Duke's Hot Tomato Summer is back in Richmond and bigger than ever

Duke's Mayo's Hot Tomato Summer is back for the fourth year in row, starting Thursday and running through Sunday, July 28.

Why it matters: The event is a celebration of summer's best food combo: Richmond-owned Duke's Mayo and tomatoes.

State of play: This year's event is the biggest and longest yet, running 10 days (as requested by local chefs and restaurant owners), including more restaurants, and now happening in six cities throughout the South (welcome, Raleigh and Knoxville).

Zoom in: More than 100 Richmond restaurants are participating this year by serving up specials, per the website, like:

• Eazzy Burger's Carolina Caviar Burger, topped with local green tomatoes and house made Duke's pimento cheese.
• Herd Provisions at Helen's , that's a compressed tomato and melon carpaccio with smoked Duke's.
• Southbound's Heirloom Panzanella, featuring heirloom tomatoes and a smoked peach aioli using Duke's.
• And Truckle Cheesemongers ' It Was the 90's, a sandwich with Jambon de Paris, tomatoes and Duke's sun-dried tomato and basil.

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

• And don't forget to vote for your favorite local dish as Richmond restaurants are competing for the the Golden Tomato Award .
• Last year's winner, Neighbor, is back, too, with its award-winning Hot Tomato Summer Pie .

And new this year, Duke's is partnering with Denver-based artist (and former Richmonder) Nicoleta Dumville for a Duke's-themed art pop-up next Saturday, July 27 (4-7pm) at Odd Bird in Jackson Ward.

• Dumville has created "weird and joyful" pieces to commemorate Hot Tomato Summer.
• Don't sleep on all the Duke's swag , either, 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.