Three Tomato rating-Worthy of a Salad
Chef James Sly, of Sly's in Carpinteria, gets incredible tomatoes from Beylik Farm. These gems were too large for the farmers market shoppers so the farmer gave James 100 pounds. I in turn was given 50 pounds. The tomatoes are now drying in my oven to save them for some great pasta dishes.
Scott Beylik grows these lush tomatoes using the hydroponic method. Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil. The plants thrive on the nutrient solution alone. The medium (rockwool) merely acts as support for the plants and their root systems, and perhaps to hold moisture around the roots. The growing medium, if any, is totally inert.
Scott has told me that the flavor of the tomato can vary with the distance from the roots. These vines grow up to 12 feet high and the upper tomatoes can have less flavor because of the distance the nutrients have to travel. Even so, the tomatoes are superior because they get everything they need to be a tomato.
From the Beylik web page:
"A little history about the Beylik Family. For almost 35 years, the Beylik Family has been dedicated to producing the very best produce possible from our farm near Fillmore in Ventura County. Sometimes the phrase "family business" is included because it sounds nice. More than mere words here, four generations of Beylik's work and care for our crops everyday. Our produce is available exclusively through Certified Farmer's Markets from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. We are all very proud of the quality of our offerings and hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed growing them for you."
You will find these tomatoes at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market and of course at Sly's.
Tastefully yours®
Chef Michael Hutchings
