Things You'll Need:
- Tomatoes (as wide a variety as possible)
- Sharp serrated knives
- Cutting boards
- Paper plates
- Marking pens
- Toothpicks
- Napkins (cloth or paper)
- Pencils
- Notepads
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Step 1
Pick the tomatoes a day or two before the event. Bring them indoors to finish ripening.
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Step 2
On the day of your tomato tasting, cut one tomato of each variety along its equator. One of these halves will be your display model. Cut the remaining half into bite-sized pieces, along with one or two other tomatoes of that same variety.
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Step 3
Arrange the pieces on a paper plate, with the display model lying on its side or open face up. Identify the plate clearly with a marking pen.
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Step 4
Repeat Steps 2-3 for each variety of tomato.
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Step 5
Arrange the plates around a table (or a few tables, if there are lots of varieties) with an ample supply of toothpicks and napkins.
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Step 6
Present your guests with pencils and notepads. They'll use these to record their tomato-tasting experience, whether it's remembering which tomatoes are their favorites or comparing the qualities of different varieties.
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Step 7
After everyone has tasted tomatoes to their satisfaction, there will probably be leftovers. By an odd coincidence, your guests will probably be ready for a good meal. Feed them the leftovers in an easy-to-prepare dish such as gazpacho, or maybe a salad with mozzarella cheese and fresh basil. Your meal can also include a wide assortment of gourmet dishes, fine wine, and perhaps even some tomato-based desserts. (Remember, the tomato is actually a fruit.) Anyone who cares enough to attend a tomato tasting probably cares a lot about food in general, so this would be a welcome end to your event.
