Andy McCulloch, general manager at the Fountain Inn & Hotel in Cowes, Isle of Wight, started offering more Mediterranean dishes on the menu due to demand from customers.
About 20% of the menu is Mediterranean inspired. "I think Mediterranean food has become so popular with our customers because it is a healthy option," says Andy.
"Nowadays people are much more health conscious and aware of what they are eating. Pasta dishes are by far our most popular Mediterranean option, and we have a lot of positive feedback on these and the sauces that we use with them. For me, the two essential ingredients for an authentic and delicious Mediterranean dish are good quality olive oil and a good-quality pasta."
Andy serves food from 7am to 10pm, with around 1,000-1,200 covers a week. Food sales account for 30% of turnover.
"Our Mediterranean dishes vary in price from £5.95 to £15.95, and we also do a lunchtime Mediterranean promotion called 'Pasta and Plonk', offering customers two bowls of pasta and a bottle of wine for just £15. For this I will
use Sacla vine-ripened tomato and basil sauce for a vegetable dish, and Sacla mushroom and white wine sauce with Sacla pasta to create a tasty chicken and broccoli pasta.
At the higher end of the menu we serve Mediterranean dishes
such as crayfish ravioli, in which I use Sacla tomato and chilli sauce."
Sacla sauces and pesto are supplied in 1.12kg jars, and the pastes in 485g. Sacla pasta is offered in 3kg boxes containing 6 x 500g bags.
Call 0800 328 4246 or visit www.rhmfoodservice.co.uk for more information.