Todd Thrasher's Tomato Water
In our quest to highlight in-season ingredients, we believe we may have encountered the ideal recipe in Todd Thrasher’s Tomato Water, which he created for the Alexandria, Virginia-based Restaurant Eve. Endlessly refreshing and wonderfully versatile, this simple yet sophisticated concoction tastes like summer in a glass (and feels like it, too, thanks to the perfect amount of heat achieved via a Serrano chile).
Like Thrasher’s acclaimed cocktail mixes, the tomato water is available for purchase at the Society Fair market located just down the street from Restaurant Eve, but those not lucky enough to live in the Alexandria area can make it at home with the following recipe. The team at Society Fair uses it to dress their Caprese salad—a technique we tried last night for a dinner party that yielded excellent results. (We also drizzled it over Panzanella, which was a hit. Trust us, this is going to become your must-have magic potion for summer.)
Todd Thrasher’s Tomato Water
4 large beefsteak tomatoes, cut into chunks
1/2 serrano chile
1/8 red onion
One 2-inch stalk of lemongrass, coarsely chopped
Large pinch of salt
2 ounces fresh orange juice
In a food processor, combine the tomatoes, chile, onion, lemongrass and salt; puree until smooth. Pour the puree into a cheesecloth-lined strainer set over a bowl and refrigerate overnight. Discard the pulp. Add the orange juice to the mixture and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Yields 16 ounces.
In addition to serving as a delicious dressing, the tomato water forms the foundation for an amazing Bloody Mary that’s available at the bar at Restaurant Eve. We, of course, had to make one (our version is shown above) and immediately decided it would be the perfect cocktail with which to kick off the 4th of July. Look for the recipe in the tomorrow’s issue of The Scouted Life newsletter (if you’re not already subscribed, you can sign up here) and prepare to welcome a new favorite drink into your repertoire.
Restaurant Eve // Alexandria, VA // Â 703.706.0450
Society Fair // Alexandria, VA //Â 703.683.3247
All photos and styling by The Scout Guide. Photographed at the TSG Test Kitchen in Charlottesville, Virginia. Print and silver tray available for purchase from And George.
