Tomato/Tomatoe: Strawberry, Tomato & Feta Salad!

What's not to love about tomatoes? These juicy gems come in about as many incarnations as your favorite designer shoes: heirloom, cherry, grape, beefsteak - there's definitely one out there to suit your personal taste. This week, I'll be posting two recipes that highlight tomatoes and today's, my fabulous foodie friends, features the cherry tomato. 

The cherry tomato is a smaller garden variety tomato. These tomatoes can range in size from the tip of your thumb to the size of a golf ball, and can range in shape from being spherical to slightly oblong. The more oblong ones share characteristics with plum tomatoes (also known as grape tomatoes). For you Latin or passionate tomato fans out there, the cherry tomato is regarded as a botanical variety of the cultivated berry, Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme.

This Strawberry, Tomato and Feta Salad is easy to prepare and perfect for a Spring or Summer lunch with the ladies or for having on hand as a healthy lunch or snack during the week. As an added bonus, it is healthy AND vegetarian - I know, not something you usually find here at GG!

The sweetness of the strawberries is nicely balanced by the acidity of the tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar brings both flavors together quite beautifully. While you can use other cheeses such a blue in this dish, I think the feta adds the perfect salty tang without overwhelming the other flavors. I would advise using your basic, unaged balsamic vinegar for this recipe; the sweeter, aged balsamic turns this dish into a dessert - which is fine if you are, in fact, looking for a dessert! Also, if there was ever an ideal situation to break out your best extra virgin olive oil, this is it - the fruitiness and texture of the oil really adds to the dish. I used a Tuscan oil that I really adore: the 2010 Perazzeta Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It has a beautiful green color and delightful fruity, spicy flavor that is perfect for everything from dipping your favorite focaccia to dressing Insalata Caprese.

I hope you enjoy this yummy Summer salad featuring cherry tomatoes, I'd love to hear what you think! Stay tuned for the next recipe of the week featuring fabulous heirloom tomatoes.

Cheers,

Summer Strawberry, Tomato & Feta Salad

1 lb. Strawberries

2 pints Cherry Tomatoes

6 ounces Feta Cheese
Mesclun Greens

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar 
Salt & Pepper

Trim and slice the strawberries and cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Combine the strawberries and tomatoes with cubed feta cheese in a medium bowl. Drizzle with the extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste and toss lightly to coat. Season with salt and pepper and serve atop mesclun greens for a nice presentation! Serves 4

Winesday with Gary Vee: an Update from Tuscany and Sangiovese Gem!

Calling all Super Tuscan fans! Check out the latest scoop from Gary Vaynerchuk on some great opportunities to stock up on your favorite wines from Tuscany. Sangiovese is the predominant grape in this region and is known for its high level of acidity, moderate tannins and rustic, savory flavors of sour cherry, spice and dried orange peel. These wines are meant to be consumed with food, so throw a Bistecca alla Fiorentina on the grill and pop the cork on a bottle of the 2007 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Cin-cin!

"For all you longtime Italian fans out there, you very well know that about 10 years ago, Tuscan wines were as hot as Saved by the Bell. In the last few years, popularity has waned... not only are sales down, but prices have followed suit for many high end wines, especially in the Super Tuscan and Brunello categories. But what that means is that there's opportunity... This Vino Nobile di Montepulciano brings just that! This brings opportunity for all of you Tuscan fans out there! Buy by the case, 'cause this stuff is a steal."

Gary's tasting notes: Dark chocolate and top soil flavors on the nose, with a hint of mint and chocolate. This has that rustic quality you can only find in Italy, which is intriguing. Comes across even better on the palate than it did on the nose, with great structure and extremely drying. Beautiful explosion of plum and red flowers. I can see this wine lasting another 15+ years, and I highly recommend people expanding their palate with this wine.

Wine:

2007 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 

100% Sangiovese

91 Points

$25 MSRP