Our UK squash range has been expanding rapidly in the past few weeks. It confirms what we knew, but weren’t ready to admit yet: Autumn is announcing itself a little earlier than usual. The bulk of the range is coming from Strawberry Fields in Lincolnshire, but we also have a good selection from our local growers. Farmstart in Cheshire do a lovely summer squash ‘Tondo di Nizza’ and Manchester based Glebelands’ Golden Nugget is nice reliable little squash with a starchy texture and sweet flavoured flesh. The veg team are holding their in-house ‘squash night’ in a couple of weeks, so we’ll be able to provide you with detailed tasting notes on all the varieties.
Kale is abundant right now. Green, red and Russian varieties are all available and looking good. Russian kale is a sweeter, tenderer version that lends itself well to making kale crisps with in the oven (hot tip: leave the oven door ajar, so your crisps don’t burn). Green Romanesque cauliflowers with their mesmerising fractals from Lancashire grower Duncan Gielty are a staff fave ar the minute. He’s also starting with bunched parsnips, which means roast dinners are calling!
From Europe, we recommend new season Mango Osteen from Spain. They are coming in a little hard, so they need ripening at home on the fruit bowl – absolutely worth the effort for their aromatic yellow smooth flesh. Also look out for sticky sweet French Bourjasotte figs – this is their moment!
