Tomato Flights Make for the Freshest Summer Soirees

Tomato girl summer sprouted a couple years ago, and it only continues to grow—especially when it comes to creative ways to serve the delicious seasonal fruit. We saw it when the internet devoured a savory tomato cake at San Francisco’s Cake Picnic, along with Bethenny Frankel’s “supermodel snack.” But it doesn’t end there: If you’re craving an even juicier array of savory-sweet treats this season, tomato flights are here to replace your usual charcuterie board.

What’s a Tomato Flight, Anyway?

There are quite a few food flights grazing social media this year, from watermelon to peaches, but none are quite as popular as this take. A tomato flight involves cutting up a large heirloom tomato into thick slices and topping each with an array of toppings and flavor combinations. Then, the taste test begins.

There’s no better time for trying this trend than when tomatoes are in their prime (aka now). Serve up a board at a party, and have fun sampling all the different flavors with your guests, or whip up a quick flight for a drool-worthy afternoon snack that satisfies all your cravings. It’s all about experimenting in the kitchen, Ratatouille-style.

“I would order this at a restaurant,” reads a top comment on a TikTok from @alessandrabrontsema detailing her flight, which now has over 1 million likes. “This is my dream,” agrees another.

How to Make Your Own Tomato Flight

All the topping possibilities can be overwhelming, but the classics are a good place to start: One slice can take after a Caprese salad, topped with fresh mozzarella, balsamic vinegar, and basil leaves. You can coat another in pesto, and add a ball of creamy goat cheese and prosciutto to the next. However extravagant or simple you want to go is up to you.

Most food flights include a dressed-down version to try—sort of like topping your oyster with nothing but a squeeze of lemon. In that fashion, add some olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and sea salt to a slice as a way to celebrate nothing but the accentuated flavors of tomato. 

A BLT-style tomato slice is typically a favorite from anyone who tries this trend: an assortment of avocado, bacon, some greens, and a drizzle of spicy mayo gives it even more flavor.

The secret to creating a tomato flight everyone will enjoy is getting creative with your combos and providing variety. Cream cheese, lox, and capers? Cottage cheese, honey, and smoked salt? Arugula, lemon vinaigrette, and croutons? The options are pretty much endless—at least until you run out of tomato slices.