I can usually discern difference in quality, but I will eat pretty much anything with pleasure.
I often tell people that one of things I am most grateful for is that I was born a gourmand and not a gourmet. Gourmands can enjoy pretty much anything, whereas gourmets are never satisfied.
Every year I grow tomatoes in hopes of cultivating that elusive rich, acid flavor with just the right amount of sweetness, and every year I’m ultimately disappointed. Either my taste buds are on the fritz, or the combination of soil, temps and humidity are unfavorable, or the gods frown on my efforts. I’ll eat the produce, but only certain types of cherry tomatoes really taste good to me.
Latest store-bought disappointment: Heavenly Villagio Marzano® Tomatoes. From an online description: “First grown in the rich volcanic soil in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, the San Marzano tomato was cultivated to become the epitome of a gourmet tomato. Village Farms perfected an authentic, mini version of these tomatoes which have an incredibly sweet flavor.”
I got a bag from Trader Joe’s. They have a vague tomato flavor and the texture is OK, but there’s nothing remotely incredible about them.*
*I did violate the injunction on the bag to not keep them in the fridge. Somehow I don’t think that made a big difference.