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).
Tomatoes, much like summer, must be cherished, savored, enjoyed for as long as possible.
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.
NOFO’s award-winning Bloody Mary is a triumph for its customers, too.
The early roots of 4-H and home demonstration can be traced to tomatoes.
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.
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.
The Made in NC Awards are for all you North Carolina makers, bakers, crafters, and creators. Whatever it is that you make and sell, we know you’re proud to produce it right here in North Carolina — and we want to help you show it off to the entire state.
In honor of our June Coastal issue, which features Seamus the Bernedoodle, we’re celebrating our four-legged friends all month long. Find out how you and your pup can enter our Instagram giveaway, and check out what the Our State staff has to say about their tail-wagging buddies.
Our editor in chief reflects on the legacy of North Carolina’s classic coastal retreats.
Not your average beach house: From the clean lines of a flat-top cottage in Southern Shores to the extravagant opulence of an Art Nouveau icon in Corolla, landmark architecture defines our coastal villages — and chapters of our history.
