Recipe: Salsa

You've got to make salsa for Cinco de Mayo!  During our time in Cabo, Mexico, we stopped by the One and Only Palmilla to cook with Chef Larbi Dahrouch.  He showed us his recipe for Salsa Mexicana.  I've got my own urban garden growing with fresh tomatoes and peppers.

Recipe: Ratatouille

This recipe is quite different from our Grilled Vegetable Ratatouille that we made on our Thrill of the Grill episode with Heath Hall and Brett Thompson of Pork Barrel BBQ. Ratatouille is a perfect way to practice your knife skills.  Eat your veggies!

Eat With Your Eyes: Summer Salads

It is hot this summer!!  You need something light and refreshing.  Try my Top 4 Summer Salad Recipes.

 Caprese Salad

Get your Tomato Recipes Ready!

We're very excited to announce the 1st-Annual Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival and recipe contest!

Mid-Atlantic’s top chefs, restaurants, farmers, community gardeners and local growers will celebrate with a stellar food and wine pairing on Friday, September 24th at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center.

This year’s red fruit? Plump, juicy tomatoes. From sauces to salsas to tartes, this luscious red fruit is ripe for celebration.

How can you participate?

15 of our Featured Home Chefs will be awarded prizes in 5 contest categories and have a top area chef cook their winning recipe. Festival attendees will get to enjoy 15 tomato-inspired dishes paired with wine on The Woodrow Wilson Plaza among Washington DC’s most storied monuments and rich history.

How it works:
1. Create a recipe that includes locally-sourced tomatoes. Tomatoes must be procured no further than 25 miles from your home kitchen.
2. Submit your recipe, a picture of the tomatoe(s) used and a picture of the finished dish via email here: wineandfoodeventsdc@gmail.com no later than 5PM EST Monday, September 6th. Please make sure to identify the local resource for your tomatoes.
3. The Wine and Food Festival team will select a total of 15 delicious, extra-creative and expertly-executed recipes to win in the following categories: Soups; Salsas, Beverages, Tartes, Pies; Quick Breads, Sauces, Salads.

If your recipe is selected, your dish will be prepared at the Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival by a renowned Mid-Atlantic Chef.

4. The Wine and Food Festival team will award one Top Prize per category and recognize two Runner Ups per category. The team will also ask the festival attendees to vote for their favorite dish which will be awarded the festival’s Grand Prize during the event on September 24th.

5. Please note: if your recipe is selected to be demonstrated at The Mid-Atlantic Red Fruit Festival, you will be required to be present at the festival and available to meet with the media.

So start thinking all things-tomato and start cooking!

The International Wine and Food Festival team will announce the recipe contest winners no later than Monday, September 20th!
Photo by Mary Diaz