Why do we import apples and pears from South Africa?
Because British apples and pears, that have been stored over winter, have now run out. There are no more British apples and pears until late summer.
Out of season, the fruit is shipped, not flown, from South Africa, so it has a low carbon footprint. In addition buying South African fruit boosts the economy helping black and coloured farmers and creating employment.
Last week I hosted an apples and pears supper club, rather like my organic carrot supper club, where I take an ingredient and push the envelope with it on a culinary level.
Here are some pictures from the event:
I hired fruit carver Nasima Khatun to carve African animals into apples and pears; she also gave a fruit carving demo on a watermelon.
Expert crafter Dionne Leonard created paper apples and pears. Bewilderly did wonderful calligraphy on the place cards, with little watercolours of apples and pears.
I made rose apple or apple blossom tarts, two kinds. Recipes soon.
Menu
Pear Drop Vodka and Prosecco cocktail
Canapé: South African ‘fashion sandwich’ (fresh wasabi leaves and root, nori, sushi rice, smoked trout, Pink Lady apple slices)
Abate Fetel pear stuffed with blue cheese, wrapped in filo, with caramelised walnuts.
Apple wood hot-smoked mackerel (on the Big Green Egg) Thai style Granny Smith apple salad
Cheese board with dried apples and pear crisps
Pink Lady Apple blossom cinnamon and salted caramel tarts
Poires Belles Helene with chantilly (recipe here)
Granny Smith sorbet with baobab powder and caramel nibs (recipe soon)
Chocolate toffee Braeburn apples (recipe here)
South African wines from winetrust100.co.uk
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