Tomato, Tomahto

I rarely eat lunch out but since I was running an errand today, I stopped at Hardees for a low-carb thickburger. (No, I'm not all crazy Atkins but I am trying to limit my white breads/pastas a bit)

I fully expected my burger not to have a bun. But I was initially surprised to see no tomato. That is, until I remembered the Salmonella outbreak in tomatoes.

North Carolina is on the "safe" list. We just bought a bunch of tomatoes at the farmers market on Saturday. In fact, I wish we had bought more because I had forgotten how delicious they are. And we've got 3 tomato plants growing slowly in the backyard. At this rate, they'll produce by Christmas.

If anything, all of these restaurants completely pulling tomatoes from their kitchens has just reminded me that it's nice to find places that buy and support local growers. I've read of a few restaurants that are continuing to offer tomatoes that they purchase locally. But the chains who truck in all of their goods from who knows where, they've all decided to pull raw tomatoes entirely from the menu. Too much bother, I'm sure.

Anyways, I hope this whole tomato mess gets cleared up quickly and without any further illnesses. Because eating a cheeseburger without a bun is already a sacrifice. Taking away my tomato too? That's just too much.

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.