Celebrate with lamb
Now that Christmas turkey is well and truly banished from pub menus, attention turns to Easter, with lamb taking a seasonal star turn.
Lamb is versatile, with different cuts enabling chefs to devise a range of exciting dishes to tempt customers.
Bernard Matthews Food Service now offers a range of fine dining lamb cuts, including lamb loins - the eye of the loin trimmed with the silverskin and fat removed.
The meat can be oven-baked, grilled or prepared in the combi. It is also suitable for pan-frying, stir-frying or serving en croûte.
Other cuts in the range include a four-rib rack, boneless chump steak and a hind shank.
The company has also developed a new range of cooked and marinated fine-dining lamb products.
For more information, visit bernardmatthews.com or call 01603 872611.
Potato treats
Brakes has launched a Baby Baked Jacket Potato to provide a healthy alternative to chips and other fried potato dishes.
As pub diners leave behind Christmas excess, the baked potato offers great extra nutrition and is quick and easy to cook.
The jacket needs no preparation, can be cooked in the oven and served in 25 minutes.
Brakes has developed the new product as an adaptable dish which can be served with a variety of accompaniments, including cheese.
The jacket is also designed to offer a different style of accompaniment to main meal dishes such as steaks and chickens.
Brakes Ready Meals product manager Sally Sturley said: "The jackets are ideal as a nutritional alternative, give excellent plate coverage and look attractive."
For information, visit www.brake.co.uk or call customer service on 0845 6069090.
Protected pork
Brakes' specialist meat supplier Prime Meats has developed four fresh pork products carrying the RSPCA Freedom Food label - a new farm assurance scheme dedicated to improving standards of animal welfare.
Developed for caterers in all sectors of the hospitality industry, the first four products are sourced from Norfolk farms.
Prime Meats says the Freedom Food products are committed to transparency, particularly at the vital sourcing stage.
The RSPCA scheme pays particular attention to traceability, quality, integrity and choice; giving caterers food which they can "trust and serve with confidence".
The four new products are Pork Stir Fry Strips, Pork Leg Meat, Pork Shoulder (Diced) and Pork Mince.
For more information, call Brakes customer service on 0845 6069090.
Bittersweet dessert
Almondy has launched a new dark chocolate cake. The Swedish cake specialist's new "tårta" is made with 60% cocoa solids.
Almondy managing director Andrew Ely said: "Our new Almondy Dark Chocolate cake is enough to tempt anyone, with 60% cocoa solids there is nothing like it on the market - a premium frozen dessert, free of any unnecessary nasties such as gluten."
Almondy's dark chocolate cake could be served with tea or coffee, or as a dessert.
The hint of bitterness in the chocolate works well with fruit - try serving it with strawberries, raspberries and crème fraîche.
Frozen and pre-cut into 12 servings, the dessert can be served 10 minutes after being removed from the freezer. There is little waste as the tårta-style cake lasts a week in the chiller. For more information visit www.almondy.com or call 01628 894838.