Food file - Quick Bite
Young's has launched Plaice Magnifique and Plaice Atlantico.
Plaice Magnifique offers a whole boneless plaice stuffed with a magnificent combination of crab, prawns and smoked salmon, topped off with a creamy, Chablis-style sauce in a crispy crumb coating. Plaice Atlantico combines plaice with prawns and lobster, finished with a creamy Cointreau liquor sauce and encased in a crispy crumb coating. "Our new Plaice Magnifique and Plaice Atlantico make an elegant addition to any caterer's offering," says Peter Milsted, director of Young's Foodservice. "Plaice is one of the more under-utilised fish species, but as fish increases in popularity, so does the need for new meal ideas." Available from wholesalers, Young's Plaice Magnifique and Plaice Atlantico can be prepared by deep-frying or oven-baking.
ALVESTON KITCHENS has launched two new cheesecakes made with Philadelphia cream cheese. The Philadelphia Vanilla Cheesecake and Light Philadelphia Vanilla Cheesecake have a classic crunchy digestive biscuit base. Chris Gardiner, brand manager of Alveston Kitchens, says: "The Philadelphia brand communicates a high-quality product and taste guarantee. Our research shows consumers are prepared to pay a premium of up to 10% on branded cheesecakes, so we see this as a great profit opportunity for our customers." Research by Alveston Kitchens shows that customers want to see eight dessert choices on a menu, with cheesecake included among six "must have" products. Menu tent cards are available to promote the desserts. For more information call 0800 575 755
Speciality food manufacturer OPIES has introduced Opies Professional - a range of pickles and condiments to use with ploughman's, salads, and pizzas. The range includes caperberries and jalapeno slices for taco's and burgers, as well as pickled onions, beetroot, gherkins and olives. Also available are Kentish Bramley Apple chutney, piccalilli, sweet pickle and red cabbage. The products are packed in kitchen-safe plastic jars with screw-top lids and pack size range from 1.25kg to 2.4kg. For more information contact 01795 476154
Artemis Feta Cheese is a new addition to the CHEESE CELLAR COMPANY's range. The cheese is made from a blend of pasteurised goat and sheep milk and can be used in a variety of ways, in salads, pasta dishes, or filo pastry parcels with grilled Mediterranean vegetables and Feta cheese. Brian Baker, managing director of the Cheese Cellar Company, says: "It is easy to handle and melts quickly, imparting its distinct flavour to whatever menu item is being created." The cheese is available in 200g and 1kg packs. The range includes tikka, lime & coconut and chargrilled and salsa flavours. All the products are made from chicken breast meat and can be microwaved from frozen in four minutes. For more information contact 01274 566999
CLASSIC CUISINE has launched a range of hand-finished frozen meals which includes stuffed chicken breasts, risottos and tortillas. The range also includes microwavable shortcrust-pastry filled tarts and puff-pastry pies with open tops so that customers can see the generous fillings. Other dishes on offer include red pepper & spinach tortillas, seafood choux shells and chicken with Stilton & apricot sauce. Lawrence Hunt, director of Classic Cuisine, said: "Increasingly, people want to eat a meal that looks and tastes home-cooked and different to traditional pub and hotel food. By using the best ingredients in innovative ways and hand finishing each product, we aim to put our customers' menus ahead of the rest." For more information visit www.classiccuisine.co.uk or call 01604 644884
Gourmet dessert manufacturer PROSPERO has launched a 180g summer pudding for caterers. Created 10 years ago from a Victorian recipe, the company's summer pudding is handmade with raspberries, blackberries and blackcurrants. It can be served hot or cold, on its own or with coulis or ice cream. Gervas Steele, the company's managing director, says: "Our product not only tastes authentically good, but when cut it reveals whole berry fruit rather than that jelly mould factory look." The product is among 120 desserts offered by the company. For more information contact 01263 711222
