In season: Summer flavours
John Martin, product marketing manager, Prime Meats: The Welsh spring lamb supply will be in full flow by June, offering fantastic quality. Racks are a great product for caterers - all the hard preparation work has been done so they just need roasting or grilling. Presented as a Guard of Honour they look as impressive as they taste but they can equally be cut into cutlets before or after roasting - whatever works for the chef.
Rachel Sewter, fresh produce marketing executive, Pauleys: The pop of a freshly picked pea pod embodies the sound of summer; you really can't better the deliciously sweet flavour of British summer peas. Enhance the sweetness of your peas by adding a little sugar to your water when boiling. Mint is wonderful in June and the flavour complements peas famously. Reputedly introduced to Britain by the Romans as they traveled through Europe, mint can be used in a diverse range of dishes and drinks. We recommend a pea, mint and lemon juice soup; simply gorgeous served hot or cold. Impress customers by serving fresh sprigs of mint in essential summer refreshers such as Pimm's, mojitos and mint juleps.
Alan Edmeades, product marketing manager, M&J Seafood: Live native lobsters don't have a season as they can spawn at any time of year. However, they are at their very best from late June to August as the warmer water increases their metabolism, they become more active and move closer in-shore, where they become easier to find all round the British coast.
Our source is along the east coast from Bridlington to Whitby where some of the finest lobsters are pot-caught - the most traditional method, and one which causes minimal damage to the habitat and to other species.
- M&J Seafood: 0845 606 9090
- Pauleys: 0870 600 2005
- Prime Meats: 0845 606 9090
