Market Report - UK Seasonal update 15 July 2013

In association with

Good morning chef

Here’s what seasonal delights are moving through our chiller this week:

Mushrooms

Prices and supply remain consistent.

Girolles from Belarus – affordable as ever and cracking quality.
Summer truffle from Italy and in good supply. Bright and good quality marbling.
Mini girolles from Belarus – continue to keep coming. Perfect for a nice garnish on your plates.
Trompettes from Bulgaria - these boys have just started coming in nice and dry enough to start stocking them.
Mousserons from Bulgaria - quality steady and in good flow.

Fruit

Continental stone fruit getting better and better ( peaches, nectarines, apricot )
New batch of UK mara des bois and full of flavour fraise des bois for Tuesday (pictured) both from Kent, time to support glorious British farmers.
Let’s not forget the gariguettes and pine berries (white strawberries through Holland) a specimen quite rare to find.
Spanish cherries - sweeter, darker and bigger! Best of the season right now.

Vegetables

UK Asparagus and Jerusalem artichoke are finished for now as too hot for the crop.
Purple and yellow cauliflower just made an appearance and are stunning decoration to surprise your customer.
Continental corn on the cob with husk has made an appearance - sweet and crunchy seasonal crop, bbq or boiled with a bit of butter to do them justice!
Rainbow chard still looking good. Smaller variety from Italy this week.
English peas are still available. Superb quality and popping easily out of the pod.
Borlotti beans bright red colored from Italy.
Daterino tomatoes are now in full swing. Lovely sweet marvel of nature aka baby plum.
Coeur de pigeon still around. Taste like candy.
Heritage mix tomoatoes selling like hot cakes as they are now at their best.

Foraging Products availability for next week:

Sea purslane - all year round succulent omega 3 rich leaves that just gets bigger and better in summer.
Nettles - Suffolk or Scotland origin stinging leaves for a bit of ravioli filling to name just one.
Sea arrowgrass - 100gm packaging from Scotland for this celery flavoured one.
Sea aster - nice to see this back on the summer menu, take advantage until it lasts.
Wild Pea flowers a garden variety surprising edible with a stronger taste than the pea itself.
Marsh samphire - English sister of the Iranian cultivated we do.  Add a British item on your dish.