Written by Tom Moggach
March 01, 2018
It's gently snowing in London as I write - a reminder that spring is still a while off.
It's a fine time for British brassicas, such as the kale and purple sprouting pictured below.
Other produce in this family include all the cabbages (such as the Savoy and the January King below), cauliflowers, broccoli, sprouts and tops (the last of the season), and kohlrabi.
As for other British ingredients, forced rhubarb is peak season - find out more in our Chef's Guide. Wild garlic has just started but is still rather scarce.
You'll still find English apples and pears that eat very well. These are coming from cold store and include Cox, Braeburn and Comice.
From Southern Europe there's an abundance of citrus. Sicilian blood oranges (more info here) are abundant now - load up on these while they're cheap and top quality. Here's the deep blush on the Moro variety.
Leafy lemons and leafy, late-season clementines are still a top buy. This relatively new variety of seeded clementine is called Yosemite and spotted on the stand at European Salad Company.
Sales of kumquats are steadily rising - an unusual, snacky, sweet-and-sour citrus that you eat in one go, skin and all. For something truly unusual, how about these mini mandarins from China? These were spotted at wholesaler Gilgrove.
Other fruits in their prime include pomegranates, grapes (shipped from South Africa), and figs (Brazil).
For a tantalising taste of spring, the first batches of broad beans, peas and asparagus are over from the same warmer climates. The asparagus below is wild and Spanish, but standard green and white types are also available.
This is a good time for artichokes. The market offers a range of varieties, from the chunky Globe to smaller Petit Violet.
Other imported veg includes celeriac, Romanesco, radish, radicchio, salsify, agretti, purple and yellow cauliflower, parsley root, Jerusalem artichokes, aubergine, celeriac and these lovely carrots with leaf.
It's a tricky time for European wild mushrooms. You should find some girolle and possibly the first morels from Turkey. Chanterelle and trompette are typically foraged in the wilds of the USA.
See you in April, when spring should have sprung. As ever, feel free to get in touch with any questions or comments.
Comments