Summer special: A taste of the season

Apple Wedges from Lamb Weston are a great way to brighten up summer dessert menus. Made from real apples, dipped in a naturally sweet batter, the...

Apple Wedges from Lamb Weston are a great way to brighten up summer dessert menus. Made from real apples, dipped in a naturally sweet batter, the wedges are frozen for portion control and can be fried or oven cooked. While they're great served with ice-cream, the wedges also go well with savoury dishes such as pork chops, duck and many more.

Oloves, flavoured natural olives in handy pouches, are now available to pubs after a successful launch in the travel sector. Available in non-spill, foil-fresh packs, they offer a healthier alternative to crisps and nuts. They come in three different flavours,are supplied in 30g packs and have a two-year shelf-life.

Mediterranean flavours are always a hit in summer so Bel UK suggests offering customers a selection of cured and dried meats, olives matched with continental cheeses such as Leerdammer or Port Salut. Port Salut's smooth creamy flavour has a wide appeal and its distinctive orange rind adds colour to the plate. A sharing platter will entice groups who may have just come in for a drink to linger longer.

The Authentic Food Company has introduced two new snacks to its European range: Tomato & Mozzarella Parcel and a Goats Cheese & Spinach Parcel. Wrapped in a light, crisp pastry, the 30g parcels can be cooked from frozen in three to four minutes in hot oil.

Atlantic Foods' new Chicken & Pepper Skewers are aimed at customers seeking a healthier barbecue option. The skewered chunks of chicken are interspersed with green and red peppers, for the perfect healthy skewer. Pubs can also serve them as a chicken fajita on a sizzling skillet with mango salsa and sour cream for a light bite with a difference.

Exclusive to 3663, the Whites Aberdeen Angus steak burger is made from 100 per cent beef, lightly seasoned with salt and black pepper. It can be served in a variety of ways, and is ideal barbecued with green salad, tomato and a relish. Whites Aberdeen Angus steak burgers are available in 12 x 227g packs.

3G Food Service has added new light desserts to its range for summer. These include Small Summer Puddings and Mini Victoria Sponges, which are ideal for buffets and parties, as well as a selection of artisan-style fruit patisserie desserts.

Char-grills have a reputation for struggling with denser foods such as steaks and chops, something the new Imperial CrossFire Over Fired Broiler reckons to have overcome. Pubs can serve tender barbecued cuts of meat thanks to the half-inch thick polished steel searing plate, which seals in flavour and moisture, while ceramic radiants direct heat downwards to penetrate the meat with minimal shrinkage and a tender result.

Premium barbecue brand Weber has put its name to a new range of barbecue sauces available through AB World Foods. The three varieties are Original, Hot 'n' Spicy and BBQ Relish, all available through wholesalers and cash & carry outlets.

Lightly spiced tail-on king prawns from Lyons Seafoods can be used as a starter, as part of a buffet or within a combo or sharing platter. Lightly battered, the prawns are part of the company's coated added value range which also includes butterfly breaded tail-on king prawns and crispy calamari.