re: Difference between regular and Creole Tomatoes?

The term Creole is applied to tomatoes grown south of the lake. Some claim that the soil/growing conditions make them especially flavorful, but I've eaten plenty of delicious tomatoes grown all over.

In older useage, the moniker Creole simply meant "local" or "native". IE, locally grown tomatoes are Creole tomatoes.

Note that the named variety 'Creole' is a terrible performer in the areas where so-called Creole tomatoes typically were grown. If you buy a field grown Creole tomato during late spring/summer in south LA, it's probably a 'Celebrity'.