On Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:18:44 GMT, "l, not -l" > wrote:

>
>On 23-Feb-2009, Wayne Boatwright > wrote:
>
>> Lou, this isn't homemade, but I like to take a can of stewed tomatoes and
>> puree in the food processor, then stir in half-and-half or heavy cream
>> and
>> heat to serving temperature.
>
>Before reitiring in '04, I spent 10 years in a job that required 40-50% of
>my workdays on the road, to only a handful of cities. One of them was
>Charlotte NC, where I often ate at a restaurant that had the most delicious
>tomato soup I have ever had, Smokey Tomato. Since I no longer have the
>occasion to travel to Charlotte, I have resorted to trying to make my own;
>after several attempts, I have come close to duplicating the taste I
>remember.
>
>I halve and hickory smoke Roma tomatoes in my Cameron StoveTop Smoker; after
>they cool enough to handle, I slip the skins off and remove the seeds.
>Then, puree the tomatoes, add a small can of tomato paste and heavy cream to
>thicken.
>
>Might be pretty tasty with a grilled cheese; but, a heartier cheese than
>American, perhaps sharp cheddar, would probably be needed to go with the
>smokey tomato.


What is the restaurant? We are not too far from Charlotte and when we
get there again I may try it.
--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

l, not -l wrote:


> It was either Capital Grille or Bistro 100; those were my two most
> frequented restaurants when in Charlotte. The most memorable dishes were
> the Smokey Tomato soup and the Braised Beef Cheeks (those were definitely at
> Bistro 100). I've not found a source for beef cheeks here (STL) to try my
> hand at making that dish.
>
> Of course, the last time I was there was Octover 2004; in the restraurant
> business, that could be a lifetime. The menus could be totally different or
> the restaurants gone; given Charlotte's economy being so heavily dependent
> on banking, I'm sure expense-account and bonus-pay dining has declined.

Capital Grille is a fairly large and well respected chain and they still
have a restaurant in Charlotte. I didn't see your Smokey Tomato soup on
their posted menu (doesn't mean they don't or won't serve it) but it
sure sounds like a recipe I'd want to try.

Doing mussels tonight in a rich broth -- it's one of those "soupy" days
here.

--Lin