MORE FOOD PORN...Fried Green Tomato BLT from the Slice of Life Café, Oak Bluffs, MA

[Amerigo Vespucci]

A Sandwich a Day: Fried Green Tomato BLT at Slice of Life Café in Oak Bluffs, MA

Posted by Liz Bomze, June 16, 2011 at 2:30 PM

http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/06/a-sandwich-a-day-fried-green-tomato-blt-at-slice-of-life-cafe-oak-bluffs-ma.html



The concept of a BLT is dead simple and perfect: Strips of smoky, chewy bacon; clean, crisp lettuce (preferably iceberg); bright, tangy tomato slices; a smear of creamy mayo; and toasted white sandwich bread. Purists like me will tell you that the carefully calibrated formula shouldn't be riffed upon, gussied up, or messed with in any way. The gods who invented classic sandwiches like this one got it right the first time. And yet, I totally dig the Fried Green Tomato BLT ($9.50) at Slice of Life Café on Martha's Vineyard. It's a boutique version for sure, but one that has been fine-tuned to work at least as well as any standard-issue BLT.

Bacon: Thick—but not too thick—cut and applewood-smoked. Bacon never strikes me as something that's difficult to cook well, but this kitchen gets it just right. The strips are well-rendered and firm, but don't shatter; I like my bacon to have a little chew.

Lettuce: Not lettuce. Baby arugula. I've got nothing against iceberg—or, for that matter, romaine, bibb, or red leaf—but peppery arugula seems like a natural pairing with bacon and mayo. (Oh, my. The heretical tendencies are really showing now.)

Tomato: The most obvious departure from regular BLTs, and the element that makes this sandwich. The tart green fruits are sliced pretty thick, coated in fine breadcrumbs, and deep-fried until golden-brown. If there's a practical argument for this form of tomato, it might be that the fruit's jelly doesn't seep out and render the bread soggy. More to the point: Hot, crunchy, batter-fried tomatoes taste awesome.

[struggle4progress]

1. The slaw looks good. I wouldn't touch the BLT

[blogslut]

2. Hmmm

It never occurred to me to bread and fry the tomato for a BLT but I guess it would take using fried green ones to make that association. I don't eat/make BLTs because I can't stand tomatoes in my sandwiches or burgers - too soggy. I love tomatoes and am more than happy to have them on the side but they're just too squishy between two slices of bread, for me.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. hmmm...

chewy bacon....

this is interesting.

might have to try this one.

[MissHoneychurch]

4. GULP

I would eat that BLT in a second.

Damn, that sounds yummy :9