Whether served hot or cold, Chef Montgomery Preston Williams’ Tomato Pie is hard to beat. In fact, it was named the best tomato dish in Bama.
“I did it on and off for a few years,” said Williams, of FDL Gourmet To Go. “It’s a tomato pie that FDL really focused on perfecting. COVID happened, and we really tried to take a traditional tomato pie and make it the best it could be.”
So what is a tomato pie?
“Our version is sliced tomatoes that we salt to extract some of the moisture, then layer them with a mixture of cheese and mayonnaise, and some seasonings,” Williams said. “We make about four layers with tomatoes. Top with some cheese in a pie crust.”
Bake it at 400 degrees for 40 minutes, mostly for the crust, Williams said.
“It looks like a quiche. Like a tomato quiche,” Williams said. “It’s less the quiche filling, and more the tomato that’s held together by the filling.”
The secret to a really good tomato pie is to extract the extra moisture from the tomato beforehand.
“Tomatoes, when they get hot, release a lot of water,” Williams said. “So we found a way to combat that, so you don’t get as watery or soggy from a pie once you’ve baked it. The tomato flavor is concentrated. One of our customers said that it really reminded him of a , really fresh lasagna or a deep pizza.”
Williams said tomato pie is the southernmost summer dish he can think of, aside from succotash or sliced watermelon.
“It can be eaten hot, at room temperature, or cold,” Williams said. “So that’s good, especially for days like the one we have this week where it’s going to be incredibly hot.”
The contest was organized by Sweet Grown Alabama, a nonprofit organization that strives to connect Alabama foods to consumers. For her victory, Williams received a plaque, cash prize, and cover in the Alabama Farmers’ Federation’s Neighbors magazine, as well as a spot on Simply Southern TV.
“And bragging rights, they say,” Williams said.
FDL Gourmet To Go is a private chef-led business with a focus on catering, fine dining and gift giving. After their tomato pie reached the final four in the contest, the judges tried the dish in person last week at the Montgomery Curb Market, 1004 Madison Ave., where FDL has a booth. The victory was announced on Monday.
Williams co-owns FDL with manager Phillip Carter. If you want to get tomato pie from FDL, Williams said 24 hours notice is required due to the preparation of the tomatoes.
The Montgomery Curb Market is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Follow FDL online at fdlcatering.com and call them at (334) 200-4545.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel at [email protected]