Fresh produce
Lots of exotic baby leaves are now reappearing on the market, including aramenth, orach, landcress, bulls blood, pea sprouts, cressida and shinjuki. Many of the lettuces are again now coming from the UK crop, including Cos, icebergs and Little Gems. French breakfast radishes are superb. Quality, large-grade old potatoes are now very expensive, as last year's poor crop diminishes. However, the new potatoes are all excellent, many home-grown, and the Cornish crops are particularly good, especially the Lady Christl variety. Loquats are at their best now, and the quality and flavour of peaches and nectarines is at last improving.
Source:
Chefs' Connection
020 7627 4809
www.chefs-connection.com
Fish
There are limited supplies of wild Danish codlings due to a national holiday at the end of last week. With the majority of boats tied up, it will take a while to get back to normal. There has also been the fishing exhibition in Glasgow, which much of the Scottish fleet came in for. Accordingly, it is likely that cod prices, and those for monkfish, will rise. Good weather means the South Coast day boats have plenty of plaice, Dover and lemon soles. With the Faroese inshore season starting on 1 June, there should be no shortage of lemons from there either. Tuna, sword and shark supplies, meanwhile, are tightening up, but sardines, scallops, grey mullet and handline-caught mackerel should all be available. There is also some hake available from an MSC-approved fishery in South Africa.
Source:
M&J Seafood
01296 588260
www.mjseafoods.com