Fish
Due to bad weather, supplies of wild cod will continue to be bleak. Better news for haddock - supplies and prices are improving as the boats start to go out again. Scottish mackerel supplies are also now improving. Plaice, meanwhile, will be very scarce in the coming week from all areas. Landings are down and this could be the situation for a couple of weeks. Supplies of lemons, bass, tuna, sword, marlin, shark, halibut, reds, coley, cats, scallops, grey mullet, striped bass, lobsters and salmon are all reasonable with steady prices. Bream, monk, Dovers, skate and dogfish are scarcer, however. Be warned that it is the spawning season now for Scottish mussels, so they aren't at their best.

Source: M&J Seafood
01296 588221
www.mjseafoods.com


Fresh produce
Favourite summer herbs this month include bronze fennel, summer savory, lemon balm, lovage and the heavily scented lemon verbena. English runner beans are also a seasonal favourite, along with bunched home-grown beetroot and young carrots. The first of the English blackberries are ripening now. They tend to be smaller and less dark than the Dutch fruits but are always popular for desserts. New-crop European greengages are due to hit the market any day now. They can be delicious poached in a light vanilla syrup. Fresh Scottish girolles have been excellent and the price is stabilising now. The Italian summer truffle price is now reasonable, and fresh laverbread, hand-picked from the Welsh coast has been beautiful.

Source: Chef's Connection
020 7627 4809
www.chefs-connection.com