Heirloom Tomato Tarts
When Summer Took an Unexpected Turn
Many of my blog posts begin a month or two before they’re published. Most of the recipes, like this one, come from my days running my store and catering business, Ruchetta. I still test each recipe a couple of times, photograph and film the process, edit the photos, write the post, and finally hit publish.
In the spirit of keeping things real, I did all of that at the beginning of June. My husband and I were in the process of selling our apartment in Portugal (more on that later) and getting ready to spend the summer traveling through France and Italy.
Sometimes life has different plans.
My beloved stepmother became gravely ill, so I flew to Phoenix for two weeks to be with my brother and my ninety-four-year-old father, and to say goodbye to Carolyn.
This was not the summer I had imagined, and while I missed my husband and Luna, our lap-cat, I wouldn’t have been anyplace else, because coming together with loved ones in times of celebration, but also in times of sadness and need, is the real stuff of life.
A few days ago, I flew back to Europe, where I met up with my husband, son, and his family in the south of France. I’ll have time here to grieve, regroup, and spend precious time with my granddaughter. Life carries on through times like these, leaving us with perspective and a deeper appreciation for the small, quiet moments when we can simply take a breath.
With all that in mind, I still wanted to share this recipe and blog post from June. It was inspired by my travels through France, and it’s such a beautiful way to enjoy the juicy tomatoes ripening now in gardens and at market stands.
Heirloom Tomato Tarts
This one's inspired by the simplicity of French home cooking — cuisine du terroir, the kind of thing you'd find on a table in the Provençal countryside rather than in a fancy restaurant. Thick slices of ripe tomato roasted on buttery pastry, a swipe of Dijon, a scatter of Gruyère and herbs. Simple and delicious.
You can find the full recipe here on the blog.
Until next time,
From the Archive
Mediterranean Flatbread Sandwiches