10 Mar Tomatoes, Piennolo, Sorrento, San Marzano

Tomatoes, Piennolo, Sorrento, San Marzano

The most famous ones are called “piennolo”. They are like cherry tomatoes, but very special. Their skin is thick, and the juice is very sweet We usually put them over a string to make a necklace and then we hang it on the wall.

This culture from the past, helped to keep ´fresh ´tomato from the season in august, till Easter of the following year.

These tomatoes are grown on the hill (in Gragnano area -also is typical area for pasta-, or on the Vesuvius Vulcan just in front of Villa Belvedere.

Water for irrigation is not used and for this reason the production per each plant is very limited but, from other side the tomatoes are so sweet and so expensive.

Today, they are quite expensive , difficult to find, and we keep them for special days

How to eat them: We usually eat crushing them on a loaf of bread with some extra virgin olive oil to make the famous bruschetta.

This tomato are not used for Caprese (mozzarella cheese, fresh tomato, basil and extra virgin olive oil).

In this case you have to use tomato of Sorrento.

Is quite big, with no juice inside but almost only tomato meat.

Very easy to slice and an unbelievable taste.

Not always you can find in the area around Villa Belvedere; we suggest during your visit to Sorrento or Amalfi Coast to buy them at the small greengrocery on your way back. Not miss them for your real Caprese made with Tomato of Sorrento, Buffalo mozzarella bought in the shop in front of the gate of Villa Belvedere, Basil picked up in the vegetables garden of Villa Belvedere (during the season) and extra virgin olive oil that you can  find in your apartment in Villa Belvedere.

Many Neapolitans use to have a dinner like this during the summer: fresh, tasty, easy to prepare, colorful.

We have also to give a tribute to the most famous tomato well known in all the world and mainly in USA: San Marzano tomato d.o.p.

Difficult to find in the green-groceries as normally they sell only similar products (similar in  shape and size). The perfect period to taste is from August to early October.

If you are passionate, please tell us and we will try to do our best.

You are lucky to be with us, as you are in the middle of the typical Street Food of this area.

Let’s go on this trip together discovering much more.