Pan con tomate
Back when I still ate bread, Alison would make some pan con tomate for us every so often. The first time she ever did, I told her to grab a loaf from the bakery around the way.
Me: Make sure it’s one that has condensation on the plastic.
Her: What? Why?
There are things that I do that might not make any sense to you if you just heard it. But it does to me. Like not letting my kid play tug-of-war, for example. Or avoiding any country that doesn’t have a McDonald’s.
Not because I want to eat McDonald’s – which, let’s admit it, I do – but because the existence of a McDonald’s indicates a relative level of economic and social stability.
In fact, there’s an interesting and related fact: No two countries that have a McDonald’s have ever been at war with each other.
It’s like that M&Ms story I told you about; on the surface, some things I do seem silly, or downright stupid to people that don’t understand why I do what I do. But, I don’t generally care enough to explain myself.
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- I don’t go to doctors that wear ties.
- I don’t like waiters that don’t write things down.
- I won’t be friends with someone that cheats on their significant other.
- I won’t debate anyone that leads with a logical fallacy.
- I won’t start static with anyone with funny looking ears.
These are just some of the hundreds of random rules I live by that I don’t generally say out loud but keep in my head. Some just keep me from wasting time. Others keep me safe.
I met someone a little while back and she was super attractive, nice, etc.
But she was 20 minutes late and didn’t mention it. At all. At best, that means that she’s rude. At worst, it means that she has no concept of time management. And time is something that we’re all losing at a rate of 24 hours a day.
I’m running outta time to run out of.
Anywho, there are things in the world that I’m seeing that are setting off massive alarms in my head and I hope I’m wrong.
Which isn’t a huge stretch, I’m wrong a lot.
Here, though, I really hope I’m wrong…
Me: It’s an indication of freshness. When it’s old, there’s no condensation because it sat out long enough for it to evaporate. But, if there is condensation – even if it’s cool – you know it was still recently baked because the condensation didn’t have time to evaporate.
Alison’s pan con tomate
1 loaf of crusty french bread, halved, lengthwise
3 tbsp EVOO
1-2 garlic cloves, smashed and finely chopped
four medium plum tomatoes, cored
Flaky sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
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- Take the halved loaf and brush it with the EVOO, you’ll have some left.
- Cut the bread again, so that it’ll fit into your broiler and put it aside.
- Take the tomatoes and, using a box grater, carefully gate the tomatoes on the side with the biggest holes until you’re left with skin. Toss out the tomato skins.
- Mix in the garlic and some grinds of black pepper.
- Put the bread in the broiler on high for two mins or so, should be lightly toasted.
- Take it out and spoon the tomato mixture over the bread and drizzle what’s left of the EVOO over it. Sprinkle salt over the top.
- Wait a minute or two before eating; the bread needs just a bit to soak up the tomato juices.
I made that from memory so I hope it’s right. Haven’t had that since the last time she made it for me.
Don’t think I will again.
Podcast Version
Location: earlier today, getting a flu shot from a guy without a tie
Mood: worried
Music: I can be so damn crazy but I know you like it (Spotify)
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