A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

What would a Carolina summer without tomatoes look like? Our B.L.’s — dry — with no T.’s? Our countertops and windowsills — naked — with no cheery red fruits? Dinners

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

What would a Carolina summer without tomatoes look like? Our B.L.’s — dry — with no T.’s? Our countertops and windowsills — naked — with no cheery red fruits? Dinners

Carolina Classic: The Tomato

What would a Carolina summer without tomatoes look like? Our B.L.’s — dry — with no T.’s? Our countertops and windowsills — naked — with no cheery red fruits? Dinners out — incomplete — with no ’mater starters (not the green ones, fried, or the heirlooms, sliced and swimming in balsamic vinegar)? Lucky for us, we can have our tomatoes and eat them, too: on sandwiches, in cocktails, atop pasta, and even, for some of us, on barbecue. This month, we pay homage to our favorite fruit-not-vegetable. We don’t have to imagine a summer without tomatoes, because we’ve seen the future of Carolina cuisine, and it looks rosy (and also green and a little orange).


Our Summer Food

sk tomatof feature Tomatoes, much like summer, must be cherished, savored, enjoyed for as long as possible.

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Update a Classic: Tomato Sandwich

update feature Sure, the sandwich of summer is wonderful just the way it is — only fresh tomatoes, mayonnaise, and bread. But you’d be surprised what North Carolina ingredients, from sprouts to spreads, will pair well with your next tomato sandwich.

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Blue Ribbon Beverage

nofo bmary feature NOFO’s award-winning Bloody Mary is a triumph for its customers, too.

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Tomato Clubs

tomato club feature The early roots of 4-H and home demonstration can be traced to tomatoes.

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The Italian Connection

italian connection feat Despite the 5,000 miles between us, our state shares a few things in common with Italy: beautiful beaches; warm, sunny summers; and a profound love of tomatoes.

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Picking Season

picking feature At the Holden Brothers Farm Market in Shallotte, visitors pick two of our favorite red fruits: Strawberries in the spring and tomatoes in the fall.

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Get your copy of our July 2014 issue to discover even more ways the tomato is enjoyed and celebrated across the state.

This story was published on Jul 18, 2014

Erin Reitz

Erin Reitz is a former digital content specialist at Our State.