Testing Ground
Two pub caterers put three new products to the test on their pub menus
Star ratings are out of five, with one being poor and five excellent
Paul Walker
Head chef, the Five Bells Inn, Clyst Hydon, Devon, www.fivebellsclysthydon.co.uk
Pub background: Freehouse serving on average 850 covers a week. The menu is a balance of traditional favourites and imaginative specials. Fresh, local ingredients are used wherever possible.
Customer base: Mix of families, middle-aged and retired customers.
Product name: Sharwood's spiced puppodums
PR: Available in convenient
mixed boxes
of chilli, black pepper and masala flavours, Sharwood's spiced puppodums
are sourced direct from India and use traditional ingredients to ensure the product's authenticity.
The puppodums can be fried or microwaved and double in size when cooked.
Case price: £5.60 for a 1kg case
More info: visit www.rhmfoodservice.co.uk or freephone 0800 3284246.
Used in: Chinese spicy prawn baskets (£10.50).
Pub view: Not as spicy as you would imagine but this was a plus as we weren't restricted to Indian-style dishes.
Pros: Very easy to use. We deep fried them between ladles to get the required basket effect. A good dish accompaniment.
Stock? We would definitely use these again.
Star rating: ****
Product name: Farm Frites Nature's Goodness Frites
PR: The Nature's Goodness range offers naturally lower-fat alternatives to traditionally high-calorie dishes. The range consists of fries, skin-on wedges, mash, luxury mash with omega oils, and swede and carrot mash, all of which, when compared to their standard counterparts, contain 50% less fat, 70% less saturated fat (when fried in oil with less than 30% saturated fat) and 30% less calories.
Case price: £10 per 4 x 2.5kg case
More info: visit www.farmfrites.co.uk or call 01452 415845.
Used in: As an alternative to normal fries.
Pub view: Great packaging but took a long time to cook in the oven.
Pros: Good clean chips that were nice and fluffy inside.
Stock? We vary between making our own chips and buying in. I can't see the concept of healthier fries catching on with our customers, but can see them working for other pubs.
Star rating: **
Product name: Sharwood's Mango Chutney Bengal Spice
PR: A spicier alternative to regular mango chutney, Sharwood's latest accompaniment is free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. Each jar yields 130 portions.
Serving ideas: Indian dishes, on pizzas, in sandwiches or platters.
Case price: £12.96 for 2 x 2.6 kg jars
More info: visit www.rhmfoodservice.co.uk or call the freephone advice line 0800 3284246.
Used in: A starter of spicy mango, Stilton and red pepper tart (£5.50).
Pub view: Quite different to mango chutney; it has a very good taste.
Pros: Just the right amount of heat and the spices in the chutney look attractive. We received excellent reports from our customers who liked the different flavour.
Stock? We usually make our own chutney, but this would be a useful back-up.
Star rating: ****
Jo Gash
Chef/proprietor, the Rising Sun, Bream, Lydney, Gloucestershire
www.therisingsunbream.co.uk
Pub background: A freehouse, the menu consists largely of home cooked traditional pub food.
Customer base: The pub has bed-and-breakfast accommodation and is situated in the heart of the Forest of Dean. Customers are a mix of both locals and tourists.
Product name: Sharwood's spiced puppodums
PR: Available in convenient
mixed boxes
of chilli, black pepper and masala flavours, Sharwood's spiced puppodums
are sourced direct from India and use traditional ingredients to ensure the product's authenticity.
The puppodums can be fried or microwaved and double in size when cooked.
Case price: £5.60 for a 1kg case
More info: visit www.rhmfoodservice.co.uk or freephone 0800 3284246.
Used in: As an accompaniment to our curries, particularly for our curry night.
Pub view: Good flavour and customers enjoyed them. They didn't expand as much as I was expecting but are easy to prepare, which meant I could cook them up as and when I needed them to avoid wastage.
Stock? A good product but I prefer my usual brand as they fry up better and look more substantial.
Star rating: ****
Product name: Farm Frites Nature's Goodness Frites
PR: The Nature's Goodness range offers naturally lower-fat alternatives to traditionally high-calorie dishes. The range consists of fries, skin-on wedges, mash, luxury mash with omega oils, and swede and carrot mash, all of which, when compared to their standard counterparts, contain 50% less fat, 70% less saturated fat (when fried in oil with less than 30% saturated fat) and 30% less calories.
Case price: £10 per 4 x 2.5kg case
More info: visit www.farmfrites.co.uk or call 01452 415845.
Product used in: Instead of usual fries.
Pub view: They crisped up nicely and looked great but tasted a bit airy.
Pros: The customers enjoyed them.
Stock? I would possibly use them again.
Star rating: ***
