Late plates

The changes that are happening to licensing laws will bring with them a whole host of new opportunities for food-led publicans catering for breakfasts, morning coffee and late-night diners.

Late-night customers will normally want food that is a bit different from the usual menu. Pubs are likely to have a smaller than usual kitchen team working so the food needs to be simple and snacky. Sharing plates are a great idea as are pizzas, chips and stylish sandwiches.

Recipe ideas:​

Tomato and basil bruschetta

Hickory barbecued wings and ribs

Ricotta cheese and spinach bruschetta

Spicy sausage and tomato sauce with wild mushrooms

Sweet potato fries

Pesto and cheese bruschetta

Herby chicken baguettes

Masterfoods' top sharing tips​

• Keep it simple but pack it with taste - it should be full of flavour
• Make sure there's plenty of variety within the platter, of texture and colour as well as taste
• Sharing platters are a great opportunity to offer finger food - make sure you supply plenty of serviettes
• Most sharing dishes are for two or four people but the style of the food makes it easy to cater for larger groups - for example for a buffet at a private function
• Think about presentation - simple garnishes and interesting crockery make platters look even more tempting
• Offer a mix of meat and vegetables to make sure vegetarians are catered for. Consider the option of a completely vegetarian platter
• Remember dips - great on sharing platters and easy to prepare
• Once you have a range of component dishes it's easy to vary the number of portions the platter serves by adding more dishes
• Tex Mex is a perfect cuisine for sharing but Indian, Far Eastern and Italian foods all work well too.