Fresh produceNew season fresh green skinned almonds from Provence are now available, along with the first fresh coco beans. Spanish corn on the cob is arriving in the husks and is already of a decent quality and sweetness. Heirloom-variety tomatoes grown in Jersey have been lovely, including tigrella, brandy wine, green banana leg and baby yellow pear. Home-grown new-crop maris peer potatoes are also worth a try again this month, while the first English blackcurrants are now arriving (although the season is always short as much of the fruit is used by the juicing industry). Naps cherries are available, but they also have a very short season, and a shorter shelf-life than red cherry varieties.
Chefs' Connection
020 7627 4809
www.chefs-connection.comFishSupplies of wild cod are still short, due to bad weather. Fish from Norway and Iceland will also be expensive. Insufficient landings of Icelandic haddock mean prices will stay high. Faroese haddock will also be expensive. There are good supplies of plaice from Denmark and Norway, and south coast plaice are also at their prime now. Good landings of Faroese lemon soles are keeping prices down but the quality of south coast fish means they are holding their value - at as much as double the price. Prices on monk, halibut, coley, catfish, scallops, grey mullet and salmon should all remain reasonable. Lobsters are also available.
M&J Seafood
01296 588221
www.mjseafoods.com