specifically, fresh, dry farmed, local, I-could-just-stand-here-and-eat-this-tomato-like-a-plum sort of tomatoes.  plus bread from the bakery down the street (no, not THAT bakery, the bakery in the other direction). and line-caught-yesterday rock fish from my fish guy, Capt Kirk .

all those tomatoes I canned and roasted and otherwise preserved last month are for the winter.  when the supermarket is offering red orbs with no fragrance or taste. today we gush about tomatoes that are good enough to upstage the fresher fish you can buy without hitting the dock yourself.

 

“Rock Fish Bruschetta for lunch” I said.

“oh, wow” he said when he wandered into the kitchen 5 minutes later, thinking lunch would be ready. “I thought you were just going to pan fry it and put it on bread.”

as if.

Warmed tomatoes — roughly chop 3 or 4 perfect plum tomatoes, douse with a glug of olive oil, big pinches of sea salt, herbs of choice (basil, oregano & thyme are good place to start).  stir together, spread in an oven-safe dish big enough to hold the tomatoes in one layer (or so), broil about 5 inches below heat for 3-4 minutes.  drizzle with a tablespoon or so of balsamic.

Parsley garnish — mince half a bundle of parsley. stir in a couple tablespoons of olive oil, 2 teaspoons minced shallot, 1 clove minced garlic and a couple good pinches of sea salt.  set aside to meld.

Rock Fish (yes, pan fried.  dusted with herbed panko and dropped into a sizzling cast iron skillet with bacon drippings) — prep your fillets:  remove bones, clean off any stray scales, slice into pieces about the size of your bread slices.  heat cast iron skillet until almost smoking, add enough bacon drippings (or butter) to slick the bottom.  lightly dredge the fillets in herbed panko then lay in skillet.  cook until just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. work in batches to avoid crowding the fish.

Toasted country bread — slice fresh bread thinly. arrange on oven rack and toast both sides, about one and a half minutes per side.  (or use your toaster.  but the broiler’s already on.)

 

Serve with a cold beer.  listen to your lunch mate rave in awe and be thankful for working from home.