August seasonal update

August in the UK brings together high summer and the first signs of autumn.

Tomatoes, courgettes, sweetcorn and soft fruit remain abundant, while plums, early apples and pears begin to signal the seasonal shift ahead.

Grouse returns from 12 August, bringing game back onto menus, while British lobster and other summer seafood continue to offer lighter options.

This is a month of contrast. Chefs can continue making the most of colourful summer produce, while beginning to introduce richer flavours, game and preserved ingredients that point towards autumn.

We have collaborated with two exceptional chefs to bring you fresh seasonal ideas and recipes as inspiration for your menus this month, alongside a selection of relevant recipes and videos from The Staff Canteen archive.

Special thanks this month to Michael Caines (Michael Caines at The Stafford) and Jon Atashroo (Where There’s Smoke) for their recipe contributions, and we also have some other recipes from the archives to share again.

Hero Produce – August 2026

• Grouse – The season begins on 12 August, marking the return of game to late-summer menus.
• Blackberries – Plentiful, sharp and suited to both sweet and savoury dishes.
• Sweetcorn – Sweet, crisp and versatile enough for grilling, purées, soups and sauces.
• Lobster – British lobster remains a standout ingredient for summer seafood dishes.
• Heritage carrots – Colourful, naturally sweet and suitable for roasting, pickling or serving raw.

Game in August

• In season: Grouse from 12 August, rabbit, venison and wood pigeon

The arrival of grouse gives August menus their first clear move towards autumn. Blackberries, girolles, cabbage and earthy sauces all provide natural accompaniments.

• Read more: The 'Queen of the Game Season': What happens on Glorious Twelfth
• Read more: André Garrett's top tips for cooking grouse

UK Seafood in August

• In season: Lobster, mackerel, sardines, gurnard, hake and sole

Recipe links:

Warm lobster salad with mango, lime and cardamom vinaigrette and curried mayonnaise by Michael Caines, Michael Caines at The Stafford

Seasonal Fruit & Vegetables

• Summer vegetables: Sweetcorn, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, peppers and cucumbers
• Roots and brassicas: Heritage carrots, beetroot, kohlrabi and baby turnips
• Fruit: Blackberries, raspberries, redcurrants, plums, greengages and damsons
• Coming into season: Discovery apples and early pears

Recipe links:

Sweetcorn chawanmushi by Johnnie Crowe of Restaurant St Barts

Seasonal Cheese & Dairy

Late-summer vegetables and fruit work well with fresh, gently acidic dairy products that add richness without overwhelming the produce.

• Goat’s curd
• Labneh
• Fresh ricotta
• Young sheep’s milk cheeses

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Wild & Foraged Ingredients

• In season: Girolles, wild fennel, meadowsweet, elderberries and late-summer herbs

Girolles pair naturally with grouse and other game, while meadowsweet and elderberries can bring floral or sharp notes to desserts, sauces and drinks.

Preservation Ideas

• Blackberry jam or vinegar
• Tomato confit
• Pickled courgettes
• Sweetcorn relish
• Plum or damson compote
• Fermented late-summer vegetables

August’s abundance makes it a useful month for preserving, allowing kitchens to carry peak summer flavours into autumn and winter menus.

Baking & Desserts with Seasonal Fruit

Blackberries, plums and other late-summer fruits bring natural acidity and colour to desserts, working well with chocolate, enriched doughs, custards and cultured dairy.

Recipe links:

Blackberry baba by Jon Atashroo, chef patron at Where There’s Smoke

August Market Insight

• Soft fruit and stone fruit remain abundant, while early apples and pears begin to arrive.
• Grouse season begins on 12 August, giving chefs an opportunity to start moving menus towards autumn.
• Sweetcorn, tomatoes, courgettes and heritage carrots offer broad versatility across starters, mains, sides and sauces.
• Late August is a valuable time for pickling, fermenting and preserving produce while it remains plentiful.

Are you using any seasonal ingredients in your menus this month?

Upload your pics and recipes to our website, tag us on Instagram @thestaffcanteen, or email recipes to tom@thestaffcanteen.com for a chance to be featured in our next seasonal update!