Guides

Mushrooms are the perfect way to add depth of flavour to a dish with very little effort, and at Fine Food Specialist, we stock a wide range; from earthy, meaty morels with their distinctive wrinkled caps to delicate golden chanterelles and skinny, silken enoki. Here’s our guide to working with one of nature’s most versatile ingredients.

Sometimes it’s hard to know what’s missing from a dish to give it the wow factor, which is where garnishes such as edible flowers and micro herbs really come into their own. 

These flowers and herbs are just coming into season in the spring, and you’ll find an exciting range available in store to transform your dish into something special. 

Every year, there are a host of exciting events dotted throughout the calendar. These are the events that help shape every 12 months, and keep us looking forward to what’s around the corner.  But so caught up in our own worlds can we be that it’s easy to forget there are not only other worlds out there, but that there are other calendars out there as well!

We all have our favourite types of luxury foods, and nothing quite matches a dish containing something you truly love the taste of and don’t get to eat every day. For many, perhaps due to the associations with holidays and sunshine, seafood is a top choice in the luxury food department. Exquisite fruits of the sea can be hard to acquire, but are so rewarding when they’re cooked to perfection and complemented by other fantastic food products. 

If you are on the lookout for gifts for foodies, you might not feel that the range of products available at your local supermarket are quite what you need. To deliver true culinary quality, it’s vital you seek the very best products sourced from high-quality suppliers.

When it comes to experiencing exquisite culinary delights, there are few things quite like a delicious selection of cheese. The combination of texture, smell and taste is what separates cheese from other gourmet food options. A truly top-quality cheese encompasses everything you want from a food choice – sensational flavours that can be enjoyed in a range of contexts and meal options.

As you may know, we held a competition for our customers to send photos in of the dishes that they have made using our ingredients. We had some amazing responses and have created this gallery of our favourite images and creations! Our winner was Chris Coleby, who sent it this amazing photo of Sashimi Cobia with Salted Cucumber Tartare, Green Chilli, Cucumber and Celeriac. Congratulations Chris on this amazing dish, we hope you enjoy your prize!

One of the most interesting things about great food dishes is the visual impact they can have, and how this transfers to taste and overall enjoyment. This idea goes back centuries. Apicius, a Roman Gourmand who lived in the 1st century, is rumoured to have coined the phrase ‘We eat first with our eyes’.

With such a diverse, exciting range of culinary options, the French are truly experts in the gastronomic field. French foods are revered globally for many reasons. One is the strong traditions that go into the creation of truly wonderful produce. Another is the focus placed on flavour and texture.

Flowers can look great in your home or your garden, providing a flash of beauty and colour. But now, thanks to Fine Food Specialist, it’s easier than ever to get beautiful flowers on your plate and enjoy them in a whole new way.

Chinese New Year takes place on Tuesday 5^th February this year, with millions of people around the world coming together to celebrate this great event. Regardless of your nationality or background, there’s no reason to miss out on the chance to enjoy some exquisite food options. At Fine Food Specialist, we love this celebration and have created a dedicated range of Chinese New Year food for you to enjoy. But we also want to provide you with some background as to why this event is truly special.

Oysters have long been seen as a delicacy and a much sought after culinary product. Not only are they delicious, but oysters bring about a host of other benefits. They’re packed full of protein, can support the health of your heart, improve circulation and your immunity levels. Additionally and somewhat famously, oysters are widely thought of as being an aphrodisiac.

At Fine Food Specialist, we have a wide selection of oyster products available for you to buy from our online store. But to help you get the most out of your purchase, we’ve put together this handy blog.

There’s nothing like getting your family and friends together and enjoying the sunny weather with a nice summer barbeque. But though the company and the weather may be nice, sometimes the meats and food used served up at a BBQ are not quite up to scratch.

To help you reach superior levels of culinary excellence this summer, Fine Food Specialist has put together a series of Gourmet Food Boxes that are perfect for BBQs. Our aim is to help you provide a higher standard of food for you and your guests to enjoy. Why not go gourmet and try something a little different when it comes to selecting the meats and other foods for your summer event?

Caviar is an adored delicacy amongst chefs and food fanatics, providing people with the ultimate taste of luxury. If you’re a caviar expert looking to further explore the many varieties of this fine food, or you’re just beginning to appreciate the qualities of caviar, then keep on reading to discover the taste opportunities that are awaiting you…