In case you haven’t noticed, tomatoes are in a frenzy right now, thanks to all the unripe fruit on the vine when the heat wave hit. Farmers at our local farmers markets are now offering flats of tomatoes, including heirlooms, at great prices, perfect if you are into preserving. If you don’t see them offered, asked. Everyone who grows tomatoes needs to get rid of them.
If you’d rather sit back and simply enjoy tomatoes, consider an evening at Carneros Bistro and Wine Bar. Through Sunday, the Sonoma restaurant is featuring a three-course tomato tasting menu ($45) along with a la carte selections. But this isn’t the best part. The cult-classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoeswill be shown continuously in the dining room and in the bar throughout the week.
Chef Andrew Wilson’s tomato dishes include:
Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho with Dungeness Crab and Compressed Cucumber
Fried Green Tomatoes with Sauce Remoulade
Heirloom Tomatoes and Gioia Buratta with shaved red onion, garden basil and local olive oil
Tomato Tart Tatin, with fromage blanc, parsley and olives
California White Sea Bass, with Corn & Shrimp Succotash, Charred Tomato Coulis & Smoked Olive Oil
Grilled American Waygu Ribeye with Warm Tomato Salad, Grilled Onion and Green Tomato Chowchow
Housemade Handkerchief Pasta with Heirloom Tomato & Caper Cruda & Parmigiano-Reggiano.