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It’s the time of year that is truly special when you’re talking about fresh tomatoes, especially in the Garden State (to be even more specific, in Red Bank).

There are two places in that hold possibly the greatest tomatoes in the world.  One of those places is San Marzano on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius in Italy.  The other location is New Jersey, and the local farms throughout the Garden State.

At Basil T’s Brewery and Italian Grill, the best Italian Restaurant in Red Bank, we get daily deliveries of Jersey tomatoes from local farmers.  They ripen in eye’s view and are used in many of our specialty salads.  The tomato bowl with Jersey tomatoes and cucumbers, red onion, calamata olives, red wine and extra virgin olive oil is an all time favorite.  The Caprese salad is an Italian summer time tradition, which  pairs Jersey tomato with hand rolled mozzarella, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, and a touch of sea salt.

As the tomatoes ripen more fully, they make their way to the kitchen and into every tomato based sauce that we make (how Italian food was meant to be— homemade).

Come enjoy a summer time favorite, were fresh is fresh and homemade is really homemade at The Original Basil T’s Brewery and Italian Grill in Red Bank New Jersey;  home of the best tomatoes and Italian food this side of Mount Vesuvius.

Check out the whole menu and more at BasilT.com

Victor Rallo Jr., owner of Basil T’s Italian restaurant in Red Bank has travelled to Italy to add a hand selected signature wine to his 3 time award winning wine list. Mr. Rallo has chosen one of Italy’s most chic and prized red wines, a Ripasso Valpolicella.

“Rispasso” means “to pass through a second time, to overhaul.” It implies polishing up, perfecting. When applied to Valpolicella wine, Ripasso signifies that the wine has been refermented in contact with Amarone, the region’s most prestigious red.

“I knew what I was looking for in my first Rallo wine: quality, value, a wine to enhance my food, a wine to please my customers,” Rallo said. He went on to add, “I even knew the specific type of wine, but I had to find the right partner in Italy to make it to my specifications.”

“It has the power of Amarone and the grace of Valpolicella,” according to Mr. Rallo. “It is made from Corvina and Rondinella grapes. These are two important varietals, very local, very Italian. My wine is aged for at least 18 months in large oak casks, also very traditionally Italian.”

To find the right supplier, Victor traveled to the Lessini Hills, just east of the Lake Garda near the fabled city of Verona. He interviewed several wineries. When he met Mara Castellani and her father, Sergio, of the Corte Mary Estate in Marano di Valpolicella, Mr. Rallo knew that he had found the right associates.

“This is an exciting wine. It is concentrated, intense, and flavorful. It will age well, but I like it as it is, young and very lively.”

Rallo Valpolicella Classico Superione Ripasso will be available at Basil T’s and Undici Restaurants in September. You can enjoy this full, warm, rich, dry red with roasts, cheeses, or pasta dishes.

Soon to follow will be Victor Rallo, Jr’s dry white wine selection and an ultra premium red. We will keep you posted.

To see the full wine list for Basil T’s, visit http://www.basilt.com/