SUMMER FOOD. 

Glorious summer food, fresh & bursting with flavour. Its food that goes with “let's have a glass of chilled white wine outside...”.

    What follows are just my ideas for perfect summer food. I’ll cook you any dish you like, but in my opinion, these are the best and most natural things to eat when the weather gets warmer.

Starters for a SUMMER wedding:

Crayfish, rocket & avocado cocktail made with homemade Marie Rose sauce (mine is made with a touch of English mustard & tiny bit of horseradish to give it a bit of ‘oomph’).

My homemade speciality chicken liver & pear brandy pate with gooseberry chutney & toasted brioche... or use canapes as your starter and give your guests variety and taste..

Gazpacho (with very ripe tomatoes) with fresh basil croutons.

Griddled halloumi with lime & coriander vinaigrette & toasted pitta bread. 

Main course for a summer wedding:

Chicken, leek & tarragon stroganoff (new season, tender leeks) creamy and really light.

Homemade salmon & dill fishcakes with sorrell sauce.

Cod wrapped in pancetta with rosemary. I whizz up a ‘salsa verde’ for this - - parsley, capers, garlic (lots) olive oil, Yum! 

Cold poached salmon with my own hollandaise. A classic for a reason - - unbeatable if done well & of course served with new season tiny Jersey royals and lots of butter!

Seared roast duck breast with black cherry sauce.

English garden salad with poached chicken & homemade 'salad cream' – like no salad cream you ever tasted – makes the stuff in bottles look like sump oil.

Then think of adding all those lovely summer vegetables, like garden peas, French beans, young runner beans, broad beans, new potatoes. An orgy of flavours and textures! 

Desserts for all year round:

I haven't mentioned desserts in my seasonal ideas, but it goes without saying that a chocolate pudding (be it mousse, hot fudge sundae, torte or roulades) can be eaten 365 days a year, that Eton mess, corny as it is, is a match made in heaven & a perfect summer dessert, that Posh jelly & ice cream is always popular & that, come autumn & winter stick to your ribs desserts like bread & butter pudding, cobblers & crumbles (with all the deliciousness that autumn berries offer) with my homemade vanilla custard (to die for) are no brainers!