Savor a taste of summer through heirloom tomato season. We’re talking Brandywine, Black Krim, Green Zebra, Alice Dream, Cherokee Purple, and the list goes on. What better way to celebrate the end of summer than with special dishes featuring the fruit (yes, a tomato is actually a fruit, not a vegetable as many assume).
From tomato-laced cocktails to fresh slices to savory desserts, these restaurants have really embraced the season. And, if you can’t get enough, head to your local farmers’ market and bring some home.
Heirloom Tomato Bagel Sandwich at Odell’s Bagel
As soon as tomato season comes around chef Miles Odell starts flaunting his seasonal sandwich, and we can’t get enough of it. Choose a bagel and then let the staff top it with scallion cream cheese, chili crunch, olive oil, chives, and a gorgeous, perfectly ripe local tomato. Served open-faced like Odell’s other sandwiches, this beauty won’t be on the menu come fall. 3200 Irving St., Denver, odellsbagel.com
Heirloom Tomato Salad at Brasserie Brixton
The simple pleasure of a perfect tomato is easy to have at chef Nick Dalton’s Brasserie Brixton in RiNo. The Heirloom Tomato Salad offers a plate of thick, juicy slices accented with blue cheese, anchovy vinaigrette, and fresh basil. The lightness of the dish goes well with other French-forward items, which tend to land heavier on the palate. 3701 N. Williams St., Denver brasseriebrixton.com
Savory Cucumber Sorbet at Sap Sua
Not all tomato dishes showcase the fruit as a whole, the Cucumber Sorbet at chefs Ni and Anne Nguyen’s sap sua in City Park uses tomato water as the liquid base. Made by team member Kaden Short, the savory dish also features dill, fresh cucumber, black sesame, and a charred shallot tuille. Guests can indulge in the treat as an amuse-bouche before the meal, or can order it to end the dining experience on a cool and seasonal note. 2550 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, sapsua.com
Seasonal Burrata at Carne
Tomato season is here, and chef Dana Rodriguez is using them to enhance her burrata appetizer at Carne in RiNo. The plate comes with a cooling avocado mousse, and then a dash of harissa vinaigrette, which give the dish a pleasing bite. Get it while heirloom tomatoes are hot, when the fruit is gone, it’s gone. 2601 Larimer St., Denver, carne-rino.com
Tomato Highball at Semiprecious
Heirloom tomatoes are making a splash in cocktails too. Head to the new bar Semiprecious in Sunnyside and can enjoy the Tomato Highball. In the glass you’ll find fresh tomatoes with Oaxacan rum, aquavit, vermouth, basil, black pepper, and salt to create a unique savory cocktail made for summer sipping. 2839 W. 44th Ave., Denver, semipreciousdenver.com
‘Super’ Caprese at Barolo Grill
All the love to a classic caprese, but the ‘Super’ Caprese is a whole other level of good. With the summertime sweetness of locally-grown heirloom tomatoes and a zippy pairing of basil gelée, balsamic pearls, and a unique powder made of extra virgin olive oil, this salad stands out. The dish speaks perfectly to Barolo Grill’s ethos as a Piedmontese restaurant that uses its annual staff trips to Italy to inspire the seasonal menus and dishes, fusing authentic Italian tradition with its Colorado roots. 3030 E. 6th Ave., Denver, barologrilldenver.com
Garden Grove at BearLeek
It tastes like you’re sipping straight from the garden when ordering his bright, citrus-forward cocktail at the newly opened BearLeek in RiNo. Dubbed the Garden Grove, the cocktail stars peak-season cherry tomatoes, and balanced with zesty lemon and a splash of balsamic for depth. If you’re into gin, Aperol, and tomato, this one’s for you. Plus, it’s also a good example of the restaurant’s sustainable, high-technique cocktail program, which often utilize local and seasonal ingredients. 2611 Walnut St., Denver, bearleek.com
Heirloom Tomato Pico de Gallo at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
Over at the five Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar locations, diners will find Crispy Skin Alamosa Striped Bass, served with creamed Olathe corn and topped with a corn and heirloom tomato pico de gallo. The bass comes from a fish farm in Southern Colorado, and the Olathe corn and tomatoes are from Tuxedo Farms on the Western slope. The special will run through August as part of the Big Red F restaurant group’s Colorado Month. Multiple locations, jaxfishhouse.com
