Warm shrimp pick up a good, smoky bite from their bacon wrappers, nicely accentuated by a small dollop of thick tomato and chili jam.

The main course is a large bowl of steaming mussels served in a thick, garlicky tomato and white-wine sauce with fresh corn.

Gnocchi, though pleasantly light, struggled a bit under an overly thick tomato and basil sauce.

Furthermore, this interesting pasta deserved a sauce that would play up the piquancy of the ravioli, not compete with it, something other than thick, robust tomato.

Slice the tomatoes one-half-inch thick.

"Well, I'd like a tomato, nice and ripe, sliced thick, with salt and lots of pepper, some soft cheese, and a sprig or two of basil," said Tom, inspired by a thought of the queen's happy memories.

Crayfish is cooked with a thick tomato and onion sauce.

Less exciting was a classic salad of thick tomato and onion slices, which one of my guests dressed in the traditional manner with the robust house steak sauce.

A thick tomato and lamb ragù perfumed with rosemary is about as classic a dish as you will find in that region.

There are many different variations of this sauce, from light broths, to thick tomato based sauces, which have been found on all types of seafood (not just the traditional white fish), and even chicken.