Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market, Miami Beach – Florida, USA. There are some things that I instinctively associate with summer. Breezes latent with saltwater, sweat, and the charred goodness of grilled hotdogs — these belong to the summer. Fresh tomatoes are another sign of summer.
As a little girl, I devoured the vegetables raw, wiping the juice from my mouth with a carefully folded paper napkin. I especially loved making tomato sandwiches alongside my mother. They were easy enough for me to make on my own and were a link to my family’s roots in the U.S. South. Two pieces of Wonder Bread, thick slices of fresh red beefsteak tomatoes, mayonnaise (we called it “salad dressing”), and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper — that was all it took. Tomato sandwiches were a simple ritual for long, hot days.
Childhood experiences, of course, seed adult traditions, and tomatoes are still a favorite summer treat. These days, I take as much pleasure in selecting the ripest vegetables and accompaniments — preferably from a local farmers’ market, another summer fixture — as I do in eating them. During a recent visit to the Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market in Miami Beach, I gathered heirloom tomatoes, fresh ears of corn, and a loaf of Jewish Rye (baked locally by Zak the Baker) to try an updated version of my childhood tomato sandwich, inspired by North Carolina Chef Vivian Howard. Summer’s definitely here.
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What tastes do you associate with the season? Do share in the comments below.