Who does the best with Duke’s Mayo and tomatoes? 22 Charlotte restaurants compete
In a few weeks, one Charlotte restaurant will be crowned king of one of life’s simple pleasures: A fresh summer tomato paired with Duke’s Mayo.
The “Golden Tomato Award” could be considered the capstone achievement for those restaurants participating in this year’s Hot Tomato Summer event. But the real winner should be your tastebuds.
Below is the list of the 22 restaurants in Charlotte that signed on to the weeklong celebration hosted by Duke’s Mayonnaise. Each has created a specific menu item with the two essential ingredients out front.
After you’ve tried some (or all!) of the limited-time eats, voting is live at dukesmayo.com/pages/golden-tomato.
| 22 Street Kitchen | Shrimp Po-Boy: Fried gulf shrimp, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and creole sauce (made with Duke’s Mayo); and Cheese + Tomato Quesadilla |
| Already Sandwich Co. & Bake Shop (Pop up at Free Range Brewing Company in Charlotte on July 29th) | C.H.L.T.: Lady Edison NC country ham, local lettuce and tomato, Dijonaise with Duke’s Verdant Bread brioche; and When You’re Here, You’re Here: Fried mozzarella, local tomato, basil, olive oil, peach balsamic reduction, lemony Duke’s, Verdant Bread ciabatta; and Tomato. Sandwich.: Local tomato, Duke’s, S&P, crunchy herby bits, Verdant Bread country loaf |
| Billy Jack’s Shack NoDa | You’re Bacon Me Crazy: Black Angus Burger on a Bed of Baby Arugula & Horseradish, Coupled with a Fresh Heirloom Tomato Slice, Sweet Bacon Onion Jam & America’s Favorite-Duke’s Mayo, Served on a Potato Bun. |
| Blackfinn | Grilled Atlantic Salmon And Avocado BLT: Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Avocado, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Duke’s Mayonnaise served on sourdough bread; and Summer Cobb Salad: Blend of spring mix and romaine, boiled egg, chopped applewood bacon, tomato, red onion and cucumbers served with ranch dressing. |
| Bleu Barn NC | FGT BLT: Local fried green tomatoes, thick apple wood bacon, arugula, chipotle-maple Duke’s Mayo, toasted local sourdough; and Heirloom Tomato BLT: Local heirloom tomatoes, thick apple wood bacon, arugula, roasted garlic Duke’s Mayo, toasted local sourdough |
| Brewers At 4001 Yancey | Heirloom Tomato BLT: Spring mix, basil mayo,toasted country white bread; and Southern Tomato Pie: Heirloom tomatoes, cheddar, Duke’s mayo,scallions, pickled onions |
| Burger Box | Cheese BLT: Toasted on brioche with Dukes Mayo, pepper jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a drizzle of our comeback house sauce |
| Cheat’s Cheesesteak Parlor | BLT Cheesesteak: Thin-sliced Seasoned Ribeye, Grilled Onions, Cheese Whiz, Duke’s Mayo, Tomato Slices, Fresh Lettuce, Thick-Cut Bacon, Toasted Liscio’s Hoagie Roll; and BLT Hoagie: Duke’s Mayo, Tomato Slices, Fresh Lettuce, Thick-Cut Bacon, Toasted Liscio’s Hoagie Roll |
| Dish | Tomato and Pimento Pie |
| Goodyear House | Tomato & Cucumber: Local tomato, cucumbers, shoyu mayo, chili crisp, chive |
| Grinning Mule | Not yet available |
| Harper’s Restaurant | Duke’s BLT: Local tomatoes, Benton’s Bacon, crisp iceberg, with Duke’s mayo |
| Indaco Charlotte | Heirloom tomato, watermelon, shiso, parmesan, breadcrumb, Aleppo aioli |
| Izzy’s at Triple C | Smoked tomato turkey club: House made smoked tomato mayo on sourdough with wood roasted turkey, bacon, lettuce, and cheddar cheese |
| Kindred | Heirloom Tomato Pie: Neese’s Sausage, Duke’s Mayo, Beemster Gouda |
| Lucky Lou’s Tavern | Duke’s Tomato Dip Wrap: Duke’s Mayo, tomatoes, crispy bacon crumbles, crunched captain wafers served on a lettuce wrap |
| Milkbread | Heirloom Tomato BLT: Verdant Sourdough, Duke’s Mayo, Little Gem Lettuce |
| Mimosa Grill | Fried Green Tomato BLT: Local bread, Benton’s bacon, pickled green tomatoes, Duke’s comeback sauce, local lettuces |
| Moo & Brew | Moo&Brew Hot Tomato Burger: Diablo Mayo, Sliced Tomato, Angus Beef, Peppedew Pimento Cheese, Pepper Jack, Extra Sliced Tomato, served on a Martins Roll |
| Nacho Average Truck | BLT Wrap; and Bacon Cheeseburger Nacho & Quesadilla |
| Noble Smoke | The Noble BLT: An irresistible stack of house cured bacon, local heirloom tomatoes, Duke’s Mayo and lettuce, piled high on fresh Copain Bakery bread |
| Noda Company Store (Sunday Funday July 30 free lunch service) | Sunday Funday Free Lunch Hot Tomato Summer Sándwich: Sourdough, Local Heirloom Tomatoes in EVOO + S&P, Tomato Jam, Crispy Bacon, Herbed Dukes Mayo |
| Orrman’s Cheese Shop | Pimento Cheese & Pickled Green Tomatoes on Baguette |
| Paper Plane Deli and Market | Classic B>L>T |
| Pepperbox Doughnuts | Doughnut Tomato Sandwich: Toasted savory doughnut bun, sliced heirloom tomatoes, Duke’s Mayo |
| Pinky’s Westside Grill | Fresh local heirloom tomatoes, served on soft texas toast with Duke’s mayo, crispy prosciutto, and local greens tossed in housemade peach vinaigrette |
| Sweet Lew’s BBQ | Mini Small City Farms smoked tomato pie |
| The Asbury | Hot Summer Open Faced Heirloom Tomato Sandwich: Duke’s herb mayonnaise, Duke’s potato bun, house-made cheez wiz, greens |
| The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar | Chicken Bacon Avocado: Grilled all natural chicken, applewood bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, Wasabi mayo (made with Duke’s), brioche bun. |
| The Culture Shop | Tomato Pie Pierogi, with bacon & scallion aioli |
| The Jimmy | Heirloom tomato sandwich: Toasted copain bread, duke’s mayo, basil, S&P with a side of chips |
| The Rican Redneck | Triple Rican Sandwich: Roasted Pork, Shredded Chicken, Deli Ham, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions, Mayochup Sauce (made with Duke’s Mayo), on 8” hoagie toasted on a panini pressFork |
| The Teal Turnip | Mod Tom (A Hipster Caprese Twist): Tomatoes, Grilled Marinated and Fresh Burrata, Pickled Peach, Lemon Curd, Basil Cremeaux, Duke’s Mayo and Prosciutto Ice Cream, Micros, Baguette; and The MLT (Mutton Lettuce Tomato): Roasted and Shaved Leg of Lamb, Pickled Heirloom Tomatoes, Local Bibb, Duke’s Mayo, on house made Bacon Fat Focaccia Bread; and Grannie’s Secret Chocolate Cake (Psst It’s Duke’s): Roasted Tomato Buttercream Icing |
| Thoughtful Baking Co | Tomato Pimento Cheese Pie: Seasoned and layered local NC heirloom tomatoes, baked in a from-scratch butter crust, layered with house-made pimento cheese (made with Duke’s of course!) |
| Traust Brewing Co | BLT-A: Crispy bacon, iceberg lettuce, heirloom tomato, avocado & Duke’s mayo on toasted sourdough |
| Town Brewing Co | Momaw Mable’s Mater Sammich: Tomato steak, Duke’s mayo, salt and pepper on white bread (Add house pimento and/or bacon to make it a Delux); and The Big Green Fighting Machine: Pickled and fried green tomato with dill chimichurri, Duke’s mayo and smoked bacon on white bread |
This story was originally published July 26, 2023 at 8:10 AM.