Zen & the Art of Heirloom Tomatoes
(This may look like a tomato but it’s in fact the incarnation of the 127th Buddha, yes really!)Heirloom tomatoes stand-out of the crowd for their so-called ugliness. They also stand out from the other mass-produced automatoes because they appear to have a soul. That sweet expression of compassion tinged with sorrow carved onto their little face can only be interpreted as a deep concern for the dismal state of things in the world. Like most of us, they aren’t aware of their own deliciousness but they differ in the fact that they surrender to their fate without a hint of resistance. And their fate is to be on our plates my friends. Zen is all about seeing deeply into the nature of things by direct experience, therefore, a zen chef should seek to embellish heirloom tomatoes without masking their perfect taste. He should also be fully present as he prepares them.
In other words, knowledge is knowing the tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in your fruit salad. Get it?.. Me capiche?
Let’s go over the four noble truths of heirloom tomatoes (cuz it needs to be repeated).
- know your tomato (ripe, and in-season please)
- a sprinkle of fleur de sel (’nuff said)
- a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil
- a drop (and i mean a drop) of balsamic vinegar
I am aware the fourth truth is bordering on blasphemy and purists could declare war on me, but what can i say? The zen-man likes it that way. Anything more than this is pure indulgence (or foolishness) and should be limited to mozarella (preferably Buffala), fresh basil and freshly cracked black pepper. A well-made Caprese salad is enough to awaken the Buddha in you. Pure Perfection!
Anyone using less than stellar ingredients for this will this dish will be spanked senselessly with a wooden spoon. Inadmissible. Form a line here* if you ever prepared Insalata Caprese with tomatoes hard as hockey pucks. 
Placing a raw steak on your spanked buttocks will relieve the pain. Steaks aren’t provided by this blog but i can post a nice steak recipe instead. I am not a monster after all! 
Tags: Salad, Vegetarian
June 25th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Lies! I count five drops of balsamic vinegar on that last picture. Face it, Zen-man, you love to drink the stuff like the rest of us do!
Haha, I’m just joking. By the way, that thing the man is holding looks much smaller that a wooden spoon… Just sayin’ 
You seem to be on a roll with the Italian dishes! Some Italian soul from a past life is bursting free from your subconscious. And he’s a great cook, ’cause that looks yummy. I’ve not made caprese salad before (as fresh mozzarella is expensive!), but I am guilty of using hard, underripe tomatoes– it is standard issue for these parts. Boo. Where should I line up? It’s been ages since I’ve been spanked!
June 25th, 2008 at 4:32 am
I think that keeping tomatoes in the fridge should also be grounds for a beating with a wooden spoon! Great blog – I’m glad to have found it. You made me laugh.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:16 am
You do realise that you may have incentivised lots of people to use unripe tomatoes or less than stellar ingredients? Hee hee hee….
June 25th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Mai oui, Monsieur…simple is best…a ripe tomato requires little adornment.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:45 am
the tomatoes in my salads aren’t ripe usually, silly ,silly me now I have to be spank with a wooden spoon.
Buffalo mozzarella is my current obsession at this moment paired with some modena balsamico and the rest i am wondering, why aren’t salad my obsession.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:43 am
gorgeous pictures
perfect ripe ingredients, simply prepared- my idea of great food!
June 25th, 2008 at 9:07 am
You’re so right Heirloom tomatoes actually look like the tomatoes I used to see in our garden as I was growing up so they are THE tomatoes for me!
June 25th, 2008 at 11:22 am
this my friend is the most beautiful insalata caprese i have ever seen
June 25th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Zen, we must be sharing the same wave length… I made zuke blossoms the same day you did… now I’ve got heirlooms and cucumbers from earlier this week!
I love that great wonderful minds, think alike.
Now if I could just get a job like yours……
June 25th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Gorgeous! I can’t wait for our garden tomatoes to start growing. There is nothing in the world like a tomato right off the vine, warm from the sun, with salt and cracked pepper. Unless you add buffalo mozz and garden basil, too. MMMMM!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I always think that are beautiful in their ugliness. I love them and the variety of colors. Im not crazy about tomatoes except the heirlooms!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I suspect you have found the same source at the Union Square Greenmarket that I found? Are they not the MOST seductive tomatoes ever (or at least this time of year)?
June 25th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
That is buddha indeed, I even see him grinning
June 25th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Haha who doesn’t appreciate a good caprese salad? Great pictures of the heirlooms. There’s something special in their imperfectness.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Deep, deep tomato thoughts, Zen-man. Your Siddhartha-like comments about heirloom tomatoes are enlightening and I concur as I watch my little green globes growing on my tomato plant outside. People who have only experienced those pale, pasty, hard tomatoes will have the scales fall from their eyes after they encounter a fully vine-ripened heirloom tomato; through such an experience will they comprehend the heirloom tomato’s true beauty!
June 26th, 2008 at 2:56 am
Hi Zenman, Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes..do you know that they have aphrodisiac powers
whether its true or not this tomato salad of yours brought me to seventh heaven!! delicious 
j’adore la 2eme photo!! c’est superbe
bises
June 26th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Oh how I hate these hard “long life” tomatoes…….no flavor just a skin as hard as a elephant’s skin….I agree, a home grown tomato with all its imperfections……yum!
June 26th, 2008 at 7:54 am
(insert wolf whistle here) damn thats a zexy salad….
June 26th, 2008 at 8:10 am
oh I’m drooling! a good caprese is the best…buffala a must!
June 26th, 2008 at 10:07 am
ooh, deliciousness. One of my best summers was when I lived in Israel and my host-father was a professional tomato grower.
and I actually love tomoato/watermelon/feta/basil salad: give it a try!
June 26th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Will you be doing the spanking yourself Zen?
June 26th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
This look so tasty and delicious!!! and I love your tomato, remember me the summer (snif we are in winter) Gloria
June 26th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Who says you can’t serve tomatoes as fruits, the Chinese do it all the time. Funny little cherry tomatoes mingling among the water melon slices and the mango pieces after dinner. Of course they don’t know one cooks with tomatoes either. ‘nough said.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
My favorite kind of salad, for sure! I completely agree with you on everything you said.
That’s a beautiful looking tomato! Gosh, I love heirlooms. They’re coming in season! It’s exciting.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
That first picture of that tomato looks like my ass squeezed into a pair of red polyester walking shorts. On a really hot humid day.
Thanks for the reminder, Zen.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Chicken & waffle… you’re a killer! I’m rolling on the floor laughing right now… Hahahahaha…
June 27th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Hahaha, love your Buddha caption.
I am an idiot when it comes to ingredients, I don’t know the difference between tomatoes and heirloom tomatoes.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:23 am
sorry zen..tomatoes are not in my list…what else a heirloom tomatoes? i think its weird…are you sure it not from genetic mutation huh?
June 27th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Fresh, simple and good! I am looking forward to the heirloom tomatoes.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
“And their fate is to be on our plates my friends.”
So sad their fate! But I guess if they surrender willingly I shouldn’t shed any tears.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
holy mother, I need to come over and be taught the lesson of eating right!! That is a luscious looking salad. Yummah
June 27th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Are spankings provided by this blog?
June 28th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Wow, that salad is beautiful and simple, just my style. I am still laughing at Chicken and Waffles comment, seriously disgusting! Great post!
June 28th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Ah the basics! Looks amazing as always Chef.
I *love* that spanking drawing! I want one for my kitchen!
June 28th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
What a gorgeous plate of food! The perfect summer meal if you ask me!
June 28th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
coming back from dinner ~ now am hungry again looking at these ‘matos…..your words are wild as ever. Pixt reminds me of ohio when they grew as big as water bombs
July 8th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Looks perfect! I don’t like too too much vinegar on my salads!
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I love your blog and especially liked this post about the perfect caprese salad. I like to eat mine with french bread that I rub first with an heirloom tomato! mmmm