What is Good to Eat in April
‘The In-between month’
Another month is here already, European summertime has begun, lighter evenings and warmer weather are on their way and with it, we hope a glut of great summer food.
I always look on April as the month in between winter food and summer food. There are the last remenants of winter vegetables and the first signs of summer ones. Peas and broad beans might show, wild garlic almost certainly will and with it some wild leeks, watercress and sorrel. Wild salmon is the pick of the fish bunch and English wood pigeon continue where other game birds left off. Look out for the beautiful morel and St.George mushrooms and make the most of their short season, as expensive as morels are they’re worth it.
This is the month when I begin to ‘lighten up’ the menu, rich sauces make way for light reductions of natural stocks and vinaigrettes and there will be a greater splash of colour after months of winter game and vegetables. Seafood is unremarkable at the moment, bad weather pushes the prices up and avaliability is hit and miss so no change there!
Last year I had sown autumn squashes but I shall wait a while longer this year, they don’t appreciate cold soil or temperatures so I shall endevour to wait until May.
I already have a few new dishes in my head but they are still drawings on scrap paper at the moment, it’s just a case of switching off for an hour in the kitchen and putting them into some sort of order. Watch this space!
Finally, grow some radishes, they are easy to grow and freshly picked are fantastic. The texture is so much better than shop bought ones which have sat around on shelves for weeks. Don’t waste the young leaves either, they are delicious with vinaigrette.
Miles,
Those radishes look very tempting and good enough to eat. You have convinced me and I shall grow some this year. I shall report on the success/failure as the case may be.
Elsie
April 2, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Great timing with this- I’m off to the farmer’s market in 5 minutes! quick thoughts, the Stones song was Shattered. I ate at Bill Patterson’s tiny little restaurant in Kinsale, Ireland. It was called The Oystercatcher. Too long a story to go into now, but if I ever do open my own place, it would be run like his was: 6 tables with only one seating and maybe 2 choices for each of 8 courses. Better go before I miss my bus.
April 2, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Elsie,
They’re very easy to grow and well worth a try. Have a go!
Miles
April 2, 2008 @ 9:44 pm
Dave,
Sounds like a great restaurant, I’ll look into it. Hope the Farmers Market was good.
Happy cooking
Miles
April 2, 2008 @ 9:46 pm
I wrote about radishes the other day. They are one of my favorite little things. And, quite frankly, I like the leaves even more than the roots…
April 2, 2008 @ 11:47 pm