December is here, and with it our thoughts tentatively turn to the festive season and the comforting, traditional foods we associate with this time of year.
John from Newfields in North Yorkshire has delivered his majestic sprout stalks once again, and they’re as showstopping as ever. Buying sprouts on the stalk is a great way to keep them fresh until you’re ready to use them, as they last much longer this way. The tops are a delicious green in their own right and can be used like any tender leafy cabbage, with a much milder sprout-like flavour. We love them simply shredded with a little oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, finished with a squeeze of lemon juice – delicious!
We also have a wonderful selection of speciality mushrooms this week, courtesy of our Dutch supplier, Zann. Shiitake and oyster mushrooms add a rich umami kick and depth of flavour when mixed with chestnut or portobello mushrooms and rolled into a wellington.
On Friday, we’re expecting another delivery of Lancashire-grown Lion’s Mane mushrooms from Paul and Hayley at Wyreside in Garstang – weather permitting! These delicate mushrooms are sensitive to the current cold snap, but Paul and Hayley are preparing to move to new, well-insulated premises soon, which should make this crop a little easier and more predictable to grow.
On the fruit side, clementines are really starting to shine. This week, we have Italian Commune and Spanish Clemenules and Clemenvilla varieties – fragrant, plump, juicy, and reaching the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness.
The last delivery of fresh cranberries will arrive this Friday, and fresh chestnuts won’t be far behind for those looking to stock up for Christmas. We also have a wonderful selection of whole nuts to see you through the festive season, including Corsican hazelnuts, walnuts from Grenoble, and delicious Spanish almonds. Time to get out those nutcrackers!
