SF-June-20

31 specialityfoodmagazine.com LAST WORDS The final word on fine food THE INDEPENDENT SHOPPER Raz Helatat is the director at The Coal Shed in Brighton TRIED & TESTED D8 DATE BUTTER Versatility is as important during lockdown as it ever has been – if not more so – so I was delighted to discover D8’s date butters. There’s a range on offer, all boasting a number of uses, but it was the classic which really stood out to me. The jar has very nearly been finished after just a fortnight, as I have used it blended into smoothies and porridge, baked with it, and mixed it into Middle Eastern savoury dishes for a rich yet not overpowering note of sweetness. d8made.com COCONUT MERCHANT ORGANIC COCONUT MILK POWDER Convenience is one of the biggest buzzwords in food right now, and this product delivers it with aplomb. Better value than countless tins of coconut milk and customisable to whatever consistency you need, just a couple of tablespoons will transform your smoothie, curry, whatever you want into a creamy treat with a flavour of the tropics. Not only that, but it’s ambient once opened, 100% natural and organic, too. A storecupboard staple, for sure. coconut-merchant.com ZEET ORGANIC OLIVE LEAF WATER As the warmer months have drawn in I’ve been looking for refreshing, non-sparkling alternatives to plain old water, and it hasn’t always been easy to keep my taste buds satisfied – especially when I’ve been avoiding sugar and looking for health benefits into the bargain. Thankfully, I came across the new launch Zeet (best known for their range of extra virgin olive oils): an organic olive leaf water, which is reminiscent of iced tea but with no added sugar and plenty of antioxidants. evozeet.com T hroughout the UK lockdown brought about by the outbreak of Covid- 19, shoppers have been seeking comfort and convenience. It’s only natural, therefore, that sales of pasta have been staggeringly high since the end of March when lockdown began. Thanks to its ease of use and versatility the Italian staple has long been a must- have store cupboard staple for households up and down the UK – but many of the options available to independent fine food retailers offer the quality, provenance and variety needed to go one step beyond standard supermarket fare. The good news is that there’s a huge range of products available for seasoned and new home cooks alike to utilise while they’re making their own meals at home. Options such as penne, fusilli and spaghetti are favourites around the world for a reason, but why not branch out and sell options such as orzo, calamarata and cappelletti? They may already be familiar to shoppers who dine in Italian restaurants, and orzo in particular is wonderfully versatile – customers can serve it in the style of a risotto or add it to minestrone- style soups, as well as serve it as a salad with finely chopped fresh vegetables. You should be looking for bronze died pasta – this will hold a sauce better than the smoother-surfaced, more cheaply made options. Quality lasagne sheets, cannelloni tubes and tagliatelle could inspire your shoppers to make their own slow-cooked ragus now they’re spending more time at home, therefore it’s a good idea to stock fine quality tinned tomatoes, olive oils, balsamic vinegars and a range of fresh herbs, as well as ready- made sauces for those without much extra time on their hands. Why not look to offer your customers a wider range of products to serve with their pasta dishes? If you stock Italian breads such as focaccia and ciabatta, promote them as worthy accompaniments to a homemade lasagne – or even suggest they try baking the breads themselves (pointing them in the direction of great olive oils to accompany) when they purchase bread or pasta flour. Are you passionate about Italian food and drink? Do you have a story, advice or comment on this subject? If so we would love to hear from you, so please get in touch at holly.shackleton@ aceville.co.uk . IN ASSOCIATION WITH Ambient, versatile and ready in a flash, no wonder pasta sales are up PASTA: THE LOCKDOWN SAVIOUR be BNFS (Brighton & Newhaven Fish Sales). Located by the Hove Lagoon, the shop offers a huge selection of local fish and shellfish much of which is caught by their own fleet of boats. You really can tell just how fresh it is – even my five-year-old son can tell the difference! The team are also super friendly, and are always on hand to advise on what is best to buy when. To get the essentials, like meat, cheese and bread, I have a few go-to’s. R C Seckers is my local butcher and has a good selection of produce and great quality meat (which trumps the quality of meat at the supermarket). For cheese I tend to use The Cheese Man, they are primarily wholesale but does have his Cheese Hut at his warehouse which is very near BNFS. Tony and his team pride themselves in promoting local cheeses and I always find something special to put on the cheese board. For the best baked goods and pastries in Brighton, I head to Real Patisserie, there are a few of them here and they offer a brilliant selection of bread (a must try is their Chewy Brown) as well as delicate cakes and tarts. Another place to head if you are looking for something I feel very lucky to live in Brighton, as not only do we have an eclectic range of shopping venues but also eateries . Each one run by dedicated and enthusiastic people wanting to support and uplift the local community and also to help the Brighton economy with one of its best trades: tourism. From the quirky venues to the most refined of establishments it really does have it all. It has taken time for Brighton to reach this stage but I feel that the gastronomy scene is well and truly established now and it really is very exciting. Although there is a place for chain restaurants, the concept of supporting local has never been so paramount. I have lived in Brighton for over 40 years and it has changed a lot and for the better. I now have two restaurants here, The Coal Shed and The Salt Room, and as a restaurateur I believe in working with local independent suppliers and retailers wherever possible. Being by the sea, we expect the freshest seafood and serve plenty of it in our restaurants. Fish from the supermarket may be convenient, but it lacks the flavour and textures of something freshly caught. My favourite spot to pick it up has to sweet is Sugardough bakery and café. The kids absolutely love it here, and I take them there for a treat – make sure to try their yo yos! When I am cooking at home and want to experiment a little more with flavour and spice, the best place to go is Taj the Grocer, it is a brilliant Indian / Arab supermarket which stocks pretty much every Eastern and Asian spice you could ever need. It also has a good selection of fruit, veg, chillies and breads. I walk in and I feel like I am being transported – I find it extremely hard to resist taking something home from their deli section and polishing it off on the way home. A good place to go if you are looking to cook something Thai or Asian would be Unithai Oriental Supermarket and Noodle Bar in Hove. Not only does it have an excellent range of ingredients, but it has a little 20-seater café at the back serving incredibly authentic dishes. They only serve lunch, and there is often a wait, but it is worth it. For an after-work tipple or wine for a celebration, I have two recommendations – Quaff Wine who have a good selection, many of which are priced very reasonably. There is also always someone on hand to offer advice, which is the best way to learn more about wine. Butlers Wine Cellar is also fantastic and offers some real treasures when it comes to wine – I recommend their mixed cases, it gives you a chance to try wine you may have never have chosen! There is also Fourth & Church who started off as a wine shop & deli and have now opened up their food offering with lots of interesting small plates – they also have a great wine selection to drink in or out.