OK, it is 9:37pm & all the grocery stores are closed so I can’t get any Sunbeam bread. On a side note, I remember Sunbeam used to make a round loaf white bread that bologna fit perfectly on.
I didn’t mean to digress to bologna because it doesn’t hold a candle to “The Sandwich of the South”.
Well, the produce stand near me is about 7-8 blocks from my house & they open at 7am. I’ll be their first customer at 7:01 getting my bright red, soft tomato & believe it or not they also sell Sunbeam bread, the long loaf with perfectly square slices. Dukes is already in my fridge, salt & pepper are on the table. I put the whole roll of paper towels next to the sink.
I guarantee you my breakfast juices will be running down the front of my shirt & down my arms before 7:30.
I’ll have a whole loaf of bread ,a basket of maters, and would love to get tomato juice messy with y’all so, come on by🍅
Yummy!! 😋 I hope you enjoy every delicious, healthy bite! Although the calendar says it’s Spring, the weather in the northeast remains wintry. Your menu has me dreaming of summer garden veggies! Perhaps someday I’ll join y’all down south and be blessed by your company as well as your cooking! 💕
I'm glad you refered this to the Sandwich of the South. Although correct pronunciation is Sammich of the South. When you get that bread, get some Milos sweet tea. You have a meal fit for a King.
This is where my Momma and I disagreed. She and Sean were Materheads. 'Nuff said. I would kill for bacon. A BLT, a BL, a BT, or a BBB were all in my wheelhouse. I need a bib to catch my juices, just thinking about fried bacon. Lord have mercy.
Haven’t heard “Lord have mercy” used as an expression of great joy like that since I left the south many years ago. Love it and will restore it to my vocabulary.
Bless your heart, I guess that means you’ll have to move back south. Some of us could be called crazier than a sprayed roach but hey- we have fun down here.
Sean, Sean, Sean. I very hesitantly read the blog after you said that Geneva county tomatoes were superior to any other tomato. Now granted, I’ve never had a Geneva county/Slocomb but I grew up, off and on, on Sand Mountain tomatoes. Taking a bite of a Sand Mountain tomato is like a little taste of Heaven itself. My mouth is watering while I’m typing this.
I would love to try a Geneva County tomato, but I don't think we have anyone selling them down on the gulf coast. Maybe after Sean publicized it we might be fortunate enough for one of the fruit stands to give it a shot?
It's close to a religious experience. We are blessed to know about tomato sandwiches. Many northerners and most young southerners will never know. You have to be part of the elect. Many are called, but few will answer. And they miss a blessing. A real blessing. God shows favor on us with this one...
Another Hellmann's enthusiastist, Lander...used it as Best Foods while living in California...but check those Publix BOGOs each week and stock up on either Hellmann's or Dukes, whichever is a TWO fer one.
We don’t have Publix here, and no one carries Dukes, at least in this part of Texas. I ordered Dukes online once. It was good, but too much trouble for not so much difference in taste. I might try making my own and see how that stands up.
You know it is a little unfair of Sean to rerun this column and get all of us salivating over something like a tomato sandwich when it’s not even close to tomato season. He has gone and led many of us into temptation. And more than a few of us have followed.
Preach! You might be able to find ”red, ripe” tomatoes now but do not be deceived. True sammich maters do not appear till mid-May. I do love a “old fashion” mater sammich but you have not lived until you have eaten a fried green mater sammich from The Tomato Patch on Hwy 49 just south of Vicksburg, MS. Locally grown mater, thick cut bacon, crisp lettuce and a big ole fried green mater slice. While not quite a religious experience it’s getting close.
Yes!!! Up here in Lynchburg, VA, the tomatoes have to come from Halifax County, home to where the world famous Halifax Cantaloupes are grown. Both are available at the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market at the corner of 12th & Main in downtown Lynchburg, a market that has been in existence since before the War of Northern Aggression, some will tell you. Or they can be some of Jimmy’s heirloom tomatoes from his garden in Boonsboro. Same bread, and of course, it has to be Dukes! Always Dukes! Same assembly instructions and the same pure joy.
I can verify that all you said is absolutely the truth. There is NOTHING like a proper tomato sandwich. We used Wonder bread, Dukes or Blue Plate mayo and tomatoes straight from the garden…still warm from the sun…lots of salt and pepper…I’m telling you..this is the original mana from heaven. I live in Denver now and believe me you can’t find a real tomato any time of the year…they have no taste! Now after you eat your REAL tomato sandwich…slice open your Charleston Gray watermelon for dessert. Best meal ever! I remember getting Charleston Grays by the side of the road..10 for a dollar. My dad would get one and give the kid the dollar anyway. Good times…better times!!!
Add a leaf or two of iceberg lettuce, and a few strips of crispy bacon…NOW you’re talkin’ a Sandwich to Die for! Also better lightly toast the bread, otherwise you’ll have a soggy mess.
OK, it is 9:37pm & all the grocery stores are closed so I can’t get any Sunbeam bread. On a side note, I remember Sunbeam used to make a round loaf white bread that bologna fit perfectly on.
I didn’t mean to digress to bologna because it doesn’t hold a candle to “The Sandwich of the South”.
Well, the produce stand near me is about 7-8 blocks from my house & they open at 7am. I’ll be their first customer at 7:01 getting my bright red, soft tomato & believe it or not they also sell Sunbeam bread, the long loaf with perfectly square slices. Dukes is already in my fridge, salt & pepper are on the table. I put the whole roll of paper towels next to the sink.
I guarantee you my breakfast juices will be running down the front of my shirt & down my arms before 7:30.
I’ll have a whole loaf of bread ,a basket of maters, and would love to get tomato juice messy with y’all so, come on by🍅
Oh how I wish I lived on your block Miss Jan!! New Jersey summer tomatoes are also delicious but they won’t be ready for 4 more long months!
Chicken & homemade flat dumplings with sliced tomatoes and fresh green beans are on my menu for tonight.
Yummy!! 😋 I hope you enjoy every delicious, healthy bite! Although the calendar says it’s Spring, the weather in the northeast remains wintry. Your menu has me dreaming of summer garden veggies! Perhaps someday I’ll join y’all down south and be blessed by your company as well as your cooking! 💕
I'm glad you refered this to the Sandwich of the South. Although correct pronunciation is Sammich of the South. When you get that bread, get some Milos sweet tea. You have a meal fit for a King.
One day Jan baby one day.
Peace out
I like sliced tomatoes with grits, too.
I like sliced maters with...
Sliced maters. Lol
Especially with some fresh caught fried fish
But, what about 2 bacon slices, nice and crisp, the “B” in BLT? I can do without the L but not the B or the T!
This is where my Momma and I disagreed. She and Sean were Materheads. 'Nuff said. I would kill for bacon. A BLT, a BL, a BT, or a BBB were all in my wheelhouse. I need a bib to catch my juices, just thinking about fried bacon. Lord have mercy.
Haven’t heard “Lord have mercy” used as an expression of great joy like that since I left the south many years ago. Love it and will restore it to my vocabulary.
Bless your heart, I guess that means you’ll have to move back south. Some of us could be called crazier than a sprayed roach but hey- we have fun down here.
And a little thinly sliced O is sublime.
Sean, Sean, Sean. I very hesitantly read the blog after you said that Geneva county tomatoes were superior to any other tomato. Now granted, I’ve never had a Geneva county/Slocomb but I grew up, off and on, on Sand Mountain tomatoes. Taking a bite of a Sand Mountain tomato is like a little taste of Heaven itself. My mouth is watering while I’m typing this.
I would love to try a Geneva County tomato, but I don't think we have anyone selling them down on the gulf coast. Maybe after Sean publicized it we might be fortunate enough for one of the fruit stands to give it a shot?
That would be great! I’d love to try a Geneva county mater.
In all fairness to Sand Mountain, our local Piggly Wiggly carries their tomatoes too, and they come in a close second to Slocumb's.
I need to see if PW can get some Geneva County tomatoes. The sand mountain ones are good, but I love tomatoes with lots of the acidic stuff :)
It's close to a religious experience. We are blessed to know about tomato sandwiches. Many northerners and most young southerners will never know. You have to be part of the elect. Many are called, but few will answer. And they miss a blessing. A real blessing. God shows favor on us with this one...
AMEN!!
Oh so wise .
Good instructions and a good sandwich. But them's fightin' words when it comes to Hellman's. When the maters are ripe and warm - that's the best.
Another Hellmann's enthusiastist, Lander...used it as Best Foods while living in California...but check those Publix BOGOs each week and stock up on either Hellmann's or Dukes, whichever is a TWO fer one.
We don’t have Publix here, and no one carries Dukes, at least in this part of Texas. I ordered Dukes online once. It was good, but too much trouble for not so much difference in taste. I might try making my own and see how that stands up.
Check HEB. Ours has Dukes.
Oh, Mike, we live in hope of HEB coming this far north. One day..., one day.
That's just not fair. Give me your address and I will send you some Dukes. Sorry I can't help with Sunbeam. How about some Butter Krust?
Wow, thank you, Mike. You’re a generous man. Maybe I can manage to get some when the tomatoes are ripe.
Now I've got to try to track down what "HEB" is...
Fay, sorry for the confusion. HEB is a popular grocery chain in Texas. HEB was named for its founder, Howard E Butt. The family still runs it today.
Words of wisdom F.F. thanks
You know it is a little unfair of Sean to rerun this column and get all of us salivating over something like a tomato sandwich when it’s not even close to tomato season. He has gone and led many of us into temptation. And more than a few of us have followed.
Preach! You might be able to find ”red, ripe” tomatoes now but do not be deceived. True sammich maters do not appear till mid-May. I do love a “old fashion” mater sammich but you have not lived until you have eaten a fried green mater sammich from The Tomato Patch on Hwy 49 just south of Vicksburg, MS. Locally grown mater, thick cut bacon, crisp lettuce and a big ole fried green mater slice. While not quite a religious experience it’s getting close.
Yo Stevie G ! Try the mater samich at the Amsterdam restaurant in Auburn.
I'm one who has followed, with the town of Slocumb just a few miles down the road...but going there for tomatoes is a Pilgrimage of sorts.
From what's been said, there's something sacred about Slocumb and a tomato trek when they're ripe and ready.
Oh Sean, your descriptions had me LMAO ~ Perfect in every way!
Since I’ve become a daily fan, I’ve learned about pound cake,
Waffle 🧇 House (btw, I did go 2 x when in Florida…yum) Dukes mayo
& now a Slocum tomato 🍅 from Alabama!
I won’t find a good tomato around here in Philly till the Jerseys
come out in July….🤯!!!
Yes!!! Up here in Lynchburg, VA, the tomatoes have to come from Halifax County, home to where the world famous Halifax Cantaloupes are grown. Both are available at the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market at the corner of 12th & Main in downtown Lynchburg, a market that has been in existence since before the War of Northern Aggression, some will tell you. Or they can be some of Jimmy’s heirloom tomatoes from his garden in Boonsboro. Same bread, and of course, it has to be Dukes! Always Dukes! Same assembly instructions and the same pure joy.
I can verify that all you said is absolutely the truth. There is NOTHING like a proper tomato sandwich. We used Wonder bread, Dukes or Blue Plate mayo and tomatoes straight from the garden…still warm from the sun…lots of salt and pepper…I’m telling you..this is the original mana from heaven. I live in Denver now and believe me you can’t find a real tomato any time of the year…they have no taste! Now after you eat your REAL tomato sandwich…slice open your Charleston Gray watermelon for dessert. Best meal ever! I remember getting Charleston Grays by the side of the road..10 for a dollar. My dad would get one and give the kid the dollar anyway. Good times…better times!!!
Mouth watering while reading. Can't wait for fresh vine ripe red tomatoes. Yummy
BTW what do regular groceries do to their tomatoes? They always taste like Clorox to me.🤷🏼♀️
To be a good tomato it has to taste like the dirt it was grown in- no growing these hydroponic ones for me.
They have been picked green as gourds before they can develop the amazing mater enzymes that make their delicious REAL tomato flavor!!
Thank you! I had no idea but Al I know is that I would rather drink bleach than eat one of them!
Nothing better than a good mater sandwich! Hard to find good tomatoes though🥲
Add a leaf or two of iceberg lettuce, and a few strips of crispy bacon…NOW you’re talkin’ a Sandwich to Die for! Also better lightly toast the bread, otherwise you’ll have a soggy mess.
Under the right circumstances soggy can be good, really good.
My dearly departed Momma would have loved to talk maters with you, right after she set you straight on the spiritual economy of Miracle Whip. Amen.
Miracle Whip? (Eyes roll, turns away and slowly walks away, head shaking no.)
Amen💕
You may lose some readers on this one, Sean 😂
I so enjoyed reading this! Very detailed description of the simple joy of eating and the ritual of feeding ourselves
I will try that tomato 🍅 one day! This piece reminds me of M. F. K. Fisher’s The Art of Eating.