Behind the Scenes of 2013's Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival's Winning Dish

Friday, July 11, 2014

JCT's Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival is not just a fundraiser for Georgia Organics and The Giving Kitchen, but a celebration of one of summer's greatest gifts - the tomato! Chefs & mixologists from all over Atlanta are paired with a farm and compete head to head to see who's tomato dish shines the brightest. As a tomato enthusiast and an active member of Georgia Organics, I've been to the festival many years and it just gets better and more creative every year! This past year was no exception! Emily & I fluttered around in the Georgia heat, tasting extraordinary tomato dishes & drinks. We had a lot of favorites, like tomato cotton candy, but Chef Asha Gomez's curried tomatoes really stood out. We even went back for seconds!

We recently got a chance to chat with Chef Asha to hear how she cooked her way to victory last year. She entered the competition late in the game, so her planning time was cut short. Luckily, she's one heck of a chef! Her dish, Curried Cherry Tomatoes with Tomato Rice, was inspired by the flavors of South India, where she was born. "Rice is such a beautiful blank canvas. It does not just have to be a side dish" explained Chef Asha. 

"I wanted the dish to be all about the tomato" she told us. She was paired with our friends at Watsonia Farm using their cherry tomatoes. Using the fresh herbs & spices she knows and loves at her restaurant, Cardamom Hill, she set out to bring out the best in the already delicious cherry tomatoes.

When it came time to present to the judges, she had no idea she could make a separate presentation, so she sent to the judges just what she was giving to the crowd. It just goes to show that flavor is the name of the game when it comes to a winner for Attack. 

For the next 2 weeks, you can cook like Chef Asha. Enjoy her unique spice blend in a delicious curry over fresh cherry tomatoes and tomato rice. Proceeds from the dish will go to Georgia Organics & The Giving Kitchen. Celebrate the summer with us and get ready for another great year at JCT's Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival.