Six Nations: Food for the match

This February and March, pub kitchens would do well to select a good set of team-mates to go with a pint.

Food is an important part of most pubs' offer year-round, but certain types of grub can have real appeal during big sporting events such as the Six Nations. They need to be quick, simple dishes or snacks, suitable for serving in a busy, lively environment. Hand-held is good, too, when seating is likely to be at a premium.

Here's a selection of suitable products to tempt half-time punters.

Herta hot dogs​

With minimal preparation time, frankfurters are ideal for serving at peak times, during a match, or outside of traditional kitchen hours. Simply heat in a bain-marie or roller grill and multiple customers can be served in minutes without the need to invest in expensive equipment.

These dogs have a beechwood smoked flavour, and are a snack suitable for pairing with a pint.

Herta: 0800 742 842 www.nestlefoodservices.co.uk

Moy Park sharing platters​

By selecting from Moy Park's product range, licensees can create a choice of combos for a special Six Nations menu, or can offer fans the chance to create their own tasty dish to share with friends.

Why not consider chicken wings, coated onion rings, coated mushrooms, a selection of cheeses, coated vegetables, mini spring rolls or vegetable goujons served alongside a choice of dips? Moy Park's range also includes wings of fire, spicy battered onion rings, garlic mushrooms, sweetcorn chilli sticks, hot jalapeno peppers and falafel bites, which it recommends can all be served alongside fiery sweet chilli and cooling sour cream dips.

Moy Park: www.moyparkfoodservice.com

McCain Best of British chips​

Sharing a bowl of chips in the pub will always be popular. With McCain Best of British home nations fans can support their team with a chip that is made from 100 per cent British potatoes.

For pubs wanting something a little different, McCain also has Brewer's Ridges, chunky ridge-cut potato in a crispy beer batter, Southern fried wedges, and half- and quarter-cut potato skins.

McCain: 0800 146 573

Seabrook Hot & Spicy crisps​

Seabrook has crisps to suit even the roughest, toughest rugby fan in its Hot and Spicy range.

It includes wasabi - the first Japanese-inspired crisp flavour of its kind, two chilli, Oriental and mustard. Complete with a Hot-O-Meter on every pack showing just how fiery each flavour is, Seabrook Hot & Spicy are not for the faint-hearted. 

Seabrook: www.seabrookcrisps.com

The Authentic Food Company​

Fancy something a bit more adventurous? The Authentic Food Company's range of Oriental snacks includes chicken cracker spring rolls, flavoured with lemongrass and galangal then wrapped in crisp pastry, and duck cracker spring rolls, filled with finely chopped pieces of succulent meat and flavoured with hoisin.

A variety of Dim Sums are also available, such as Thai vegetable spring rolls, vegetable spring rolls, sweet chilli chicken batons and Chinese spring rolls.

Dim Sums are quick to prepare for busy chefs (taking less than five minutes) and are popular for customers who want between-meal light bites and snacks. N

Authentic Foods: 0161 495 4000 www.theauthenticfoodcompany.com