A Fete-Worthy Fruit

On a sweltering day, sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying than biting into a ripe, juicy tomato plucked fresh from the garden. You can grill it, bake it, fry it or just eat it plain – maybe with a pinch of salt and pepper. Hearty and healthy, the tomato lends itself to culinary creativity and is always a welcome addition to any meal. Each year, we are especially lucky to have a bounty of Creole tomatoes, which tolerate heat and humidity – probably better than the rest of us do. Here in New Orleans, we even have a festival in its honor: The Creole Tomato Festival, on June 13-14 at the French Market will host musicians, live entertainment and cooking demonstrations, all in praise of this lycopene-packed fruit.