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39 specialityfoodmagazine.com LAST WORDS The final word on fine food THE INDEPENDENT SHOPPER Chef Jake Finn has cooked at The Ritz and La Petite Maison TRIED & TESTED THE REAL OLIVE COMPANY OLIVES I’ve always loved olives, but having tried the range from The Real Olive Company it’s become clear to me just how important freshness and quality is. The flavour within these olives is remarkable – and not just in the options infused with chilli, garlic, spices and all other delicious additions – but also in the simple Nocellara and Kalamata varieties. I’ve enjoyed the olives on their own, within watermelon and Feta salads, and Mediterranean-style pasta and rice dishes, and never has such a versatile product packed such a flavour punch. therealolivecompany.co.uk AHMAD TEAS NATURAL BENEFITS RANGE Like a number of consumers today, I’m constantly on the look-out for products that will not only give me a health boost but will offer a convenient way to do so. And what could be more convenient than swapping my usual black tea with semi-skimmed to a Beauty, Energy, Immune, Slim, Digest or Sleep blend from Ahmad Tea? Delicious and containing natural ingredients with proven results, it’s a great functional find. ahmadtea.com FORESTA FOOD DRIED MIXED FOREST MUSHROOMS I have long been appreciative of the wonders of dried mushrooms. They’re a simple, natural way to add flavourful richness to savoury dishes with minimal effort, and so I couldn’t be happier to discover Foresta Food’s hand-picked dried mixed forest mushrooms. They take just 30 minutes to rehydrate and enjoy in a huge array of dishes. Discard the leftover liquid at your peril: it’s a delicious and ready-to-use stock. theprogressivefoodcompany.co.uk P asta sales have been through the roof since the start of lockdown, with all varieties of the Italian staple sought after in shops. The need to stay at home has prompted consumers to get out their saucepans and cook up hearty, comforting fare. Many are reaching out to their local independent retailers for quality pastas that can take dishes to the next level, and being able to offer a solid variety of different shapes and sizes to cater to those needs is ideal. Alongside quality pasta comes the need for premium sauces. Those withmore time on their hands at the present will be interested in creating delicious sauces from scratch, so stocking all the ingredients necessary is key. Offering great tomatoes, fresh as well as in jarred, canned and puree form, creates the base for a whole number of sauces such as classic Italian bolognese and ragu. Fresh herbs, fantastic olive oils and premium seasonings such as salt, pepper and chilli give shoppers the opportunity to experiment with natural ingredients for a whole host of tasty sauces. And, of course, cheese is a core ingredient not only to use within homemade sauces but also as a final garnish on top. Pesto alla Genovese requires bunches of basil, pine nuts and a hard cheese such as Parmigiano-Reggian; pancetta, a hard cheese like Parmesan and eggs are essential for a carbonara, and a version of Aglio e Olio takes things back to basics with just garlic and oil. Stocking a range of ready-made sauces also allows shoppers with less time available for cooking from scratch to still be able to whip up a delicious pasta dish at home. Having a good selection of different tomato sauces as well as flavourful pestos and even white sauces for lasagne ensures that the essentials are covered. Keep inmind that there are different dietary requirements and allergy restrictions to consider, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free. Specific requirements does not have to mean limited choice, however, as there is a whole collection of sauces on the market today that feature natural ingredients. Why not also stock some gluten-free pasta and bread options for those customers? Increasing the number of quality options for different shopper needs will help you to become a one-stop shop when it comes to Italian dishes. Are you passionate about Italian food and drink? Do you have a story, advice or comments on the topic? If so we would love to hear from you, so please get in touch via lucy.macdonald@aceville.co.uk. IN ASSOCIATION WITH Offering a range of premium ingredients and ready-made options will appeal to novice and experienced home cooks alike KEEPING STOCK OF PASTA SAUCES I grew up in north London and I’ve lived in Belsize Park for the past eight years. If you know north London, you’ll know therefore that I am completely spoilt for choice. Pomona is a stunning little deli, fruit and veg shop. The service is second to none but the quality of the food is what shines. Handy tip: their freshly- squeezed orange juice is the best you’ll ever taste, and it reminds me of holidays. The Fields Beneath is a short walk down Prince of Wales Road and there you’ll find one of the best artisan coffee shops in London, situated under Kentish Town West railway. The coffee is off-the-charts good and they are a real cornucopia of vegan food and snacks. I cook a lot of meat and am a bit of a meat-lover, if truth be told. I only ever buy my meat from HG Walter; it’s by far and away the best quality meat from rare breed farmers you can find in London. The service I get I have worked in some of London’s best-loved restaurants in my time – Coya, The Ritz and La Petite Maison to name but a few. Earlier this year, before any of us could have dreamed what was coming, I made plans to open my own restaurant. Simply called Lila, it was going to be a pretty neighbourhood restaurant, serving up Mediterranean cooking with lots of wood-fired cooking thrown into the mix. The lockdown saw an end to that plan, sadly – for the time being, anyway. But in many ways, the lockdown has been a blessing in disguise. I quickly started thinking about ways I could still cook and bring in an income without having a working restaurant. I started cooking for friends and family, creating large batches of family food such as meatballs, hot smoked salmon, lasagnes, summer salads and prepared meat and fish for the BBQ. It quickly took off and has become a real business for me. So I’m just the right person to talk about the value in investing in good, local businesses. I wouldn’t have survived lockdown without the support of my local community and our high streets will really suffer if we lose them. when I order is second to none and the whole experience is a joy. It’s still very much a family-run business and this shines through every part of the experience. Getting the best quality fish can be a challenge when you’re a small trader like me, but I use Capital Seafoods. They have plenty of daily boat catches and not only is the service I get impeccable but the fish is fresher than you could ever imagine. My hot smoked salmon dish tends to blow people away – my customers tell me they’ve never tasted fish so fresh and flavoursome. Finally, one of life’s true pleasures – cheese! For me, it’s got to be Neal’s Yard Dairy, based in Covent Garden. During lockdown they had a little pop-up at the Notting Hill Fish Shop which is just down the road from me, so I’ve been sneaking in way too much secret Cashel Blue… Anyone who knows Neal’s Yard knows that you go for their enduring commitment to supporting the vibrant British cheese business, going to the ends of the earth to unearth the very best cheeses from these shores and beyond. They don’t get enough recognition for the work they do. If we don’t use our small retailers, we will lose them. One of the amazing things about lockdown has been seeing people shop on their doorstep again, as supermarkets became so unappealing and hard to get into. Long may it last. One of the amazing things about lockdown has been seeing people shop on their doorstep again. Longmay it last