Salsa
by Nava Thompson
Title
Salsa
Artist
Nava Thompson
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A photo taken by Nava Thompson of a red cherry tomato growing in a garden Arkansas. The garden scene has raindrops shining in the morning sun--and surrounded by beautiful green leaves.................Spanish distributionSpanish conquistador Hern�Cort�may have been the first to transfer the small yellow tomato to Europe after he captured the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City, in 1521, although Christopher Columbus, a Genoese working for the Spanish monarchy, may have taken them back as early as 1493. The earliest discussion of the tomato in European literature appeared in an herbal written in 1544 by Pietro Andrea Mattioli, an Italian physician and botanist, who suggested that a new type of eggplant had been brought to Italy that was blood red or golden color when mature and could be divided into segments and eaten like an eggplant�that is, cooked and seasoned with salt, black pepper, and oil. However it wasn't until ten years later that tomatoes were named in print by Mattioli as pomi d�oro, or "golden apple".....................................After the Spanish colonization of the Americas, the Spanish distributed the tomato throughout their colonies in the Caribbean. They also took it to the Philippines, from where it spread to southeast Asia and then the entire Asian continent. The Spanish also brought the tomato to Europe. It grew easily in Mediterranean climates, and cultivation began in the 1540s. It was probably eaten shortly after it was introduced, and was certainly being used as food by the early 17th century in Spain. The earliest discovered cookbook with tomato recipes was published in Naples in 1692, though the author had apparently obtained these recipes from Spanish sources.[7]:17 In certain areas of Italy, such as Florence, however, the fruit was used solely as a tabletop decoration before it was incorporated into the local cuisine in the late 17th or early 18th century..................................................Italy.......The recorded history of tomatoes in Italy dates back to 31 October 1548 when the house steward of Cosimo de' Medici, the grand duke of Tuscany, wrote to the Medici private secretary informing him that the basket of tomatoes sent from the grand duke's Florentine estate at Torre del Gallo "had arrived safely." Tomatoes were grown mainly as ornamentals early on after their arrival in Italy. For example, the Florentine aristocrat Giovanvettorio Soderini wrote how they "were to be sought only for their beauty" and were grown only in gardens or flower beds. The tomato's ability to mutate and create new and different varieties helped contribute to its success and spread throughout Italy. However, even in areas where the climate supported growing tomatoes, their proximity of growing to the ground suggested low status. They were not adopted as a staple of the peasant population because they were not as filling as other fruits already available. Additionally, both toxic and inedible varieties discouraged many people from attempting to consume or prepare them..........................Unique varieties were developed over the next several hundred years for uses such as dried tomatoes, sauce tomatoes, pizza tomatoes, and tomatoes for long term storage. These varieties are usually known for their place of origin as much as by a variety name. For example, Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio is the "hanging tomato of Vesuvius". Five different varieties have traditionally been used to make these "hanging" tomatoes. They are Fiaschella, Lampadina, Patanara, Principe Borghese, and Re Umberto. Other tomatoes that originated in Italy include San Marzano, Borgo Cellano, Christopher Columbus, Costoluto Genovese, and Italian Pear. These tomatoes are characterized by relatively intense flavor compared to varieties typically grown elsewhere.
Uploaded
October 4th, 2014
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Viewed 355 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/20/2024 at 9:09 PM
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Comments (29)
Jennifer White
Congratulations your wonderful photo has been featured in the Ozarks Photo and Art Collection Group. You are invited to post your featured image in the featured image discussion thread as a permanent place to continue to get exposure even after the image is no longer on the Home Page.
Hanne Lore Koehler
Delicious capture, Nava! Such amazing detail, light and color in this spectacular composition! L/F
Doug Kreuger
What an enjoyable sight to see on this cold wintry day, Nava, Makes me think about the warm, sun-shiney, summery days ahead! L&F
Nava Thompson replied:
Thank you Doug---same here---we sure enjoyed this small but productive garden! Thank you for the visit and l/f!
Lynn Bauer
Yummy enough to eat!! (My hubby would be jealous, as his garden isn't doing so well right now!) f/l
Nava Thompson replied:
Lynn---thank you. This was our first real attempt and had great success. I heard a story where someone went out to the garden with a salt shaker---I may try that. :) Too frosty here for a garden of any kind--in Jan.
Debbie Portwood
Back to tweet this gorgeous fresh delicious image!! :D
Nava Thompson replied:
Debbie--thank you---I have them covered now--with 26 degrees on the way. Seems too soon!
Lynn Bauer
Beautifully captured, and I bet it tasted very sweet!! Nothing better than home-grown tomatoes!!! f/l
Nava Thompson replied:
Thank you----Lynn----we have really enjoyed our first 'small' garden---little tomatoes every day.
Doug Kreuger
Wow!! Nava! A larger-than-life beauty!! The amazing quality of this image made me think it was a full-size tomato, rather than a cherry tomato, until I read your description. Is this one from your swing set garden? L&F
Nava Thompson replied:
Doug---thank you for the great comments about the cherry tomato---and yes this is one from the 'swing set' garden. It has been a wonderful way to have a small garden above ground---and basically organic. Thanks for the l/f!