Barbounia Celebrates Its 3rd Annual Tomato Festival

I say tomato, you say…Whatever the answer, Barbounia will be celebrating tomatoes in all forms for its Third Annual Tomato Festival kicking off on Sunday, August 19.

Executive Chef Efraim Nahon will be creating a specialized $35 three course Tomato Festival Menu served from August 19th - August 30th. Patrons will be able to enjoy dishes and cocktails that incorporate the juiciest, sweetest and flavor-filled tomatoes from local New York farmers.

Chef Efraim Nahon has created an original tomato-inspired menu, selecting eight of his favorite dishes: 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 2 desserts.

Appetizers include Tuna Tartare with sweet plum tomato and watermelon gelee, avocado, sesame paste, tassos olives and pomegranate essence; Sweet Tomato Salad with ugly and heirloom tomatoes, scallions, radish and green pepper; Zebra Tomato & Seared Sea Scallops with tomato confit, artichokes and San Daniele prosciutto.

Entrees include Homemade Tomato Almond Lamb Ravioli; Pan Seared Monkfish & Tomato Saffron with zucchini, mushroom and okra; or Grilled Salmon & Purple Russian Tomato with potato and leek cream and pepper chutney.

Tomato-inspired desserts include Macaroon with white chocolate and Israeli cherry on the vine tomato ganache with vanilla ice cream or Sesame Pate Sucre with raspberry, pepper and sweet tomato compote and Parmigiano-Reggiano ice cream. Tomato-centric cocktails include Dill Tomato Greekjito, Spicy Sangrita, and Dirty Thyme Tomato Martinis.

Lisa cooked up a dish with the chef, plus learned how to pick and store tomatos.

Barbounia is located at 250 Park Ave South, New York, NY. For more information, visit www.barbounia.com or call (212) 995-0242.