by Laurie Dietter
Summer at the Golden Door means our garden tomatoes are hitting their peak—juicy, sun-ripened, full of flavor. There’s nothing quite like slicing into a fresh heirloom tomato, its flesh firm but yielding, its color vibrant. And while we love tomatoes on their own, a simple and easy pairing with quality pantry staples can transform a simple tomato into a standout dish.
Golden Door’s newest pantry stars, Exceptional Mediterranean Olive Oil and Exceptional Balsamic Vinegar Glaze work together to celebrate the season’s most cherished offering…the tomato.
Here are a few quick and easy tomato-centric ways to elevate your health and your table.
Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio
- Slice heirloom tomatoes very thin (about ¼ inch).
- Arrange on a platter, overlapping slightly.
- Drizzle first with Golden Door’s Golden Door Mediterranean Olive Oil, letting the oil lightly coat the tomatoes. The fresh herb flavors of fresh garlic, oregano, basil and rosemary are cold-pressed into this exceptional extra-virgin olive oil.
- Season lightly with flaky sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper.
- Finish with a drizzle of Golden Door Balsamic Vinegar Glaze—just enough so you see the contrast.
This dish makes the tomato the star, and the interplay of oil and glaze creates the perfect balance while highlighting all its summer juiciness.
Tomato & Olive Oil Bruschetta with Glazed Finish
- Grill or toast slices of crusty bread until golden.
- Rub with a garlic clove while still warm.
- Dice juicy tomatoes, toss with a splash of Golden Door Exceptional Mediterranean Olive Oil, a pinch of salt, chopped fresh basil, maybe some thinly sliced shallot.
- Pile the tomato mixture onto the bread.
- Just before serving, drizzle Golden Door Balsamic Vinegar Glaze on top (both over the tomato and lightly on the bread edges) so you get sweet caramelization and color.
Tips to Let the Flavors Shine
- Use ripe but firm tomatoes to get good texture and enough juice without letting them turn mushy.
- Don’t overdo the oil or glaze—less is more; you want each ingredient to enhance, not overpower.
- Serve Tomato Carpaccio or Bruschetta as an appetizer, slightly cool or at room temperature so the flavors come through cleanly.
Why This Combo Works
- Balance of sweet + savory + fat: Tomatoes are naturally sweet and acidic; olive oil adds fat and smooth texture; balsamic glaze brings sweetness with deeper, tangy undernotes.
- Textural contrast: Glossy glaze over juicy tomato flesh, plus crisp bread in bruschetta—pleasing in every bite.
- Seasonal highlight: This is what summer’s for—letting peak produce shine with minimal fuss.
