It doesn’t matter whether you call them ‘tomatoes,’ ‘tomahtoes,’ ‘tomates’ or ‘pomodoro’ – everyone agrees that the tomato is the ultimate summer ingredient. Eaten fresh-picked out of hand, chopped into salsas and salads, juiced, roasted or sun-dried – there are almost as many ways to enjoy their flavourful goodness as there are heirloom varieties.
From August 15 through September 15, Provence Restaurants celebrates all things tomato with its Third Annual Tomato Festival – offering special three-course table d’hôte menus that will satisfy even the most addicted tomato-holic. Menus differ at each restaurant location and are also priced differently – $45 at Mediterranean Grill in Point Grey and $48 at Marinaside in Yaletown.
“We are fortunate to have local producers supplying us with amazing heirloom varieties. Even though each variety has a different flavour profile, all are very intense. The heirlooms taste so much better,” says Provence proprietor and Executive Chef Jean-Francis Quaglia.
Provence Mediterranean Grill’s (P1) three- course ($45) offers a choice of two starters – Heirloom Tomato Napoleon (with buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto crisp and fennel relish) or a traditional Provençal Tomato Tartlette. For mains it will be hard to choose between Tomato Tapenade-Crusted Arctic Char (with yellow campari tomato coulis) or Tomato, Honey and Balsamic Glazed Quail (with tomato confit, potato tian and juniper berry jus) or Sun-dried Tomato Gnocchi with Sautéed Lobster Medallions (oyster mushroom, pea shoots, green tomato bisque). As tomatoes are actually a fruit and not a vegetable, turning them into dessert is no challenge for Restaurant Chef Essex Balce. What is a challenge will be choosing whether to end with Wild Lavender Panna Cotta (grape tomato marmalade, toasted almond brittle) or Candied Tomato, Basil and Olive Oil Cake (cherry tomato coulis, lemon crème fraiche).
P1’s general manager and sommelier Josh Carlson has designed an all-French wine pairing to accompany each course: Lucien Albrecht Cremant Brut Rose ($10/gl), Louis Latour Chardonnay ($9/gl) and Louis Latour Pinot Noir ($10/gl) or the full-flight of three for $20.
Over at Provence Marinaside in Yaletown, Chef Jean-Francis’s three-course Tomato Menu ($48) starts with three choices – Chilled Yellow Campari Tomato Soup, Provence’s signature Fresh Tomato Tarte or Heirloom Tomato and Avocado Salad (Pernod prawns, mixed greens, vinaigrette). These set the palate for a trio of tempting Mains – Strozzapreti Arrabiata (bacon, spinach, prawns, roasted roma tomato sauce) or Dungeness Crab and Heirloom Tomato Stew (mussels, clams, scallops, fennel, roasted heirloom tomatoes, white wine and garlic broth) or Seared Halibut (shaved fennel, saffron and pea basmati rice; spice heirloom tomato vinaigrette. P2’s ‘ode to the tomato’ menu concludes with Candied Tomato Chocolate Pot de Crème or a choice off the regular desert menu.
Sommelier Rachelle Goudreau has designed an all-BC boutique wine pairing for each dish – $25 for three courses or a smaller tasting-sized pour for $18.
Whether you are balmy for Black Krims, rave about Red Zebra’s or go crazy for Camparis – you’ll find them all and more on the menu at Provence’s Third Annual Tomato Festival August 15 – September 15, 2012. We invite you to watch Provence’s Tomato Video
Menu Marinaside: http://www.provencevancouver.com/marinaside/dinner#chefspecial
Menu Mediterranean Grill: http://www.provencevancouver.com/mediterranean/dinner#chefspecial
Provence Mediterranean Grill (Point Grey) 4473 West 10th Ave., 604.222.1980
Provence Marinaside (Yaletown) 1177 Marinaside Crescent at the foot of Davie St., 604.681.4144
