Bellavita Magazine is happy to present our new bloggers page. In this new category we will host writers, bloggers, food and wine experts that will share thier discovers with us.
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The first to join is Nathalie Nötzold, a passionate food bloggers from Germany. On her blog -using her words- she suggests “memories, experiences and pictures I collected throughout various dining experiences. Maybe it inspires you to try out different places and enjoy delicious seasonal and local food prepared by Britain’s greatest chefs.” Read more about her at dinersdiary.wordpress.com
This is her first post for Bellavita Magazine. Enjoy!
The Mysteries of the Golden Apple
Japanese Trifle Black, Honey Bunch, Russian Persimon, Zebra Cherry. What an eclectic mix of foreign sounding foods… Could be rare Japanese mushrooms, caviar, flowers or fruit, right…? Well these were all my first associations. As intriguing as these names sound, they are but four of over 400 (!) tomato varieties. If this was a surprise, read on!
The Tomato’s heritage, reputation and perception has evolved immensely over time, so that it is now one of the world’s most popular foods. Originating from the Andes in South America, the Aztecs’ cultivated the tomatl (plump fruit), which was soon renamed tomate by the arriving Spanish Colonists in the early 16th century.
Botanically, the tomato is indeed a fruit, whilst a ruling by the US Supreme Court turned the scientific definition on its head and declared it a vegetable in 1863 due to the perception and ‘common language of the people’.
Until the popularity of the tomato reached the point where it became integral to people’s diet, it was a long way. Literally. From the shores of South America and Mexico, it first travelled the Atlantic to arrive in Seville, Spain a major trade city at the time. Originally little explored and mainly unknown, the tomato was partly mistaken for a poison plant, Deadly Nightshade. Even when classified under a different species and belonging to the same family as aubergines, tomatoes were not frequently trusted, not to mention avoided. From there it made its way into Italy where it was called golden apple and soon incorporated into sauces and other daily dishes. It later arrived in North America where the great taste eventually conquered all preconceptions. Today it is regularly and lovingly consumed, raw or cooked, by millions worldwide. Especially in Italy.
Only a fraction of all these delicious varieties are available for purchase in conventional supermarkets. More unusual varieties can mainly be found in local markets and, if you are lucky, our gastronomy. Hence, I recently ventured just a few kilometres out of Frankfurt’s city centre to make a shocking discovery. Even there in the centre of Germany, surrounded by the Rhine River and finance offices, was a small local market offering 137 (!) different heritage varieties of tomatoes. More so, they are all grown right there, in small green houses and completely organically. Just delicious!
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Photos: Nathalie Nötzold
This means for exceptional quality of food and experience, we need to look outside the comfort zone (of high street supermarkets?). And if we are in a position where we can afford someone else to cook exceptionally for us, we can look to London’s trendsetting food and restaurant scene…
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Left: Tomatoes” Black Russian, Noire de Crimée and Green Zebra with Organic Curd and Barrel Aged Olive Oil at The Square, 6-10 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 6PU.
Right: Antipasti Tomato Bruschetta at Theo Randall at the InterContinental. 1 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7QY.
Photos: Nathalie Nötzold.
by Nathalie Nötzold
Find more at dinersdiary.wordpress.com
The post FOOD-BLOG: THE MYSTERIES OF THE GOLDEN APPLE appeared first on Bellavita Expo.