Steve and I were so happy to still be in town for the 37th Creole Tomato Festival NOLA which takes place at the French Market each June.
Welcome to the 37th Creole Tomato Festival NOLA
37th Creole Tomato Festival NOLA
New Orleans celebrates everything with a festival. So why not celebrate the exquisite juicy red fruit of the vine?
History of the French Market
The French Market has been around since 1791! For 222 years this historic market has been a symbol of pride, as well as progress, for the residents of New Orleans. Over the course of more than 2 centuries the French Market has been built, destroyed and built anew many times. But the spirit of commerce, community and culture has remained the same. It’s that spirit that visitors from all over the world find so irresistible.
First Food Market Built in NOLA
The amazing tomatoes we bought at the 37th Creole Tomato Festival NOLA came from his farm!
The French Market was New Orleans first food market. It was, and for the most part still is, an open air market. It covers several blocks of the French Quarter by Jackson Square. It was around 1782 that the Spanish built NOLA’s very first market building. That structure was at the corner of Chartres and Dumaine Streets. Then in 1790, the market was relocated to what is now Decatur Street, between St. Ann and Dumaine.
Hurricanes destroyed many original buildings
Lots and lots of Creole tomatoes from Matt Ranatza Farms in Belle Chase LA
After a series of hurricanes destroyed many structures at that location, a building was erected in 1813 as the Meat Market. That building has survived. Even after Hurricane Katrina!
So many tomatoes!
Almost 10 years later, in beginning in 1822, several more buildings were constructed. At that time the buildings included a Vegetable Market and a Bazaar Market. Those buildings became known as the Red Stores.
French Market Corporation formed
Sure wish I’d bought some of the green tomatoes so I could make that Southern classic Fried Green Tomatoes!!!
Fast forward to August 23, 1932, which is when the French Market Corporation was formed. One of their first tasks was to rehabilitate the existing buildings and demolish the Bazaar Market which had been seriously damaged by the hurricane of 1915. In its place a new Fruit and Vegetable Market were erected as well as steel sheds known as the French Market.
Tomatoes do good you could just eat them all by themselves! Wanna bite?
In 1973 a new French Market Corporation was established. Extensive renovations were done to the existing structures, demolition of the wholesale fish market and construction of two new buildings: the Halles des Cuisines and a new Red Stores complex.
Today’s French Market
The French Market, as we know it today, encompasses several buildings that house restaurants, Cafés, retail stores, art galleries, flea market and farmers market. Probably the best known of these is Café du Monde, famous for those incredible beignets and chicory coffee.
Creole Tomatoes
Sure wish I had bought more than 4 of those fabulous Creole tomatoes!!!
So, back to those delectable Creole tomatoes that they’ve built an entire festival around. I’m sure you are wondering just what sets these tomatoes apart from all others. Because Creole tomatoes stay on the vine longer, they’re fresher. And the soil in this region makes them sweeter.
Celebrating the Creole Tomato
The French Market Creole Tomato Festival honors Louisiana’s produce, farmers, and NOLA’s unique cuisine of which the Creole tomato is a certainly a star. The festival is free to attend and is beloved by locals and visitors alike for good reason. There are quaint and quirky traditions, such as life-sized tomatoes strolling the grounds handing out tomato-shaped fans, and the auctioning off of the first tomatoes of the season to local chefs. So much fun!
Food Booths Galore
Sliced Creole Tomato Salad prep
We got to sample a luscious salsa made with Creole tomatoes and we were encouraged to get a copy of the recipe. There were lots of other food booths offering all sorts of Creole tomato faves like Fried Green Tomatoes, Creole Tomato with Shrimp Salad and Creole Tomato Basil Crepes. But to be perfectly honest, it was just way too hot to sit outside and eat – anything.
Creole Tomato Salad with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Ponti Balsamic Vinegar
We did buy 4 enormous tomatoes and after tasting them in a tomato salad, I regretted not buy many more.
Three stages of music at the festival
The fabulous Javier Olondo and Asheson
Steve and I also enjoyed some amazing music presented by two different Latin bands. Fortunately there was a nice big tent for shade, chairs to sit in (though it was hard to sit still while the rhythmic beat of Latin music made us want to dance), and a cool breeze coming off the Mississippi River. And that was just one of three stages where you could listen to great music! One of the stages was indoors with air conditioning.
No one could sit still while listening to the rhythm of Muevelo!
Lunch at Cochon Butcher
But by the time the last band was playing where we were seated, we were starving. So we headed to one of our favorite spots, Cochon Butcher, for a couple of their fabulous Cochon Dogs fully dressed and a bag of amazing fresh potato chips. We enjoyed our lunch in the cool comfort indoors.
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