August seasonal update

 August is a generous month for British kitchens. Late-summer sunshine ensures that homegrown produce continues to thrive, while the first signs of the seasonal shift begin to creep in.

Courgettes, tomatoes, and soft fruits are still in abundance, with new-season apples and pears starting to arrive. It’s the perfect time to champion UK growers, get creative with preserves, and plan ahead for autumn menus.

This is also the time when kitchens look at balancing freshness with foresight. With so much available, chefs are taking the opportunity to preserve, pickle, ferment and cure. Courgettes, tomatoes, and stone fruits are being turned into sauces, chutneys, and compotes that will stretch well into the colder months - ensuring summer’s peak can be felt long after the sun sets earlier.

Seasonal Fruit

British-grown fruit is at its peak, offering variety, flavour and freshness across the board.

Still abundant:

• Blackberries

• Raspberries

• Redcurrants

• Gooseberries

Try this Blackberry and Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe from Nathan Strachan. 

• Victoria plums, greengages, damsons, cherries

Coming in now:

• Discovery apples and early-season pears

• English-grown peaches and apricots (limited but notable)

Soft fruits are ideal for quick desserts, while stone fruits lend themselves to roasting, pickling or pairing with game and pork as we approach the turn of the season.

Seasonal Vegetables and Salad

Late summer vegetables are at their most colourful and flavourful.

• Courgettes, aubergines, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers

• Sweetcorn, broad beans, peas, kohlrabi

• Beetroots