Tomatoes

We here at Foobooz headquarters are very finicky about our tomatoes. We try not to be but about 11 months out of the year we find ourselves pulling them off sandwiches or completely ignoring them like a culinary wallflower. But this time of year we open our heart to the tomato. It’s local tomato season and a couple local restaurants are capitalizing with special menus.

Tonight’s barbecue menu at Lolita’s is chock full of tomatoes from the garden shot of gazpacho, to lamb, chorizo and shrimp skewers.

And at Matyson it’s all about the “fruit of the vine” with their 5 course tasting menu this week. Say hello to heirloom tomato Napoleon and pan roasted filet mignon with bacon, green onion grits and smoked tomato coulis.

UPDATE: Bindi has gotten in on the tomato craze with their Farmers’ Market menu for the week. There’s heirloom tomatoes in every course.

Full menus after the jump.

LOLITA MONDAY NIGHT BBQ – FARMERS MARKET!
(you will receive all of the following items, served family style)

GARDEN SHOT
garden gazpacho, spicy creole onion, cucumber water

FIRST COURSE
heirloom tomato salad
baby arugula, spicy pepitas, crumbled cotija, serrano-lime vinaigrette

SECOND COURSE
marcie’s sweet and spicy bbq wings
morita-pilocillo bbq sauce, cabrales-garlic chive dressing, shaved celery

three chile rubbed hangar steak
tomatillo-chile de arbol salsa, guacamole, pickled red onion

lamb, chorizo and shrimp skewers
brandywine tomato-walla walla onion salsa “molcajete”

ON THE SIDE
big eric’s spicy cornbread
roasted jalapeno, smoked chile-lime butter

farmstand pickles
a mix of lemon, kirby and armenian cukes pickled with spices and mexican oregano

mexican “street style” corn
grilled jersey corn, roasted garlic chive aioli, cotija cheese, lime

THIRD COURSE
three berry crumble
ancho-honey crème friache, whipped cream, donut peach salsa

Lolita [Official Site]

Matyson’s “Tomatoes” menu

Tellow Tomato Gazpacho
Tempura fried softshell crab, basil

Heirloom Tomato Napoleon
Marinated buffalo mozzarella, raw corn & tarragon vinaigrette

Bouillabaisse
Scallop, lobster, mussels, summer vegetables, tomato aioli

Pan Roasted Filet Mignon
Bacon & green onion grits, smoked tomato coulis

Tomato Sorbet

$45 Prix Fixe does not include tax, beverage or gratuity.

Matyson [Official Site]

Bindi HEIRLOOM TOMATOES Dinner

FROM THE CHEF (you will receive all of the following items, served family-style)
tomatoes, simply as is
gold and red jewel tomatoes, maldon sea salt

tomatoes, raw
chilled tomato shorva, indian and lemon cucumber, spices

APPETIZER
tomatoes, fried
green tomato “pakora”, turkish orange eggplant, spicy tomato-sesame chutney

MAIN COURSE
tomatoes, oven dried *
bengali style mahi curry, oven dried heirlooms, green chili, panch phoran spices, lime rice

tomatoes, pickled *
cumin-yogurt marinated chicken, rich tamarind-coconut dal, heirloom tomato pickle

tomatoes, confit *
spice grilled lamb loin, curry leaf, pickled “red of florence” onions, lemon chickpea salad

BREAD
tomatoes, roasted
hand rolled griddle bread, tomato kut, caramelized onion, ghee, sea salt, house raita

DESSERT
tomatoes, frozen and tomatoes, candied
brandywine tomato granite, yogurt almond sooji cake, lemon candied tomatoes

* vegetarian option available with chef’s substitutions

Bindi [Official Site]