A Conversation for How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Peer Review: A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 1

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

Entry: How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish - A87835639
Author: Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor - U128652

I learned how to do this at school, I guess they don't teach such things anymore, as one of my mother's carers had never seen one before and asked me to show her how to do it. This is my ode to a dying art, my favourite garnish. Photos link to Picasa, they'll be supplied to the smiley - artist to adorn the Entry.

GBsmiley - tomato
smiley - galaxysmiley - diva


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 2

Florida Sailor All is well with the world

This will make great addition to the Guide


A few small points

Instead of slant I would use the word angle.

I see in your picture you have 8 points on all of your 'flowers'. An amateur might be advised before cutting to pierce a small dot with the knife at the top, roll it to the bottom and make a second dot. Roll the two dots level on the plate and make a third dot on top, roll that dot to the bottom and make a forth dot on top. make one more dot about half-way between all the others and use them as a target for each cut.

I seem to remember my Mother did something similar with red radishes.

Also I find the word 'Grill' a little strange. It is probably a US <> UK thing, but I think you might mean the oven? Here a grill is an outdoor cooker with charcoal or gas used for a barbecue.

smiley - ok

F smiley - dolphin S


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 3

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

Thankssmiley - ok

I've changed the word "slant" to "angle".

I'm afraid your dots confused mesmiley - ermperhaps I am too much of an old hand at this smiley - sadface

I do mean grill, the ovens this side of the pond have a grill above the oven, for toasting or grilling bacon, sausages, tomato flowers, etc smiley - winkeye

smiley - tomatoGB
smiley - galaxysmiley - diva


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 4

Florida Sailor All is well with the world

In the US we call that the Broiler, perhaps a footnote?

I will give a bit of thought on the dots, perhaps I can explain what I meant a little clear, it is not only important that the cuts all line up, but you end on the proper angle to complete the flower.

I may try to do a couple of these.

F smiley - dolphin S


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 5

Dmitri Gheorgheni, Post Editor

Very smiley - cool. A great 'how-to'.

Elektra's comment was that you really needed a FIRM tomato. I think she's rightl


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 6

You can call me TC

It is sad that so much which we just "do" seems to be a cause for amazement in so many, particularly young, people.

Having said that, I never learned to do these at school either, and have never attempted it, because I'm pretty cack-handed. Is there any way you can guarantee that the cuts meet, and also be sure that you're going exactly round the equator? That seems to me the most difficult part.

Oh - and seeing "tomato flowers", I thought you meant these:

http://www.convertaholics.com/playvideos1.php?queryType=show_video&videoId=k_bw64n9Zak&sk=&page_no=1


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 7

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

They are tomato roses, and that's something I've never attempted, or seen done.

I'm not a delicate flower around the kitchen either. When I start my flower I put the knife all the way through (just the first cut) to just pierce the skin on the exact opposite side, so the last cut lines up with the first. Shall I put that step in? I am retiscent to put in a section for dummies, perhaps "first attempt"?

I am sure you would be exasperated with some of our carers, TC. I would expect them to not know how to poach an egg, but I was a bit shocked when one told me she had never boiled an egg smiley - yikesand had to learn how to do it so she could prepare one for her charge's breakfast.


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 8

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

I've incorporated all that into the textsmiley - biro

GB
smiley - galaxysmiley - diva


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 9

You can call me TC

That's much more rounded, now.

I'm going to experiment tonight by sticking cocktail sticks right through the tomato to see if I can make symmetrical markings.

Another serving suggestion would be to scoop out the pips and gelatinous centre of the tomato and replace it with a tuna fish (or chicken or sardine) mush, or a hard-boiled egg filling. I could also imagine blue cheese or even something green (basil?), cream cheese with herbs, or couscous, bulgur or a saffron rice salad with finely chopped olives, peppers, spring onions etc. The fillings could be made with soft butter, which will harden again in the fridge. If you're going to grill them, you could put feta cheese inside.

Sorry. Got carried away there.


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 10

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

smiley - okThanks TC! It all helps expand the Entry!smiley - biggrin

I've added that info and a personal favourite of my own, and given you an additional Researcher creditsmiley - hug

GB
smiley - galaxysmiley - diva


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 11

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

smiley - tomatoAt the recent wedding I went to, the salad buffet included tomatos, sliced into quarters. It would have looked much prettier had they been tomato flowers. Just sayin'.

GB
smiley - galaxysmiley - diva


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 12

Gnomon - time to move on

Hi GB. An interesting idea, and it should make a popular entry.

either as a table centrepiece, a salad accompaniment, or just an attractive edible plate adornment
-- you should only use the word "either" when talking about two things. If you're listing three things, just leave out the word "either".

hold it between your finger and thumb so that its equator is uppermost
-- I've no idea what this means. The equator is the circle that goes the whole way around the tomato, so how can it be uppermost? Rather than talking about the equator, talk about the place where the stalk joins the tomato. Should that be at the top, the side or the bottom?

move the tomato a fraction away from you
-- I think you mean "turn the tomato a fraction away from you"

a tuna rice salad which consists of tuna, boiled rice, garden peas and salad cream
-- I think this would be better as:
a salad which consists of tuna, boiled rice, garden peas and salad cream

This is called the broiler in the US
--I suggest rewording this as:
This is called broiling in the US

smiley - oksmiley - booksmiley - galaxy


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 13

Websailor

GB, brilliant entry, and this is a good way to make tomatoes go further without looking skimped. Handy if you have an extra unexpected guest.


Radishes done in iced water and cut up are extremely pretty.

Websailor smiley - dragon


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 14

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

Thanks bothsmiley - ok

I've updated with Gnomon's correctionssmiley - biro

GB
smiley - galaxysmiley - diva


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 15

minorvogonpoet

I like this smiley - smiley though I had to read the instructions a couple of times before I understood.smiley - doh The pictures help.

I like the idea of tomato stuffed with feta, or couscous.


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 16

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

Oh dear, can you explain where you struggled? Maybe I could rewrite those bits to make it easier understood. The photos I've submitted will be on the final edited entry if this gets recommended for the Guide smiley - smiley

GB
smiley - tomatosmiley - diva


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 17

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

I've added a photo of the tuna rice salad now. Had this for my lunchsmiley - tongueout

GB
smiley - tomatosmiley - diva


A87835639 - How to Create a Tomato Flower Garnish

Post 18

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

Is there anything else required here? smiley - smiley

GB
smiley - tomatosmiley - diva


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Post 19

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Post 20

bobstafford

Well done smiley - bubbly


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