Ha! Ha! seeks the last laugh with locally-sourced menu
by Tony Halstead
A new 'market board menu featuring a range of locally-sourced fresh dishes is being trialled at three Ha! Ha! Bar & Canteen sites.
The new menus are being offered at the Bristol, Sheffield and Norwich sites and feature food made with ingredients from the region each pub is located. Chefs at each outlet are being given a free hand to source and develop dishes made with produce supplied direct from local farms and suppliers. The trial began last week and coincides with the standard menu change across the Ha! Ha! estate which happens three times a year.
Stuart White, head of food and menus, said the idea was designed to give chefs the flexibility and incentive to 'do their own thing.
'We want to encourage them to create dishes to their own specification by sourcing raw materials such as meat and fish from local suppliers.
'Apart from working to our guidelines on costs and margins they are very much free to create the dishes they want and those which they feel will suit the local market, White said.
Main courses will range from £6 to £12 with starters pitched around £4 to £5 and dishes will change on a regular basis.
A typical dish featured at Ha! Ha! in Norwich could be lamb chops with Norfolk dumplings and onion gravy, dressed Cromer crab, or fish and chips in Adnams beer batter.
Diners at the Bristol Ha! Ha! will be sampling dishes such as Cornish crab pasta while in Cardiff, Welsh lamb will feature strongly on the menu.
'Good bar and pub food is increasingly moving towards local sourcing and the market board specials are a logical move alongside this trend, added White.
The trial will extend until September when Ha! Ha! menus are due for their next change and a decision will then be taken whether to extend 'market boards to other bars.
The new standard menu introduced at all 25 Ha! Ha! bars across the UK sees the appearance of more tapas, canape and nibble-style dishes.
It follows research by the company which revealed a big move towards 'social nibbling in an informal dining style which is growing in popularity in the eating out market.
Six platters now being offered have been developed as sharing dishes, but White believes its menus will soon be offering individual nibbles and snacks.
'People, especially professionals, eat out more and an increasing number of customers want smaller-size snack dishes especially at lunchtime or early evening after work. We have to monitor these trends and devise menus accordingly, White said.Ha! Ha! sharing platters
Home-Made Spicy Nachos £7.50
& Melted Cheese
Ha! Ha! Mezze with Spicy Tortillas£6.50
Ha! Ha! Tapas Platter£9.95
Ha! Ha! Mediterranean Platter £7.50
Ha! Ha! Asian Platter £9.95
Ha! Ha! Mixed salads £9.95
