An Ode to Tomatoes, Dreamy Meatballs, and Frozen Whoppers

As locally grown foods continue their renaissance, nothing exemplifies the rewards of seasonal produce better than the heirloom tomato. To fill the gaps between seasons, hybrid tomatoes were developed that could ship long distances in refrigerated holds. The variety of flavors and textures which were the hallmark of seasonal produce were left behind. Local farmers and gardeners didn’t forget though. Sun-ripened and picked at their peak, heirloom tomatoes have that rare balance of tart acidity and tantalizing natural sweetness. Tomatoes bred for cross-country journeys need sturdy exteriors. In contrast, heirlooms don’t travel well. Their thin skins bruise easily and their juices flow out.

But in season and grown locally, these flamboyant gems burst with flavor. They come in a panoply of colors—red, purple, almost black, yellow. They’re a wonder to behold. They go well on almost anything—especially pizza. Our Summer Heirloom Pizza features sliced heirloom tomatoes layered with fresh basil on mozzarella and our seasoned tomato sauce. A dash of sea salt finishes it off.

Our other seasonal pizza, the Salumi Meatball, is an annual treat of a different order. Salumi, Pioneer Square’s legendary salumeria and sandwich shop, make their famous meatballs for us every July. Since the plum-sized Leonetta’s Meatballs they serve at the shop would be hard to put on pizza, they make us a smaller version  We pair the meatballs with pepperoncini, onions, sun-ripened tomatoes, asiago and mozzarella over our seasoned tomato sauce. What started as an entry in our pizza recipe contest, won over our judges—and now that it’s been in our rotation for three years, thousands of customers as well.

In the mood for something sweet? Consider this whopper of a gelato from Gelatiamo, producer of some of the best gelato this side of the Atlantic. Our seasonal flavor, Whopper, uses the candy as the flavor palette. But recast as an Italian dessert, the silky chocolate and malt gelato with crunchy bits of the candy becomes something else entirely—playful, elegant, dreamy.