Hot Tomato Summer is back

State of play: The event runs through Sunday in six Southern cities, including Raleigh and Richmond, the home of Duke's Mayo.

Zoom in: More than 40 Charlotte restaurants are participating this year by serving up specials, per the website, like:

• Moo & Brew's "Hot Tomato Burger," combining mayonnaise and ripe tomato slices with a pimento cheese smothering, aged cheddar and crispy, thick-cut bacon.
• Merchant and Trade crab cake sliders made with mayo, mustard aioli, heirloom tomato and bacon jam, and arugula salad.
• "Grannie's Secret Chocolate Cake" at The Teal Turnip, and you can probably guess the secret ingredient.

How it works: Show up, order, and eat.

• And don't forget to vote for your favorite local dish for the Golden Tomato Award.