Diane Clement at the Tomato

Ann Turner is the financial and budget manager of the University of
British Columbia Library.

Diane Clement and her partners opened the Tomato Fresh Food Café in
Vancouver in 1991, specializing in home-style food with flair and
“baking your mother would create if she had the time.” The recipes
in this collection are favorites of the Café’s clientele, and each
one has a story to tell. Some derive from Clement’s world travels to
athletic events, others from chefs who have worked in the Tomato’s
kitchen, and some hark back to well-loved family dishes. The anecdotes
that accompany the recipes help re-create the homey ambience of the
Café that Vancouverites and visitors can experience first-hand. The
more than 100 recipes (plus many variations) include those for soup,
sandwiches, salads, and snacks as well as entrées, brunches, and
specialties of the Tomato’s fresh-juice bar. The Tomato-to-Go Bakery
next door contributes delectable cakes, cookies, and puddings. Yields
are family-sized; measurements are given in both imperial and metric;
and the methods are clearly set out. A general index gives access by
recipe title, type, and principal ingredient, as well as by names of
associated personalities. A collection to savor.