Thank you.

I remember reading that tomato seeds have to ferment to germinate; if you got the seeds fresh, I'd look up the process on the net. You are basically trying to mimic the tomato rotting around the seeds in the ground, which is what happens if people don't intervene. Of course, if your friend has been growing them for years, they will know what works for this particular variety. Heirloom tomatoes usually have great flavor.