the
THE
halloween edition
october 2016
020 3617 3300 www.yeschef.biz
Newsletter October 2016
The weather has certainly taken a chilly turn. The official first day of autumn was 22nd September. Already the nights are drawing in. The markets are full of the late summer/early autumn harvest. We are swapping the light and cool for the warm and comforting. The clocks go back on October 30th, which will mark the official turn onto the winter road. But us Brits are brilliant when it comes to hearty and wholesome foods, so here at yes Chef we are looking forward to the autumn and winter menus coming into their own. In this edition, its all about squashes and pumpkins. The jackolanterns are the undisputed herald of the month, see the final page for our Yes Chef template to help you carve a stunner!
In This Edition 1. a ‘Whole’ lot of news An update on Yes Chef and the history of Jack-o-Lanterns
2. Hello Halloween A selection of spookily delicious produce for the month
3. Squash ‘em in A selection of some of the best squash and pumpkin
4. What’s Up Doc? Dr. Mariana Williams gives us the low down on what produce is REALLY healthy and why.
5. purple reign All things purple in the shape of fruit and veg!.
6. how d’ya like them apples UK apples from the orchards of the home counties.
7. NUTURED IN NORFOLK Introducing our wonderful source of all things micro like flowers, herbs and vegetables.
8. magic mushrooms A magical tour of the best mushrooms of the season
9. OUT OF THE GROUND A classic rundown of our heritage potatoes and chips.
10. Store cupboard A rundown of our dry-store produce and a few treats too.
11. template Don’t say we don’t give you anything!
Next Page: Whole lot of news
We’re not ones to boast here at Yes Chef, but we are very proud to announce that we have been selected as the primary distributor of Jack-o-lanterns to Whole Foods Group. We are thrilled, because (not only do we love Halloween) but we are pleased to be representing such a great company, with a great ethos behind it.
We are pleased to be able to work in partnership with Dan Mackelden Ltd. They are a diverse, forward thinking agricultural business, which is based at Lested Farm, Chart Sutton. The farm is family based and has been running since 1947. In October, Dan Mackelden Ltd is predominately dealing with the picking, washing, packing and loading of over 1 million Pumpkins. Throughout the year we also grow mint, parsley and apples and other types of squashes. Here’s a little history on the Jack-o-lantern. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years. Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavoury figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.”
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1 Next Page: Halloween Hello
MUNCHKIN PUMPKINS A huge favourite here at Yes Chef. Not only are they tiny and cute, but they are delicious and make a great ornamental dressing to a restaurant at the right time of the season. Beautiful earthy tones.
JACKOLANTERNS We don’t wish to brag, but we are the primary distributors of jacko-lanterns to Whole Foods Group. These are the godfather the the squash...they mean business! See our last page for our Yes Chef template for your own festive lantern.
BLOOD MEAT RADISH They look a little nefarious but they really pack a punch on the plate. There snow white skin belies the ruby red burst of colour inside. Just a beautiful gem of a radish for salads and cold starters.
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Next Page: Squash em in
Gem The dark green spherical fruit, when fully ripe, is about the size of a large cricket ball. Beautiful for stuffing with all sorts of delicious fillings. Lovely autumn treat.
Spaghetti
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Next Page: What’s up Doc
Can range either from ivory to yellow. Its centre contains many large seeds. Its flesh is bright yellow or orange and is stringy like spaghetti, which gives an interesting texture.
There’s been lots in the news about the Junior Doctors contract. Yes Chef, support them all the way. Every month Dr. Mariana Williams (Intensive Care Doctor at Queen Alexandra Hospital-Portsmouth) gives us the nutritional low down on our seasonal fresh produce, based on the REAL scientific and medical evidence out there.
What’s up
APPLES In the laboratory, apples have been found to have very strong antioxidant activity, inhibit cancer cell proliferation, decrease lipid oxidation, and lower cholesterol. Apples contain a variety of phytochemicals, including quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid, all of which are strong antioxidants. Boyer J, Liu RH. Apple phytochemicals and their health benefits. Nutr J. 2004 May 12;3:5. PubMed PMID: 15140261; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC442131
MUSHROOM Adjuvant treatment with mushrooms is associated with improvements in the immunological and hematologic parameters of breast cancer. Novaes, Maria Rita Carvalho Garbi et al. “The Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Agaricales Mushrooms and Other Medicinal Fungi on Breast Cancer: Evidence-Based Medicine.” Clinics 66.12 (2011): 2133–2139.PMC. Web. 15 June 2016.
PUMPKIN is one of the well-known edible plants and has substantial medicinal properties due to the presence of unique natural edible substances. Various important medicinal properties including an-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, antiinflammatory and others have been well documented. Yadav M, Jain S, Tomar R, Prasad GB, Yadav H. Medicinal and biologicalpotential of pumpkin: an updated review. Nutr Res Rev. 2010 Dec;23(2):184-90.
CARROTS Iron deficiency anaemia is frequently seen in the paediatric age group. Modifying the treatment options according to the affected area resources will help accessibility and compliance to treatment. Response of children with Iron deficiency anaemia to a natural hematinic (Carboadeim) found in carrots versus iron syrup plus folic acid treatment was compared in this study. Mohamed Ali MF, Swar MO, Osman AM. Treatment of iron deficiency anaemia with the natural hematinic Carbaodeim. Sudan J Paediatr. 2016;16(1):37-44.
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Next Page: Purple Reign
Purple Grelot Onion an attractive deep purple -red skinned spring onion with a mild flavour and a crisp texture. The purple outer skin merges with the silver when peeled, adding a colour contrast to salads
Purple Cauliflower Gets its beautiful hue, which can vary from pale to jewel-toned, from the presence of the antioxidant anthocyanin, which is also found in red cabbage and red wine.
Blood Peaches This is the peach all the in-the-know farmers’ market junkies will be looking for in June and July. Has a has a firm texture and is sweet yet slightly tart.
Violet Baby Artichoke The baby violet artichoke is an intriguing vegetable. A delightful little gem of a veg is so delicious that you soon forge the time consuming task of preparing it.
Purple Broccoli This untidy-looking, colourful cousin of broccoli can be used in much the same way. Leafier and deeper in colour than calabrese, it adds vibrancy and crunch to vegetable dishes.
Aubergines Are delicious on the barbecue or cooked slowly in a vegetable curry or ratatouille. Get versatile with these, they’re really worth it.
Purple Carrots Purple carrots (usually orange or white inside) have even more beta carotene than their orange cousins. Delicious and nutritious.
Banana Shallots Baby Aubergines Tiny but mighty. Full of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre and with the potential to lower cholesterol, aubergines are a great choice for salads, stews and beyond.
The banana shallot, or echalion, is a cross between a regular shallot and an onion . It has inherited the best qualities from each side, the larger size of the onion and the mildness and sweetness of the shallot.
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How d’you like them apples?
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Research in the early part of the 21st century indicated that all sweet apples arose originally in a small area of Tian Shan on Kazakhstan's border with China. It is likely that they gradually spread into Europe through the Middle East and several manuscripts from ancient Greece, including Homer's Odyssey, refer to apples and describe apple orchards. There is evidence that apples grew wild in Britain in the Neolithic period but it was the Romans who first introduced variwith sweeter and greater taste. The earliest known mention 6 eties of apples in England was by King Alfred in about 885 AD. Next Page:
Nurtured in Norfolk
Nurtured In Norfolk are specialist growers of edible flowers and leaves as well as micro shoots and vegetables. Used by chefs around the country including Michelin starred chefs in some of the UK’s most famous restaurants. Nurtured in Norfolk believes in delivering the highest quality and consistency in their products.
Micro Veg Baby Fennel Baby Leek Micro Carrots
Edible Flowers
Micro Leeks Micro Onions
Amaranth Flowers
Micro Turnips
Apple Blossom
Micro Rainbow Carrots Baby Courgettes
Blackcurrant Sage
Baby Aubergines
Borage Flowers
Cucamelons
Butterfly Sorrel
Baby Beetroot
Buzz Buttons
and many more...
Calendula Nasturtium Flowers Impatiens Lavender Flowers
and many more..
Edible Leaves Apple Mint Aztec Mint Banana Mint Bronze Fennel Ice Plant Large Nasturtium Leaves Lavender Mint Salicornia Sea Beet Sea Purslane Strawberry Mint Wild Garlic Wormwood
and many more..
Micro Shoots Golden Pea Shoots Salad Pea Shoots Sunflower Shoots Tendril Pea Shoots Golden Pea Shoots Salad Pea Shoots Sunflower Shoots Tendril Pea Shoots
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and many more...
Next Page: Magic Mushrooms
PAGE 8 Next Page: Out of the Ground
OUT
of the
Ground
Please state when ordering whether you need the potatoes for shipping or mashing, we can guide you to the best for your needs.
Chippies Choice potatoes are available in 25kg sacks, and were the first chipping potatoes to give storage, preparation and frying instructions in six languages, allowing best practices to be observed in restaurants of different nationalities.
Possibly the best specialist chipping potato brand in the UK, our exclusive Chippies Choice potatoes are a firm favourite of the fish and chip shop trade. Guaranteeing a light, golden, fluffy but firm textured chip, Chippies Choice ensures consistent production of the perfect chip. To achieve this, potatoes are always selected using strict variety, dry matter and fry colour criteria.
Available washed in 5 or 10kg boxes and in 1kg nets.
A very old variety dating back to 1850 which has made an astonishing comeback in recent years .This variety is a long potato pink in colour with a butter yellow middle. It is suitable for boiling, steaming or roasting whole
This white root is the cream of the winter crop. It’s a ubiquitous part of a Sunday roast or a Christmas dinner but also over the years has been a part of the sweet course. Cakes, creams and even ice-creams have used this surprising little root to great effect.
Albert Bartlett Red Roosters
The appearance of Rooster potatoes makes them stand out from the crowd– the deep red skin and beautifully shallow eyes. And they taste as good as they look. They are in high demand as Britain’s favourite brand!
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Available washed in 5 or 10kg boxes and in 1kg nets.
Jazzy is the all new small potato. It’s a waxy, setskinned potato which is great value, versatile and good looking. Jazzy is grown in Britain, by a group of 5 friendly farmers who are based in Cornwall, Norfolk and Lancashire.
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Available washed in 5 or 10kg boxes and in 1kg nets.
Available in 25kg sacks washed or unwashed
This is a rare version of the King Edward and is oval in shape with red skin and a white flush. It has a floury texture suitable with the same cooking properties as a King Edward so good for roasting, chipping and Next Page: Store Cupboard mashing.
Eleusi Oil comes from a family run farm on the South tip of Italy. The farm’s operations began in the 1960s when Giuseppe Giovazzini planted the first 150 olive trees. The main business was local olive oil cultivation, production and marketing. During the 1980s, Giuseppe’s son, Pietro, increased cultivation.
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SHOW OFF YOUR KNIFE SKILLS WITH OUR HALLOWEEN JACK-O-LANTERN TEMPLATE!