Jack’s Market, Hebron
As I hopefully made clear last year, the results of the “Eastern Shore Tomato Tasting” are in no way definitive. Taste and quality can vary from year to year, day to day, and tomato to tomato.
Why bother, then? For fun.
This year I roped in some assistance from Kit Pollard, local food writer and author of the Mango & Ginger blog, as well as Erik Morgan, a Maryland pal who is a chef at Aldine in Philadelphia, and occasionally presents enviable culinary artistry on Instagram.
The usual panel of anonymous friends was also present, plus a baby who hated all of the tomatoes.
Not much has changed along Tomato Alley, with the exception of last year’s nameless stand now identified as Cosquay Farms. (A historical Maryland farm in fact!)
Demonstrating the fickle nature of this endeavor, Wrights Market was this year’s favorite – last year it was second from last. S & H and Oakley’s continue to be strong contenders. Oakley’s was an early favorite, but the variety between tomatoes took them down a peg.
Wright’s Market, Hebron
A few notes on the tomatoes..
Cosquay Farms:
“[The] only one that has an aroma.”
“Attractive, rich red. Smells ‘like a tomato.’”
“Not much aroma.”
Oakley’s Farm Market:
“Super sweet!”
The Farmer’s Wife:
“More flavor. Good texture.”
“Light mottling on the inside, good deep red. Nice bite.”
“Pleasant, lingering tomato musk.”
Wright’s Market:
“Very red! Good amount of goo. Tart! Mild sweetness, good lingering umami.”
“Tangy! Interesting.”
“Acidic but lots of flavor.”
“Tomato-ey”
Wright’s Market, Hebron