Tomato taste test

[dmcavanagh]

Anyone else seen this? Comments!
http://www.thedailymeal.com/canned-tomato-taste-test

[dellavecchia]

That is pretty astonishing. It shows just how subjective taste is. Here is what they said about Cento Italian:

We didn't like its "very processed flavor" and "mushy" texture that bordered on being "rotten."

John

[Jackie Tran]

wow Hunt's ranked 3rd.  I guess I've been paying way too much for tomatoes.   

[TXCraig1]

I guess my taste in tomatoes sucks.

This is as worthless as their best pizzeria list.

[Serpentelli]

I guess my taste in tomatoes sucks.

This is as worthless as their best pizzeria list.

You have to question the tomato taste test results. Who were the judges?

As far as the pizza list goes, there are definitely a few on there I'd like to try.

As far as ranking............Uh, I'll take 'em all, please!

Any Texans know if that Fireside pie is a montanara-style? Looks good to me!

West Coast
 Pizzeria Mozza, Una Pizza Napoletana, Gjelina, Flour + Water, A16
 
Southwest and Texas
Bianco, Pizaro's, Roppolo's, Antonio's Ristorante, Fireside Pies
 
Midwest
 Gino's East, Great Lake, Spacca Napoli, Vito & Nick's, Pizano's
 
South
 EVO, Monza, Scuola Vecchia, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, Reginelli's
 
Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and New Jersey
 Osteria, 2Amys, DeLorenzo's, Jumbo Slice Pizza, Papa's Tomato Pies
 
New York
Co., DiFara, John's, Motorino, Joe's
 
New England
 Frank Pepe's, Al Forno, Regina Pizzeria, Sally's Apizza, Santarpio's


http://www.thedailymeal.com/americas-35-best-pizzas#ixzz2LSJdmYEV

John K

[dmcavanagh]

I got this list from a member of a facebook page I belong to. I was interested, but I don't put much stock in these lists, I've opened dozens and dozens of cans of tomatoes myself to find what "I" like best. One thing I did find interesting, I use and love Sclafani crushed tomatoes, they have long been my go to tomatoes for pizza. I have tried the WHOLE, rather than the CRUSHED, and found the WHOLE tomatoes (those chosen best in this test) to not be as good as the CRUSHED. I have a theory  why, but we'll leave that for another day.

[scott123]

28 oz. cans of Ciao tomatoes are available on a retail level?  Anyone know where these can be purchased? As far as I know, I've never seen Ciao in a supermarket.

I have a theory  why, but we'll leave that for another day.

No rush, Dave, but when you get a chance, I'd like to hear your theory.

[dmcavanagh]

I've never seen Ciao either, but I have heard and read of them. This was a weird group of tomatoes to test together, some very run of the mill grocery store regulars, some more likely found in Italian import stores or delis, some very scarse, some home grown, some imports, some "san marzano" (if there really is such a thing), some I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy (well I might)!

[scott r]

wow, I cant believe Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza actually got on the pizzeria list.  They did a good job with the new england rankings, though.   Throw Modern apizza in there and I agree.   There are lots of newcomers since these old greats, but its definitely the same list of the classic pizzerias I would choose.     

as far as tomatoes go, while I dont agree with this list at all, I have definitely had erratic findings unless I buy my tomatoes by the case from a wholesaler.    A lot of the negative attributes they mention can be traced back to wild temperature fluctuations in the shipping chain (which happens all the time here in new england), or just by buying older cans that have been stored at room temp for too long.     

[kwtrading]

After years of trying both fancy labeled and off the shelf tomotoes - here are my 'personal' preferences :

When I can get them - Stanislaus brand - I haven't had them in a while but my cousin just opened a bakery and has a Restaurant Depot membership so I'm hoping to stock up again 

For off the shelf - my go to's are Hunts and Redpack.  Neither knock my socks off like Stanislaus but neither have ever let me down - very consistent.  I wish Redpack was included in the test.

I've used Scalfani here and there but will give them a closer look.  Have never seen the Ciao brand but will keep an eye out for them.
The one time a used the 'San Marzano' brand produced here in the states they were awful.