Homage to Mark Peel

 

Red Tomato Salad with Russian Dressing

We were saddened and shocked to read about the passing of Mark Peel. We once figured out we had eaten at his fantastic restaurant Campanile over 1,000 times! It was by far our favorite restaurant. Mark and his then wife Nancy Silverton created a magical restaurant. So many of the restaurants we go to now are staffed and / or owned by alumni of Campanile. It was a training ground for so many. Mark will be missed by all who know him. Yesterday I was reading a book and it had an appropriate quote: "You aren't dead until no one can remember you. Then you die a 2nd time." We will keep Mark alive by cooking his recipes and remember the good times at Campanile.

We started with one of my favorite tomato salad recipes from Campanile: Green and Red Tomato Salad with Russian Dressing from New Classic Family Dinners by Mark Peel.  We only used Red Tomatoes this time. The Russian Dressing is exceptional. We did cheat however and use Best Foods mayo rather than make our own. We crushed garlic into it. This is a fabulous salad when tomatoes are at their peak. You can get the recipe on our blog of: July 4, 2010. Click the date to get the recipe.

We made Focaccia to go with the Tomato Salad. The Focaccia dough came from Cookbook.