FOOD
Autumn
EATING With the trend for healthier eating gathering pace, and the desire for indulgence and a treat when in the out of home setting persisting, cafés and coffee shops now have a great opportunity to revamp their menus as their customers reestablish their routines. HEALTHY AND COLOURFUL “When the days turn chillier, it’s the ideal opportunity for café operators to look at what new products are available to enhance their menu,” says Gordon Lauder, MD of frozen food distributor Central Foods (www.centralfoods. co.uk). “The obvious choices are warm, comforting options. But think about colour too. Beetroot is a beautiful, rich ingredient that is sure to hot up any autumn menu. The Menuserve beetroot and thyme tarte tatin, for example featuring sticky, caramelised balsamic roasted beetroot wedges delicately flavoured with thyme on a crisp puff pastry base - is a visually striking main
course dish which can be served with roasted vegetables or accompanied by a simple salad for a light lunch. It’s vegan and vegetarian-friendly too - making it ideal to cater for the growing demand for plant-based menu options. Beetroot is a vegetable that’s currently bang on trend. It’s healthy, tasty and provides a gorgeous rich colour that’s sure to brighten up any café menu this autumn. “Or how about the Menuserve brie and red onion tart, which is suitable for gluten-free and vegetarian diners? Available in individual portions, the tarts make it really easy for cafés to satisfy demand for delicious gluten-free menu items. The tart has a flavoursome preprepared crisp, gluten-free cheddar and
chive pastry case filled with a meltingly creamy brie and cheddar sauce topped with a tangy red onion compôte. Again, it’s visually very appealing. “What can be more comforting on an autumn breakfast menu than crumpets? These versatile British favourites can be brought bang up to date and given a modern twist by offering a selection of different toppings – both sweet and savoury. They can also be served throughout the day. Try banana, blueberries and syrup, smashed avocado sprinkled with chilli flakes, or the traditional breakfast favourite of bacon and egg to offer crumpets with a difference. The only limit is your imagination! “Crumpets make a great alternative to bread muffins and are sure to go down well with all customers. Peculiarly British and appealing to a sense of nostalgia, they are likely to be especially popular with older café visitors who’ll no doubt remember eating crumpets as youngsters. Their versatility means they can also be served for brunch, lunch and snack menus, too - more than earning their keep in your kitchen! “The KaterBake luxury crumpets supplied by Central Foods are made with a sourdough recipe and are veganfriendly too – meaning that they are suitable for customers looking for plant-
24 CAFÉ LIFE | AUGUST 2021
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