Mandy Seneca’s friend introduced her this year to black tomatoes which in her opinion tastes like the traditional.

Local chefs share homegrown tomato recipes

Last year when tomato season arrived, searching for the best way to eat them resulted in a sandwich photo of a thick sliced Big Boy tomato with mayonnaise on white bread — naturally it was dripping.

After a recent corn expedition into the fields with Alex Patout, a delivery was made of his Tomato and Corn Soup. It was far too good to share when heated at lunch, but now the chef has given The Daily Iberian readers first dibs at the method previously not written.

Patout is becoming the food sourcing tour guide for this culinary writer. Expect more in the future about places he is taking me for stories.

A couple of days after Patout’s deliver, John Olivier sent me a picture of his sandwich size tomatoes followed by a bag of goodies from his garden. Those were shared with other staff members but the loaf of white bread purchased across the street at Winn-Dixie went home with me. Tomato sandwiches were enjoyed for both lunch and dinner. It is definitely tomato time.

Prize Winning Recipe

Looking back at saved emails about tomato stories, New Iberia resident and chef Dean George’s recipe for Roasted Creole Tomato and Stilton Bread Pudding was rediscovered. The timing for an interview never materialized as duties as executive chef at Lafayette’s Petroleum Club kept him busy. His time in the kitchen at home was too precious to share but he sent the recipe instead. It looks delicious.

“This unique side item will be great with your favorite steak, or take this along the next time you are invited to bring a dish to an event,” said George. “It won me a Best of Show at the Acadiana Culinary Classic.”

George has served as the executive chef of the Petroleum Club of Lafayette, since 1996. Previously working for Hilton Hotels Corporation, he held executive chef positions in Detroit, Cincinnati, Boca Raton and at the Hotel Millennium in New York City.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he began his culinary education after nine years experience as a restaurant manager. He graduated cum laude with a degree in culinary arts from The Cincinnati Culinary Arts Academy. In 2011, George won “Best of Show” at the Acadiana Culinary Classic with this recipe.

Forthcoming Recipes

Rarely has there been a Cajun Creole Cookbook without recipes that include tomatoes. The soups so often have a tomato base. Ken Morrogh and John Olivier are the champs at coming up with something new in the stew pot. Can’t wait to see what they and others create for this year’s cookbook and cook off. We’ve started getting them in, but don’t let the website scare you. We’ll take submissions any way they come.

More About Tomatoes

Super-satisfying, tomatoes are the perfect summer crop for beginners and seasoned gardeners. According to Maddox Miller, 4-H agent in Iberia Parish, the ideal planting time is spring, thus harvesting is happening now with a 70 day time span from plant to produce. The following tips might come in handy next year of if you choose to grow a second crop, planting in September for November harvest, he said.

Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable in home gardens and most gardeners agree nothing tastes better than a home-grown tomato. It’s important to understand common tomato terms, often seen on tomato plant tags and the basics of growing tomatoes. The more you know the better you’ll grow.

To reap successful rewards you’ll need six to eight hours of sun per day, good quality soil and plant food, good drainage, plenty of water and room to grow. If you plant tomatoes each season, it’s a good idea to rotate the spot in the garden where you plant them.

Use transplants, like Bonnie Plants, they’re faster than starting from seed and easier to grow. Bonnie’s transplants are offered in biodegradable pots and planted directly in-ground, preventing transplant shock and saving millions of pounds of plastic from landfills.

With literally hundreds of varieties to choose from — it’s possible to find a tomato that fits your taste, space and garden conditions.

Here’s what Green Earth Media Group has to say about growing tomatoes at home.

TOMATOES ARE VERY NUTRITIOUS. In addition to everyday nutrients like vitamins C and A, fiber, carbohydrates, potassium and iron, tomatoes are also a great sources of lycopene, an antioxidant thought to be associated with lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and asthma. Black tomatoes, or the indigo series, is higher in anthocyanin thought to be a health benefit.

WHILE TOMATOES NEED TO BE WATERED, some varieties are better at weathering heat. Choose a heat-set tomato variety that will bear fruit in high temperatures, such as Arkansas Traveler, Florida 91, Husky Red Cherry or Super Sweet 100.

TOMATOES ARE CLASSIFIED. Indeterminate varieties grow throughout the season and will bloom and produce fruit as long as the weather allows. Determinate plants grow to a certain size, produce fruit and then stop growing; they bear all their fruit at once, rather than throughout the season. They may produce fruit early in the season, mid-way or toward the end of the growing season. Choose a determinate tomato to can and make sauce. Choose an indeterminate variety for fresh tomatoes in salads and sandwiches throughout summer.

CULTIVATING TOMATOES. Any tomato variety that’s been around for at least 50 years, and is not a hybrid, is called an “heirloom” tomato. Some heirloom tomato examples are: Arkansas Traveler, Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, German Queen and Mr. Stripey.

A TOMATO BRED BY PLANT BREEDERS, crossing two existing tomato varieties, is called a Hybrid. Hybrids usually offer better disease resistance, higher yield, and other improved traits. Some hybrid examples are; Bonnie Original, Big Boy, Summer Set, and Tami G.

PICKING YOUR TOMATO PLANTS CAN BE DAUNTING, especially if you’ve never grown them before and are overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. Start the selection process by considering how you’ll use the tomatoes — in salads, for slicing or for cooking (as in making sauces). Visit Bonnieplants.com/tomatoes/ and click on the tomato chooser link to help sort through all the varieties. Check the traits you’re looking for and the chooser will tell you all the varieties that match your specifications.

WHATEVER VARIETY YOU CHOOSE, it pays to start with a transplant. Mature transplants will make it easier to establish your tomato plants and produce a crop 6 weeks sooner than if you try to start your own plants from seed.

If you didn’t get your tomatoes in the ground to be reaping a harvest this summer, remember to check the farmers markets in Delcambre, New Iberia, Jeanerette and throughout the Teche Area. Local grocery stores are also buying homegrown tomatoes and on rare occasions have been known to give you a deal on throw aways for canning, if you ask.