Golden Tomato Toast

Heirloom yellow tomatoes from the Portland Farmer’s Market at Deering Oaks Park in Portland, ME.

The Tomatoes Were Calling My Name

Golden toast, local chèvre, sun-warmed heirloom tomatoes, and a love letter to farmers' markets, seasonal eating, and the beauty of letting ingredients speak for themselves.

I could be lying if I said I don’t live for the farmers' market.

I love everything about it — chatting with the farmers, rubbing herbs between my fingers so their oils perfume my hands as I wander from stand to stand, sunshine drenching tomatoes piled into wooden crates. No plastic bags. No fake marketing. No unnecessary packaging. Just tomatoes in all of their glory.

I pick the ones calling out to me and tuck them into my woven French basket. From market to plate — no fridge needed. This is how I shop. This is how I eat: seasonally.

If strawberries aren’t in season, I don’t buy them. I want to know where my food came from, who grew it, and how it was cared for. Buying local takes intention, but to me, it’s always worth it.

This season, I’m starting with ingredients that showcase the best of Maine: bread from award-winning bakeries, chèvre from local goat farmers, heirloom tomatoes bursting with color, and chives picked from a friend’s front yard garden.

My approach is simple: let the ingredients speak for themselves.

A friend once asked me, “Do you ever eat ugly food?” The answer is no. The food I buy is already beautiful. My job is simply to honor the work already done by the farmer, baker, and cheesemaker — bringing everything together thoughtfully with good olive oil, flaky salt, and edible flowers.

I hope these recipes inspire you to stroll the markets, support local artisans, and savor the fleeting beauty of eating with the seasons.

Golden Tomato Toast

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 1

Ingredients

• Local heirloom tomatoes

• Maine 5 Grain Loaf from Standard Baking Co. (Portland, ME)

• Local chèvre from Worth the Wait Farm (Denmark, ME)

• Salted butter from Kate’s Butter (Arundel, ME)

• 1 clove garlic

• Fresh chives

• Chive blossoms

• Olive oil

• Flaky salt

Instructions

1. Slice the Maine 5 Grain bread into thick pieces.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter with a drizzle of olive oil in a cast-iron pan over medium heat. Once hot, toast the bread for 2–3 minutes per side, until deeply golden and crisp.

3. Peel the garlic clove and rub it over one side of the warm toast until fragrant.

4. Spread a generous layer of chèvre over the toast.

5. Slice the heirloom tomatoes into rounds and arrange them neatly over the goat cheese.

6. Drizzle the tomatoes with olive oil and season with flaky salt.

7. Finely chop the chives and sprinkle them over the top.

8. Finish with chive blossoms for a fresh, seasonal touch.

Standard Baking Co.’s Maine 5 Grain Bread

Ingredients: local stone-ground 85% sifted wheat, local stone-ground whole rye flour, water, Maine-grown oats, corn, whole spelt, salt, barley malt