The best new goodies you need to know about from producers big and small, tested by our team
Yes way, José!
Homemade romesco is a heavenly partner for fish, roast chicken or poached egg – anything where the hero flavour on your plate is gentle, ready to be enhanced by a punchy sauce. But let’s get real: if you don’t have time to roast loads of red peppers, laboriously peel them, whizz with almonds and so on, Spanish chef José Pizarro’s in-a-jar version is a tasty time-saving alternative (albeit with slightly less of a flavour hit than the homemade version).
While you’re online (and if you’re feeling flush), order a pack of acorn-fed, hand-slivered jamon Ibérico too – savoury, sweet, sublime. Epicure Cook With José salsa romesco, £4.29 for 130g, shop.josepizarro.com
IS IT A PEA OR A BEAN?
The delicious. team are converts to Bold Beans, as the quality is vastly superior to that of most tinned beans. Our new obsession? queen carlin peas, the British-grown alternative to the chickpea with a delicate nutty flavour, grown by the renowned Hodmedod’s. £4 for 700g, boldbeanco.com – subscribe for a regular delivery and save 15% (also now available in Waitrose)
From the garden of Kent
Olive oil is a Med-diet staple, but let’s hear it for Britishgrown rapeseed oil, too, which has to travel less far and is rich in good-for-you omega-3 and omega-6 fats. Award-winning Kentish Oils, cold pressed and filtered, come unadorned or in a variety of infused flavours including lemon, chilli, mint, basil and garlic. Individual bottles cost from £4.25 for 250ml, or you can buy a set of 6 x 250ml bottles for £25.50. kentishcondiments.com
WE’LL DRINK TO THAT…
Dima’s vodka from Ukraine is a patriotic triple-grain drink (barley, wheat and rye) whose trident symbol represents not just those t
