Tomatoes are the heart of summer. Here in San Francisco, we pride ourselves on the locally grown stuff–not those cookie-cutter, plastic looking tomatoes found on supermarket shelves. We’re talking juicy heirlooms, whether big, small, red, green, orange, yellow, round, flat, or lopsided. And now, for some of the tastiest heirloom tomato dishes around the city.
Bluestem’s modern American menu features fresh and heartily composed dishes. Their Heirloom Tomato and Pancetta “Wedge” salad is an update on a classic, refreshing dish. It features little gems lettuce and thick heirloom tomatoes over a smooth avocado puree, and topped with crisp, house-made pancetta wheels and a chunky blue cheese dressing.
Want to add a little richness to your heirloom tomatoes? Pasta haven Flour – Water serves up an exquisite antipasto of heirloom and fried green tomato salad with pork belly, pepper, and basil. Because pork belly makes everything better, right?
What better way to showcase tomatoes than in a simple, classic tomato soup? Beretta offers a delectable heirloom tomato soup, which will put memories of your favorite childhood tomato soup (not to mention the canned stuff) to shame. Sweet and savory, it’s the perfect start to your meal.
The Marina sister restaurant to Beretta, Delarosa offers Roman-style pizzas, seasonal antipasti, salads, Panini, pastas, and entrees. Their broad menu features heirlooms in a light and refreshing tomato and cucumber gazpacho. This chilled vegetable soup is the perfect summer lunch.
Perbacco’s classic Italian menu consists of simple, seasonal-driven dishes. Chef/owner Staffan Terje showcases the sweet summer flavor of heirloom tomatoes in his simple heirloom tomato and burrata salad. We love anything burrata, and what better combination is there than a creamy burrata with sweet and flavorful heirlooms? The salad is topped with basil, grated pistachios, and a caramelized shallot vinaigrette.
The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards
For a relaxing summer escape, head to Wente Vineyards in beautiful Livermore Wine Country just an hour outside of the city. Chef Matt Greco of The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards sources his tomatoes straight from the half-acre garden located directly behind the restaurant. Join him September 16th for their annual, weeklong heirloom tomato celebration, with a special menu showcasing his homegrown heirlooms.
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