A (gently assembled) pile of heirloom tomatoes. 

A (gently assembled) pile of heirloom tomatoes. 

Photographer: Melissa Hom for Bloomberg Pursuits
Food & Drinks

The Sungold Also Rises: America’s Great Tomato Debate

Opinions on the perfect tomato are strong in the US, as prized, pricey heirlooms face stiff competition from other varieties.

There is a small sandwich—three bites, give or take—available as an add-on to the four-course, $85 tasting menu at River Twice, a contemporary American restaurant in Philadelphia. To make it, chef-owner Randy Rucker toasts two sourdough brioche slices, then adds a thin layer of applewood smoked mayonnaise and a crispy sheet of the Korean seaweed gamtae. At its heart is a thick slab of heirloom tomato, lightly seasoned with sea salt from Delaware.

Even though it's loaded with more than $50 worth of caviar, Rucker calls it “the Tomato Sandwich.”