speaking of Cento, I just opened a can of Cento D.O.P. certified, "San Marzano" "product of Italy" PomodoroSan Marzano Dell'Agro Sarnese-Nocerino peeled tomatoes, complete with the two "authenticity" stamps and a seven digit code number. I assume these are the supposed "authentic" San Marzano" tomatoes of myth and legend! These tomatoes are extremely small, none were over two inches long. They did not appear to be a long cylindrical shape that is often associated with "San Marzano" tomatoes. The tomatoes were of varying degrees of ripeness, some were dark red and falling apart, others were more light pinkish red and still a bit firm. I strained the liquid off them and it rendered about a cup and a half. Straight from the can they have a kind of bittersweet taste, hard to describe it any other way. I plan on using the strained liquid for a bloody mary some time this weekend, the tomatoes themself will be crushed by hand and used on pizza later tonight. All in all I can't say that these tomatoes are very impressive, will give a report on how they taste on tonight's pizza.
