Product trial: Rolling out new menu ideas
INEVITABLY THE first thing customers at the Donkey ask about is the name and the answer is "yes, two of them".
Based in the garden of the pub in Tilford near Farnham, Surrey, are Pip and Dusty, two donkeys with a fondness for a drop of the soft stuff - ginger beer.
Licensees Helen and Lee Francis have run the country pub for almost 10 years. "Pip and Dusty have been with us since we took over the Donkey nearly a decade ago - I like to joke our food is the second-biggest talking point, after them" says Lee, who is head chef.
With more than 20 years experience in the catering industry, Lee has built up the Donkey's reputation for hearty, home-cooked food, with the pub averaging around 450 covers per week.
With two full-time members of staff working alongside him in the kitchen, Lee prepares and cooks the Donkey's menu from scratch.
"I use seasonal produce and prepare everything myself," he says. "My policy is that I only put on the menu dishes Helen and I would be happy to eat ourselves.
"Homemade can bring its own challenges, though. Keeping a steady flow of fresh ideas can be difficult, especially when you need to consider prep times, ingredient costs and the appeal of the dish." With an established customer base to keep impressed, Lee agreed to trial Jus-Rol's Shape It Up menu ideas and to put some new dishes on his specials board.
Using pre-rolled puff pastry shapes, Lee tried and tested nine recipes including cheese, tomato and bacon wraps, goat's cheese and aubergine windmills, chilli mince pies and caramelised peach tarts.
"The recipes were easy to follow, and I was impressed with how quickly we could turn the dishes around. Because the shapes saved on prep time and the results were consistent, it meant I could make them to order, so there was no waste," says Lee.
"There was something for every time of the day, the cheese, tomato and bacon wrap made a great brunch snack and the caramelised peach tart a delicious seasonal dessert.
"I was particularly impressed with the vegetarian recipes as they offered something really different," he added.
In fact, aubergine and goat's cheese windmills made up a third of lunchtime orders during the trial.
"The windmill shape provided a real talking point among customers," says Lee. "They look impressive but were really simple and quick to make - the dish will definitely be going on the menu."
Jus-Rol's Puff Pastry Shapes are available in round, square and oval formats. "I'd recommend them to any pub chef who wants to put something a little different on their menu, or perhaps doesn't have the time to make their own pastry.
WIN! 50-set giveawayJ
us-Rol is giving away 50 sets of Shape it Up recipe cards and, for one reader a case of Jus-Rol Puff Pastry Shapes. To be in with a chance of receiving one, email gemma@jellybeancreative.co.uk with your name, business address and telephone number.
