Does New Jersey have its own tomato variety?
A. New Jersey Beefsteak tomato was once grown by farmers here and is currently being reintroduced. Historically, tomato packing was a big industry here. This book began as a love letter to New Jersey. Q. In your book, you have a recipe for a tomato dessert. What is it? A. I actually have four dessert recipes in my book. For Korean Tomato, slice a few tomatoes in half and sprinkle them with sugar. Roasted Tomatoes with 12 Flavors is my version of a famous dish from a French chef I love, Alain Passard. And, of course, Tomato Soup Cake, an old, classic spice cake made with tomato soup to give it an undertone. It was a Campbell’s recipe during the ’50s. Green Tomato Pie is a traditional classic with sweetened green tomato. Q. What do you look for when shopping for tomatoes? A. Firm tomatoes with no scars, no dark spots or no mushy spots. I look for interesting colors and shapes when putting tomatoes in salads. When cooking with them, it’s not so important. Canned tomato freshness is just a
