2006 TomatoPalooza4 Tomato Tasting in Raleigh, North Varolina

[Gary]

Announcing the fourth annual Tomatopalooza[tm] heirloom tomato tasting!
Date: Saturday July 29
Time: 1:00-4:00 PM

Location: Umstead Park, Route 70, Raleigh NC (near the Angus Barn restaurant) - The shelter we'll have reserved is the large one on the Route 70 side of Umstead.
Turn into the park from Route 70 and go to the end of the road into the large parking area. (About 2 miles) The large shelter is on the east/left side of the parking lot as you come into the area. (On the Pott's Branch Trail on the map) It's ~1500ft from the parking area. Check the link below for park directions, and look for the tomato signs pointing the way.

Hosts: Lee Newman and Craig LeHoullier

About the tasting: all are encouraged to bring samples of tomatoes to taste from their gardens. We hope to get as many as 200 or more different varieties of tomatoes to taste. The supply of varieties will, of course, be dependent upon what’s ripe on that date!

We will supply drinking water, cutting implements, labels, and plates. Any additional contributions (good things to eat, such as Salsas) and other good ideas for activities are welcome!

At last year's event we had over 160 different varieties for all to try. About 110 people from NC, SC, GA, VA, KY, OH, and FL came to sample and talk tomatoes with other tomatophiles.

Pictures of most all the 2005 Tomato Varieties from last year.
http://www.tomatopalooza.org/tomatopalooza3/

[Gary]

I am taking the liberty of posting Pictures from the TomatoPalooza4 Tasting held on Saturday, July 29th. There were about 200 varieties of tomatoes shared and several hundred folks in attendance. Perhaps you will discover a new variety which you would like to grow.
I attended last year and had a great time. I couldn't make it this year due to my hospitalization and Defibillator implant.
Enjoy!
Gary/Louisville

TomatoPalooza4 Pictures
http://www.tomatopalooza.org/tomatopalooza4/

[bluelacedredhead]

Gary, I trust you're feeling better? It's great to see you b ack online.
Thanks for posting the pics. Oh how I wish I had high speed though. This is going to take me hours to get through them...But I'll do it!! Hopefully I'll see some of those chickeny tomatoes ;)

[bluelacedredhead]

Alright, I've been wondering something for some time now.
Gary, I've been to wine tastings and I understand the general concept.
But what exactly is procedure at a tomato Tasting?
Do you just wander at random and try the tomatoes that appeal to you on a visual level?
How about the voting? Do you take notes on your own and then vote for the different categories at the end of the day?
Maybe someday I will be able to attend one? But for now I would just like to be able to fill in the gaps in my tomato tasting education. ;)

[Gary]

When we had the first Tomato Tasting at our CHOPTAG six years ago we tasted in a blind test. Tomatoes were numbered at each table and tasted and a decision was made just on taste. Some might record # and make notes on each one. We had less varieties at that time. Somehow we changed with having the tomatoes identified on the table and cut for tasting. I don't know that that process made a whole lot of difference or not. Remember, it is amazing what the same variety will taste like being grown in several locations in different soil and different conditions.
With the addition of new folks attending our group, the number of varieties has grown; we have in recent years aqbout 200 varieties for tasting. And of course with this group there are always new, rare and difficult to find verieties which makes the whole experience interesting.
Generally we usually go to each table at our own pace and sample the different varieties.
The last several years folks brought food and more food like Pulled BBQ Pork and all the trimmings. It was decided this year to return to appetizer/palate cleansing kinds of food --- Crackers with spreads, Salsas, sorbet, Homebaked breads, quick Breads and Fresh Fruit.
At the end everyone nominates their first choice and then a vote is made.

At TomatoPalooza all the tomatoes were grouped by color/type and labels were attached to identify them. Then folks wandered at their leisure and tasted the afternoon away making notations as to their likes. I can't remember how they came to a concensus on the "best" in taste -- I may have been tasting still! lol
TomatoPalooza didn't have as many additional food items as many of those folks drive long distances to get there.
I hope this gives you an idea as to what happens. It may change slightly from year to year or place to place.
Gary/Louisville