Creole Tomato Festival
Who knew? The weekend of June 7 and 8, 2014, marks the official “opening” of the Creole tomato season. What better time could there be to stage a Creole Tomato Festival.
Yes, it all takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both June 7 and 8 in the French Market, covering approximately three blocks between Dumaine Street and Barracks Street in the lower French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. Admission is free.
There’ll be brass bands, jazz, funk, zydeco and R&B music. This being southern Louisiana in the summer, there’ll also be misting fans under tents to give y’all a break from the June heat.
Approximately 20 festival food booths will feature Creole tomato dishes of all kinds, from crabmeat stuffed tomatoes to fried green tomatoes to Creole tomato and basil filled crepes and (of course) Bloody Marys.
Cooking demonstrations will occur throughout the day featuring local chefs demonstrating and offering samples of such dishes as Buttermilk Biscuit with Creole Tomato Jam and Grilled Corn Maque Choux, Thin Fried Catfish topped with a Sauteed Shrimp and Creole Tomato Sauce, Creole Tomato & Summer Melon Gazpacho, Creole Tomato Cupcakes (no kidding) and Creole Tomato stuffed with Cajun Dirty Rice.
This being N’Awlins, there’ll be people strolling the grounds in tomato costumes and handing out tomato shaped fans, Creole tomato eating contests and bite-size tomato samples.
(Photo courtesy of Creole Tomato Festival)
