Whip Up a Cult Classic With All of Those Garden Tomatoes

CHARLOTTE, NC--(Marketwired - Aug 13, 2013) - Tis the season for tomatoes... lots of them. Whether you are a gardener, have a farm share, or just love tomatoes, no doubt you're finding them everywhere this time of year. So what better way to enjoy tomatoes than with this mouthwatering recipe for Fried Green Tomatoes courtesy of Scott Spaulding, Executive Chef of the luxury Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel. 

Spaulding placed this recipe for Fried Green Tomatoes with Bosky Acres Goat cheese, Red Pepper Relish, and Micro Lettuce on the menu at Flagstones Southern Bistro and it has become one of the restaurant's most popular "Southern Shares."

While Fried Green Tomatoes are today seen as a Southern staple -- probably due to the 1992 film of the same name -- food historian and Carolina resident Robert F. Moss could actually find no historical record of them in the south. While the film did spur interest in them by restaurants in the south, Mr. Moss notes, "I found eleven recipes for fried green tomatoes published in newspapers between 1900 and 1919, but interestingly all eleven of were in Northern or Midwestern cities -- ranging from Fitchburg, MA, to Lincoln, NE -- the southernmost being Frederick, MD, which is a border state at best."

Regardless of where they originated, Fried Green Tomatoes are definitely here to stay, and no better time to try them than right now!

Fried Green Tomatoes

Preparation - yields approximately 6 2-ounce portions

Slice green tomatoes 3/8 to 1/4" thick
Using standard breading procedure, bread tomato slices with seasoned flour, egg wash, and finally seasoned corn meal

Fry tomatoes at 350 degrees until golden brown

Heat red pepper relish - 3 to 4 oz per serving (recipe follows)

Place relish on plate

Arrange tomatoes over relish

Garnish with goat cheese crumbles and micro greens

Roast Red Pepper Relish

Preparation - yields approximately 6 2-ounce portions

Ingredients
6 ounces roasted red peppers
1/4 small red onion, diced small
2 1/2 oz brown sugar
2 1/4 oz cider vinegar
1/2 oz butter
1/3 tsp ground cardamom
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 tsp corn starch

After you have roasted or opened a can of red peppers, cut into a small dice. Dice and sauté onion in butter, then add red pepper. Add brown sugar, vinegar, cardamom, salt and pepper, and simmer. Dissolve corn starch and add to pepper mix. Relish should be smooth and not watery. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed to personal preference. 

Flagstones Southern Bistro offers a truly unique dining experience in the affluent SouthPark neighborhood, just a few minutes south of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. Flagstones features a wide range of Southern-inspired dishes under the direction of Executive Chef, Scott Spaulding. The SouthPark, Charlotte restaurant is located at the AAA-rated Four Diamond Renaissance SouthPark Hotel, a sophisticated, contemporary, and inviting property with 264 guest rooms, an indoor pool, and fitness center near SouthPark Mall. For additional information, visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/cltrp-renaissance-charlotte-southpark-hotel/ or call 704-501-2510.

ABOUT RENAISSANCE
Renaissance Hotels encourages guests to Live Life to Discover(SM) at more than 155 hotels in 35 countries around the world. Each hotel is unique and every stay offers an opportunity to explore local discoveries exclusive to the destination. At every hotel, Renaissance Navigators are local experts ready to assist guests in discovering local flavors and activities. Signature RLife LIVE entertainment events are designed to showcase emerging talent in music, the arts, culinary and more to inspire discovery. R.E.N. Meetings offers groups an experience beyond a traditional meeting rooted in creative sensory meeting design, RLife LIVE networking events and custom curated local Navigator excursions. At Renaissance Hotels, we work to ensure that every trip is transformed into an eye-opening, unforgettable journey. You spend your life working, you should discover the world as you go. To discover more visit www.renhotels.com.

Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/RenHotels

Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/RenHotels