Late Summer Tomato Party
To-MAY-to, To-MAH-to. However you say it, the humble tomato has been having its day in the spotlight. “Tomato Girl Summer” became a viral sun-drenched aesthetic on social media back in summer 2023 and is still going strong. I’m not sure I even knew this was a thing until I stumbled across photos on Instagram. Apparently I’m a couple years behind, but I knew when I saw photos of tables in full tomato regalia on social media that I wanted to create my own. For me, a tomato party was mostly about creating a tomato-themed table and sharing tomato-forward dishes with friends to say goodbye to the season.
Tomato Tart for My Sister
More and more over the years, I find myself drawn to tomatoes in the summertime. Although I hate to admit that I don’t necessarily enjoy fresh tomatoes (blasphemy!). I prefer them cooked. Yet the beauty in the misshapen fruits and the varying sizes and shades of red, orange, golden yellow and even green, beg to be celebrated and enjoyed on a warm summer day. Even the smell of vine ripened tomatoes brings up memories. It was fitting that today Facebook pulled up a memory from five years ago of my talented sister Michelle’s colorful tomato harvest. Tomatoes will always be a reminder of my sister Michelle, who I’m pretty sure was looking over my shoulder as I recently made a tomato tart.