Caprese Salad is the way to go, adorned with fresh mozzarella and basil from the garden.  
No recipe.  No heat.  Just sweet, brilliant summer glistening on a platter.  Sheer happiness.  
©2012 T.W. Barritt All Rights Reserved 

13 comments:

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

You are offered pound upon pound of them? Where do I apply for a job at Restoration Farms. I grew up in the South in tomato country and a friend of mine said recently that we probably had tomato juice in our baby bottles. Not true of course, but close.

Love your simple salad. Heirloom tomatoes are so good on their own they need very little help to get on our tables. Hope you're having a great weekend.
Sam

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

What a stunning variety of tomatoes! I'm sure I would eat most of them like candy before they ever found their way into a salad. I love that you're using basil from your own garden, too.

Zany said...

Nothing says summer like a fresh tomato sandwich with a pinch of salt - one of my favorites! Enjoy the fruits of your labor!

~~louise~~ said...

Oh my goodness, T.W. What gorgeous tomatoes!!! And you get to lug away pounds and pounds. Flex those biceps, lol...

Your salad looks sensational!!!

Thanks for sharing...

Sophies Foodie Files said...

MMMMMMMM,... Stunning looking tomatoes: so colourful too!

A great & tasty Summer's salad! ;) YUMMMMMMM!

Deana Sidney said...

My little CSA has tomatoes at such a good price but not as much variety... I am a wee bit jealous. Still, you're right the flavor is too amazing. I am thinking about a tomato tart this week!

You made one beautiful salad with yours!

Mary Bergfeld said...

I, too, love the heirlooms. I've been known to thick-slice a Brandywine, plunk it between two pieces of really good bread and call it a meal. Your photos are lovely and you've made me hungry for lunch before I've had breakfast :-) Have a grand day. T.W. Blessings...Mary

veron said...

those are great looking tomatoes!

Catherine said...

Dear T.W., That certainly is the way to go. That is perfect with a delicious piece of bread. Heavenly. Blessings friend. Catherine

Anonymous said...

I especially LOVE the caprese salad in this post! I am also enjoying the tomato abundance at the farm this year...especially because I've lost my own tomatoes to late blight....

Karen (Back Road Journal) said...

The harvest looks great and I agree...no cooking is necessary when the tomatoes are fresh off the vine. I have been eating cherry tomatoes everyday for lunch and sliced ones for dinner. Nothing better than heirloom tomatoes.

Stacey Snacks said...

I have developed acid reflux from all the tomatoes we ate this season! Our heirlooms were glorious, my favorite being the Striped German and Brandywine.....fresh mozzarella and basil is the best match for these beauties!

tasteofbeirut said...

written with lyricism. nice.