Easy Puff Pastry Tomato Pie

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July 10, 2025

A rectangular heirloom tomato pie with a flaky puff pastry crust, topped with colorful sliced tomatoes and fresh thyme, on a dark baking sheet surrounded by various whole and halved heirloom tomatoes and greenery.

Tomato pie, a Southern summer staple, is usually made in a pie shell. That base is then filled with a layer of tomatoes buried under a topping of mayonnaise and cheese. Here, we mix it up a bit! We use a thinner flakier puff pastry for the base of this easy tomato pie. From there, the recipe is more familiar. First comes the mayo and cheese mixture, and then the star ingredient: tomatoes in several beautiful shapes and colors. You will want the highest quality vine-ripened tomatoes for this, from a farm stand, farmers market, or your own.

The Best Tomato Pie?

When musician Stephen Sills told us to “love the one you’re with,” he probably wasn’t talking about summer pomodori or a pie made from them. But perhaps he should have been! We think the best summer tomato is the one in front of you, perfectly ripe and ready to slice and bake into a lovely pastry. And the best pie, combining a wonderful, buttery crust topped with cheese and tomato, and dashes of pepper and sprigs of thyme, is a treat that will linger in your memory well into the chillier seasons. Yum!

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Tomato Pie

Author: Cheryl Alters Jamison
Yield: Serves 6

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Description

A savory tomato pie is just what you need at your summer picnic.

Ingredients

Scale

2 lb tomatoes of various colors, sizes, and shapes
1 sheet store-bought puff pastry, preferably an all-butter version such as DuFour
4 oz (about 1 cup) grated mild cheddar cheese
½ cup plus 2 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tsp Dijon mustard
Flaky salt and coarse-ground black pepper
Fresh thyme leaves or sprigs

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Slice tomatoes a little under ½ inch in thickness. Transfer slices to a couple of layers of paper towels to drain.
Roll out the puff pastry sheet on a floured surface into a rectangle about 8 X 11 inches. Transfer the pastry to the baking sheet. Turn up each side of the rectangle by about ½-inch to make a raised edge for the pie. Using a fork, dock (poke holes in it) the pastry every inch or so, which will help the pastry stay flat in its initial baking.
Par-bake the pastry for 12 to 14 minutes until it has begun to color and rise a bit.
While the pastry par-bakes, mix together in a medium bowl the cheese, mayonnaise, and mustard.
Remove the pastry crust from the oven. Spoon the cheese-mayonnaise mixture over it, smoothing it evenly. Top with as many tomato slices as will fit, arranged in a pattern that pleases you.
Return the pie to the oven and continue baking 15 to 20 minutes, until pastry crust is nicely browned and crisp. Slide the pie off the baking sheet and onto a baking rack to cool briefly. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into squares or wedges.

Recipe and Story by Cheryl Alters Jamison
Styling by Julia Platt Leonard
Photography by Tira Howard

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TABLE Magazine and Tile & Designs’ Annual Design Industry Event

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Keith Recker

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July 10, 2025

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A man from Don's appliances and a woman in white stand together at Table magazine's design industry event. — Cindy Slayback, Haute Designs and Chef Anthony Marino, Don's Appliances.

Pittsburgh’s design community gathered to network a bit, listen to the New Orleans jazz stylings of Tony Martucci, and peruse TABLE’s 2025 style and color predictions curated into tile palettes from Tile & Designs. Along the way, they sampled seafood boil-inspired bites by Graze Craze, cocktails by Prezentacja, and desserts fired in an outdoor pizza oven from Chef Anthony of Don’s Appliances. Sponsors Cambria, Don’s Appliances, INAX, and Lixil, were all on hand to answer questions about their latest product introductions. Tile and Designs founder Lee Knox, well dressed as always, was on hand to charm guests, as was the entire TABLE crew.

TABLE Magazine and Tile & Designs’ Annual Design Industry Event at TABLE Studios and Tile & Designs Showroom and Garden on June 4, 2025

Keith Recker, TABLE Magazine Editor-in-Chief speaks to guests.

A man and two women stand together in Tile and Designs show tile space.

Catherine Montague, Montague Interior Design, Lee Knox, Tile and Designs, Justin Matase, TABLE Magazine.

A combination of blue and purple tiles and print outs.

TABLE Magazine’s Color of the Year analysis and Tile and Designs tile offerings.

A woman talks to another woman, both have their hair tied back.

Star Laliberte, Director of Operations TABLE magazine talking to Janet Wizig, Director of Advertising TABLE Magazine.

Christopher Ramirez, Fairmont Hotel, and Stephanie Cravotta, TABLE.

A woman in a black and white shirt and a woman in a pink shirt and blazer stand together in a tile show room.

Catherine Montague, Montague Interior Design and Lee Knox, Tile and Designs.

Jordan Snowden.

Beans and rice in small servings with a wooden fork.

Food from Graze Craze.

A man in a pink striped shirt shakes hands with a woman with dark hair.

Mark Millstine, Tile and Designs.

A lady with grey and blonde hair with her hand under her chin.

Paula Johnson, Rolf Glass.

A woman in a pink shirt and jacket and a man in a pattern blue shirt stand in a tile show space.

Lee Knox, Tile and Designs and Justin Matase, TABLE Magazine.

A quartet with clarinet, drums, keys, and bass plays in a garage.

The Tony Martucci Quartet delighted everyone with their tuneful stylings.

Cindy Slayback, Haute Designs and Chef Anthony Marino, Don’s Appliances.

TK.

A print out and various mauve and brown tiles.

TABLE Magazine’s Color of the Year analysis and Tile and Designs tile offerings.

A woman in an orange floral dress stands in front of a tile shelf.

Lynn McDonough, Lynn McDonough Interiors.

A woman in pink and a man in a pattern button up smile together.

Lee Knox, Tile and Designs and Justin Matase, TABLE Magazine.

A woman with red heart sunglasses against a brick wall.

Leah Lingsch, Michael Baker International.

A woman stands against a brick wall with large, white frame sunglasses on.

Katie Skocik, Hoodridge Design.

Stephanie Cravotta, TABLE.

A woman in a green dress speaks to two other women.

Melissa Alesi, Don’s Appliances.

A man in a blue suit jacket and white shirt stands against a fence.

Steve Shorthouse, Design Five.

A person dines on seafood boil at a design launch party.

Story by Keith Recker
Photography by Jeff Swensen

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40th Annual Maecenas Gala by Pittsburgh Opera

By

Keith Recker

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July 10, 2025

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A man in a white suit jacket and black bowtie and glasses stands next to a woman in a balck suit jacket and red shirt. — Mark Flaherty and Mary McKinney Flaherty.

Monterey Bay Fish Grotto was filled with over 300 philanthropists and arts lovers for the 40th Annual Maecenas Gala who dined and danced… and enjoyed the restaurant’s marvelous views. They also listened to live performances by Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artists and tenor Ben Werley. Robert and Christine Pietrandrea were presented with the Maecenas Award. Dr. Harry Clark, founder of the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) high school, received the Renaissance Award. Dr. Jean Anne Hattler accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the members of Pittsburgh Opera’s planned giving society. Board Member Dr. Karen Roche Galey and Ms. Christine Toretti co-chaired the event, which raised more than $400,000 for Pittsburgh Opera’s award-winning education and other programs. After dinner, the festivities continued with the Scarlet Soirée, co-chaired by Claire and Justin Field, and Tylar and Gary Zamary.

40th Annual Maecenas Gala by Pittsburgh Opera at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto

Three women in red and a man in a red and black suit jacket cheers red drinks.

Kristen Taucher, Ana Luisa Palminha, Michael Komo, and Anja Wendt.

Three men in suits and bowties give an award to a woman in a lover dress and glasses.

Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn and KDKA Morning News Radio Host Larry Richert present the Maecenas Award to Christine and Robert Pietrandrea.

Two men in suits and bowties hold champagne glasses in front of a red background.

Host Committee members Gregory Vose and Dominic Rupprecht.

Two women and one man smile together in a black and white photograph.

Dr. Wayne Walters, Kymberly Cruz, and Joy Evans.

A woman in a red dress stands with a man in a red and gold suit jacket and two men in blue suit jackets with glasses.

Jalyn Booker, Izear Winfrey, Ron Booth, and Paul Hauber.

A woman in a bright red dress stands with a woman in a dark velvet red dress.

Natalie Cox and Mary Hoffman.

Two men in suit jackets and bowties smile together in a black and white photograph.

Timothy McVay and David Bush.

Mark Flaherty and Mary McKinney Flaherty.

Two women in dresses stand with a senator in a blue suit jacket and tie.

Host Committee members Dina and US Senator Dave McCormick with Maecenas Co-Chair Christine Toretti.

A man in a black suit and plaid tie stands witha. woman in a red dress.

Host Committee member Dr. Kent Galey and event Co-Chair Dr. Karen Roche Galey.

A woman in a red dress with a gold necklace stands with a man in a black suit and bowtie with a red flower in the pocket.

Anita Barnhart and Vireak Ly.

A man in a grey suit jacket and glasses holds a champagne glass with a woman in a red dress.

Scarlet Soirée co-Chairs Justin and Claire Feild.

A man with a grey suit jacket and red tie stands with a woman with a red satin dress and black jacket on her arm.

Scarlett Soiree co-Chairs Gary and Tylar Zamary.

Three women in red dresses stand together.

Christy Kobus, Diana Kobus, Mary Starusko.

Three women and a man stand at a table in front of a window that shows the city.

John Brinjak, Carol Brinjak, Dr. Jean Anne Hattler, Hilda Fu.

A group of men in suits and bowties and women in long dresses stand in front of black tables.

Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artists Matt Soibelman, Shannon Crowley, Erik Nordstrom, Lauryn Davis, Fran Daniel Laucerica, Dana Kinney, Maeve Berry, Audrey Welsh.

A woman and a man sit at a table as another older man with glasses and a beard stands behind them with an award in his hands.

Ryan Harper, Renaissance Award winner Dr. Harry Clark, and Dina Clark.

A woman in a red dress stands with a man in a white suit jacket and red bowtie.

Laura Pallan, John Tippins.

A woman in a long red dress stands with an older man in a black suit and bowtie.

Pittsburgh Opera Board Chair Michele Fabrizi, Host Committee member Tony Bucci.

Story by Keith Recker
Photography by Jeff Swensen

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Raspberry Compote with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

By

Jordan Snowden

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July 10, 2025

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An aerial shot of Raspberry Compote with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream in a glass bowl. Three bowls of berries sit nearby.

This recipe combination is every end-of-summer/family birthday party memory from my childhood. My grandparents and parents had hand-cranked ice cream makers, and it was part of the party to take turns cranking while everyone gathered and chatted … ”You don’t get ice cream unless you’ve taken a turn cranking” was the rule. If you don’t have a hand-crank ice cream maker, don’t worry, it will work in small batches in a countertop ice cream maker. The raspberry compote is a classic that I remember from the Rothschild Farm & Gourmet Foods Raspberry Festival in my hometown of Urbana, OH. Try classic red raspberries from Sand Hill Berries or luscious black raspberries from Swopes Berries and Bees.

What is Compote?

Compote is what happens when fruit gets the royal treatment; gently simmered in sugar (and sometimes a splash of wine, citrus juice, or warm spices) until it turns soft, saucy, and spoonable. Unlike jam, there’s no pectin, no need to preserve it for winter, just simple, fresh fruit transformed into a luscious topping.

Serve it warm over pancakes, chilled with yogurt, or drizzled on cake or ice cream. It’s rustic, elegant, and endlessly customizable.

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