Ilsa's Favorites - Tomato, Peach and Mozzarella Salad & Tomato Salad with Kalmata Olives

I met Ilsa on my first day of my first "real" job. Having graduated from college and moved to Oakland, I officially considered myself an adult. Ilsa had just moved and started at our workplace as well. We became fast friends and even shared an apartment for awhile. When we're together, more often than not strangers ask us if we're sisters. I was with Ilsa the night she met Matt, she's been there for me through everything the past five years, and together we all toasted their next big adventure, living in Minnesota where Matt will be studying at the Mayo Clinic.

Aside from a short stint in Italy, Ilsa's never lived anywhere but the West Coast. It's a good thing she likes snow, I hope the novelty of it sticks! To say she was nervous about the move would be pretty accurate, but she's also excited about starting a new chapter. She'll continue some work for her Berkeley job, but she'll also do more freelance graphic design work, and hopefully have more time for her art (she designed the banner for this blog & one of her first gifts to me was the painting above) and she's promised me she will turn her attention to cooking as well and finally get herself some measuring cups and spoons.

It's always hard to say goodbye to a friend, but it was especially hard to say goodbye to Ilsa on Sunday. We all met at Lanesplitter, our neighborhood joint, to toast their departure over pizza and beer. Once we'd said our goodbyes and I was choked with tears, I drove home, cried and slept. It's hard to imagine not having Ilsa around, since we've been together here almost since day 1. Saying goodbye feels simultaneously surreal, raw and all too soon.

So here are just a few of the things I remember: Road trips and Superbirds, Croquet and Boccie Ball, Super Secret Spies, Ilsa's ability to fall asleep at a moments notice no matter where she is, Giant Polar Bears and Port Costa, Big Lebowski Bowl, hill rolling, corned beef & cabbage, big shindigs and red cowboy boots, cupcakes (so many cupcakes) Top Gun boys and Bay to Breakers, The OC and Dice, tomato salads, kalmata olives and nutella cakes (but not together), aquariums and goat cheese, Tahoe, Santa Cruz and Ashland. Cold nights at the Bruns, beach sandstorms, thermos full of red wine, rooftop breakfasts and outdoor movies, Deadwood and the best horrible movie of all time, infested Christmas trees and handmade ornaments, fast walking and reservoirs...just a few things.

Of course, I can always visit. I've never been to Minn!

Tomato, Peach and Mozzarella Salad & Tomato Salad with Kalmata Olives

Tomato Salads are one of Ilsa's favorite things, and she made a spectacular one a few weeks ago that I've been recreating ever since. She has a deep of love of peaches and kalmata olives (though not together) In honor of her, I'm posting her tomato peach salad and a standard tomato salad. Basically, two versions of the same salad, with slight variations. These are perfectly easy and fresh during the summer. Just chop, toss and serve.

Peach, Mozzarella & Tomato
4 heirloom tomatoes (in a 1 inch or 1/2 inch dice)
1/2 cup basil (chopped into ribbons)
3 peaches (in a 1 inch dice)
1 cup fresh mozzarella (diced into 1/2 inch)
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Toss in a bowl together and serve!


Tomato & Kalmata

4 heirloom tomatoes (in a 1 inch or 1/2 inch dice)
1/2 cup basil (chopped into ribbons)
3/4 jar kalmata olives, pitted and halved
1 cup fresh mozzarella (diced into 1/2 inch)
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Toss in a bowl together and serve!