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closeWhether to-may-toes or tomah- toes, they’re going to be celebrated front and center in August at ARTS Space Obispo’s monthlong “Tomato Show,” featuring an art show and opening reception, a tomato-canning event, and a luncheon and cooking demonstration.
ARTS Space Obispo Executive Director Marta Peluso explained “it all started with Nico.”
She means Nicola Allegretta, owner and chef of Mama’s Meatball in San Luis Obispo at the Creamery, and in Oceano.
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CAPELLINI AL FRESCO
This recipe from Nicola Allegretta of Mama’s Meatball is a wonderful, easy way to celebrate fresh summer tomatoes.
Makes: 4 servings
• 1 pound angel hair pasta
• 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 8 vine ripe tomatoes, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled, sliced
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon white ground pepper
• 1 pound ounces fresh mozzarella, diced
• 4 ounces grated parmesan cheese • 2 ounces fresh basil
• 1/4 teaspoon of white pepper
Fill a gallon-size sauce pan 3/4-full with water, add 2 tablespoons of salt, and start bringing to a boil over medium heat.
In another pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
Add garlic, tomatoes, oregano, white ground pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir gently, then add basil and cover. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes.
When water is boiling in other pan, add angel hair pasta and cook for about 3 minutes or until done.
Strain pasta and pour into sauce.
Add mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, and serve hot!
“We’d been talking for while about doing something together when he mentioned he wanted to do a community tomato canning. We put our heads together and came up with The Tomato Show.”
Templeton artist Katie Winkler was tapped for the event because of her successful “Food Arts” exhibition at Big Sky Café in 2001. The show featured watercolors of tomatoes and other vegetables, and many of the images still adorn the restaurant’s menus and other promotional items.
Though she has “done so much different work since then,” and had only two months to prepare for the Tomato Show, she said, “it’s been fun. I just had to jump in and start to explore all these different ways to do the art.”
FIND OUT MORE
ARTS Space Obispo is located in The Creamery at 570 Higuera St., Suite 17, in San Luis Obispo, 544-9251. All the ‘Tomato Show’ events will take place at The Creamery, and all are free except for the luncheon, which is $35. 6 to 9 p. m. Friday, opening reception of Katie Winkler’s art show (running through August 28) and cooking demonstration by Nicola Allegretta; 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. Aug. 3, community canning event; Aug. 19, luncheon and cooking demonstration.
Winkler plans to have at least 40 pieces in the show, “all with a tomato,” in all sizes, and in media ranging from acrylics and pencil to prints and watercolors. Some of the art will also be featured in a cookbook that will be given to those attending an intimate luncheon on Aug. 19.
A fundraiser for ARTS Space Obispo, the event will be hosted by board member Melinda Forbes, who will also demonstrate how to prepare fresh organic produce with local olives, oils, vinegars, cheeses, and breads.
The idea that started it all takes place Sunday when Allegretta turns The Creamery’s parking lot into a community canning event. To participate, just show up with some tomatoes and some appropriate jars and lids.
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