Nothing says summer better than fresh tomatoes from the Farmer’s Market, and the Starkville Community Market has been happy to deliver during this first month of the 2013 season! While fresh sliced tomatoes by themselves or on a sandwich are sort of summer’s rite of passage in the South, they also lend themselves to dishes with a decidedly more Italian flair.
A few weeks ago, Chef Paul Brasfield from Starkville’s own Bin 612 visited the Market to bring us a fresh and easy Italian creation using produce purchased that morning from our Market vendors. Chef Paul and the other chefs from the locally-owned restaurants in the EatLocalStarkville.com family regularly source their ingredients from area farmers and growers, presenting seasonal offerings to their customers that are truly local creations. Chef Paul’s culinary demonstration on May 25 featured a seasonal Italian Bruschetta served on sliced homemade artisan baguette from DeRego Breads (another Market vendor!). The tomatoes, fresh basil, red onion and garlic grown by local farmers are available most weeks from the Market’s regular farm vendors.
Chef Paul’s Italian Bruschetta is easy to make and creates a light and healthy summer appetizer or snack for your next outdoor party or brunch. We hope you enjoy adding it to your summer repertoire of fresh tomato recipes!
ITALIAN BRUSCHETTA
Three large tomatoes, seeded and diced
Half cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
Half red onion diced
8 basil leaves-julienned
One table spoon salt and 2 tsp black pepper
4 garlic cloves minced
Mix all ingredients and sit for an hour under refrigeration. Serve cold over toaster bread or however you like!
Need even more fresh tomato goodness? Be sure to join us THIS Saturday at Starkville Community Market as Chef John Fitzgerald from Restaurant Tyler creates a delicious Tomato Caprese at the Culinary Demonstration — 9:00am!
[Photos courtesy Amelia Treptow]
