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A good tomato is a beautiful thing. But the flavorless ovals of pith that get slapped onto sandwiches - even in gourmet sandwich shops! - are not worth the time it takes to say "hold the tomato".
It is not just that most such wedges are whacked off of the ubiquitus genetically engineered varities - no. Few tomatoes are ripened properly and, to make matters worse, most are over-refrigerated. Yuck.
But how to avoid ordering that BLT... I really wanted one for breakfast but knew that the ratty tomato slice would ruin it.
What other tasty piece of edible matter could replace the the tomato in a BLT?
The Roma Tomato
The lack of flavorful tomatoes can be mitigated to some extent by the Roma, provided it has been allowed to ripen properly.
One reason that most delis and sandwich shops use those larger, harder, pinker and flavorless tomatoes is that they store well.
But the Roma also stores well, slices well and just plain tastes better.
If you buy a handful of Romas at the market and want them to take on as much flavor as possible, do not rush home and put them in the fridge. Place them in a shallow bowl and let them sit out for a day or two.
PLEASE – put Roma tomatoes on my BLT! What a great breakfast treat: smoked bacon, red leaf lettuce, and some Roma slices on a toasted Portuguese roll – hold the mayo! A thin slice of avocado would be a nice addition.
Yummy Tomatoes
The best tomatoes are the heirloom varieties now available at some upscale markets and from Fresh Direct. These gems come in a variety of colors and sizes, from tiny yellow tear-drops to ping pong ball-sized purple.
Another widely available variety is the grape tomato, a deep red, marble sized variety whose shape and taste most reflects the original, wild tomatoes found on the western coast of South America.
/>While some are partial to the Jersey tomato, it, too, suffers from bad ripening and refrigerating habits.
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Posted on 9/12/2005
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