San Marzano Tomatoes

jte1130 · #1 02-23-2005, 02:20 PM

I have been making my sauce using cans of crushed tomatoes. I plan on stepping up my sauce making skills. I recently read a recipe that calls for San Marzano tomatoes run through a food mill.

Is there a certain brand I should look for? I've never noticed them in the market. I live in NYC if that helps. Maybe someone lives in the area and can recommend a brand that is available locally.

Suzanne · #2 02-23-2005, 02:30 PM

San Marzano is both a type of tomato (molto italiano!) and a brand. San Marzano tomatoes (the tomato) are not that easy to find, but are really, really good. I've bought San Marzano (the brand) in the Food Emporium.

If you can't find the brand, use the best-quality canned tomatoes you can find. I like Muir Glen Organic, but that's just my choice. YMMV.

kokopuffs · #3 02-23-2005, 03:16 PM

I've purchased a big can of San Marzano's from the

flyingnoodle.com

scott123 · #4 02-23-2005, 03:57 PM

As of about a week and a half ago, DiPalos (at the corner of Grand and Mott) had:

Pastaso DOP for $2.79

and

La Valle DOP in kilo cans for $2.49

La Valle is supposed to be a good name in San Marzano's. Make sure they're 'DOP' (Denomination of Protected Origin). La Valle produces both a DOP and a Non-DOP.

Considering that DOP San Marzano's are about $5 almost everywhere else, I would definitely call first to make sure they still have some left.

jte1130 · #5 02-23-2005, 05:32 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll definitely check out the Food Emporium. I have one right near my job.

What is the difference between DOP and Non-DOP if you don't mind me asking? What do the terms mean?

Mezzaluna · #6 02-23-2005, 08:48 PM

DOP is a legal designation in Italy. Other countries have similar designations. The term "champagne" is one example. If the wine is not from that region, it cannot legally be called "champagne"; it must be labeled something else, like "methode champenoise" or "champagne style" or some such name.

The same is true of foods like cheeses, Parma ham, etc. in Italy. The food must come from a very particular region which is controlled by a licensing authority. Sometimes this is a co-op of producers. The authority inspects the manufacturing of the food product to assure it's made according to very particular, traditional standards and not with some shortcuts or adulteration that mimics the "real thing". So, San Marzano tomatoes with "DOP" on the label should be the real thing, grown and packed in that region.

I've bought them in little Italian groceries for as little as $.99 a can. (For the benefit of the growing league of CT Wisconsinites, that was at Glorioso's in Milwaukee and Tenuta's in Kenosha.)

scott123 · #7 02-24-2005, 04:46 AM

Jte1130, I'm sure that the 'San Marzano' brand makes a very good tomato, but if you want to stay true to the recipe and 'step up' your sauce skills to a greater degree, track down DOP San Marzano's.

Oh, also... be on the lookout for the 2004 season. There may be some 2003 cans floating around. The 2003 are probably still good, but not as good as the 2004's.

jte1130 · #8 02-24-2005, 08:19 AM

Wow, thanks for all of the valuable info. I live in Brooklyn so I have plenty of Italian delis/supermarkets/pork stores to go searching. I'm sure I can definitely find what I need now that I know what to look out for.

phoebe · #9 02-24-2005, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott123

Oh, also... be on the lookout for the 2004 season. There may be some 2003 cans floating around. The 2003 are probably still good, but not as good as the 2004's.

Where is the date located? Is it embedded in a code?

scott123 · #10 02-24-2005, 02:21 PM

Phoebe, most DOP tomatoes will list the crop date quite proudly on the label. I'm not sure, but I believe that listing the date might me one of the requirements for DOP status.

I've noticed the same thing as you move up the ladder towards higher quality EVOO as well. I guess they figure if you're going to pay $15+ a bottle, you deserve to know when the olives were harvested.

Sgt. Pepper · #11 03-05-2005, 10:24 AM

Check out www.sanmarzanoimports.com

mudbug · #12 03-08-2005, 09:48 AM

If you're interested in specifics on San Marzano Tomatoes, please check out this existing thread:

San Marzano and "Plum" Tomatoes

phoebe · #13 03-08-2005, 10:09 AM

Wow! Great information, Mudbug. Thanks for the link.

I tried growing San Marzanos several years ago from plants I'd bought and had terrible luck with production and disease. Last year I grew Opalka from seed and loved them. No disease and pretty good production. Have you grown both of them? If so, how would you compare the taste?

redace1960 · #14 04-01-2005, 10:31 PM

folks, i grow my own tomatoes. a canned tomato is a canned tomato-its a pre-cooked product. now a fresh tomato-of any sort, square, blue, plaid-now, THATS a tomato. ive tried the san marzano product and honey, its just
canned food, only from italy. i think people get too reverent about the whole
italian thing. not to disparage them-read my bio!- but come on.