Duke's Hot Tomato Summer has arrived

State of play: This year's event is the biggest and longest yet.

• It spans 10 days, running through Sunday, July 28 in six cities across the South.

Zoom in: More than 30 Raleigh restaurants are participating this year, serving up specials, per the website, like:

• Figulina's heirloom tomato aspic with slow-poached shrimp, Duke's, celery and Old Bay
• Hummingbird's tomato pie and "Peacemaker Po'Boy"
• Trophy Brewing and Pizza's "Fried Greens of Your Dreams," featuring fried green tomato, with gochugaru (Korean chilli powder) kimchi pimento cheese and pickled sweety drop peppers
• A BLT waffle dog, "Stoney Bologna" and fried green tomato hushpuppies at Meyers Food Truck, which serves Southern Jewish comfort food
• A chicken salad melt, roast beef special and turkey bacon sandwich, all with heirloom tomatoes, at Raleigh's Southern Craft Sandwiches.

How it works: Show up, order and eat.

• And don't forget to vote for your favorite local dish as Raleigh restaurants are competing for the the Golden Tomato Award.
• So far, Abbey Road Tavern & Grill, which is serving a classic BLT, is in the lead.

The intrigue: Don't sleep on all the Duke's swag, which includes a Richmond-made Hot Tomato Summer candle (smells like a "crisp, verdant tomato leaf"), a Hot Tomato swimsuit and Duke's jar pool float.