Dare I say it? Much like a beautiful Senorita!

Ok it’s about time I enlightened people on my search for the perfect Tomato! “Oh no he’s really lost it now,” I hear you say. Wait a minute it’s like this, some people spot trains, collect stamps, knit tea cosies. I like to think my search for the perfect tomato is relatively normal, a bit like wine tasting minus the spitting and hangover. It all started like this. I never used to like tomatoes (c. Birth-2003); the average ones you buy in the supermarkets were foul. They have tough orange coloured shiny skin, rubber-like flesh, are practically hollow with sticky green pips. Basically this description should be for something out of a horror movie. Then way back in 2003 I spent a bit of time touring the Mediterranean and rediscovered the tomato. They were fantastico, nothing like the ones you normally find down your local high street. From that day on I decided it was my duty to the reputation of tomatoes to seek out the finest varieties and quality available in the UK.

Here is my quick, totally opinionated (loosely based on fact), 3-point beginners guide:
1. Flavour to a tomato is like character. If your tomato has been spoilt, inoculated and has a poly house, then it’s likely to taste bland. A tomato that’s had a bit of a hard life is likely to have tried harder and therefore tastes better. Remember a tomato is a fruit, the main point of this is that the tastier the tomato the more likely it is to survive i.e. reproduce.
2. Tomatoes should be firm, no saggy skin, and free from blemishes. Dare I say it? What the heck Señor, much like a beautiful Señorita!
3. Never store Tomatoes in the fridge. I keep mine in a fruit bowl so that they continue to ripen and remain in good health. Remember a tomato has grown up with fresh air and sunshine, not dark sub-zero temperatures.

If you’ve got any recommendations for your favourite variety, interesting tomato facts, recipes, then let me know.
Coming soon –My favourite tomato of 2006.