Give your menu a health check so you'll be set up for a happy new year

As you read this you will probably be nursing a thick head from the holiday bonanza and certainly not wanting to think about the year ahead. But forward planning is vital for any profitable activity and now is the time to review the shape of your business and menus. Viva 2003! Catering Update is here to help with everything you need to stay ahead of the game over the coming year.

Authentic Thai at your fingertips The new Uncle Ben's Thai Green Curry culinary sauce from Masterfoods offers a simple method to create authentic Thai dishes.The sauce is a spicy Thai coconut curry with ginger, garlic and lime leaves. With an authentic colours, textuire and taste, the sauce contains no artifical colour, preservatives or flavourings.It can be used as a dip, stir fry, pour over, marinade or brush on sauce.A free Thai Green recipe card is available featuring five new recipes including Vegetable Thai Kebabs, Spiced Thai Rice Cakes and Thai Green Prawn Curry.Other products in the range include Sweet & Sour, Sweet & Sour with Vegetables, Sweet Thai Chilli and Cantonese Sweet Soy Sesame.
Masterfoods

Free guide to New Zealand lamb New Zealand Lamb has produced a free guide called "Quality in the Kitchen", which covers a huge range of topics from New Zealand's farming practices and meat handling techniques to advice on cuts.The leaflet also includes a temperature guide for the safe storage and handling of lamb, either when transporting or once it is to be stored or used in the kitchen. There is also a carcass diagram which identifies where each cut comes from and which ones are most suitable for a variety of meals.New Zealand offers a wide range of cuts all year round, whether chilled or frozen.
http://www.nzlamb.org.nz" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">www.nzlamb.org.nz
New Zealand Lamb Info Bureau

Oil's well! Anglia Oils has joined forces with Harry Ramsden's to launch a new vegetable cooking oil. Called Harry Ramsden's Traditional Taste Vegetable Oil, it is blended with a beef flavouring to produce an authentic chip shop taste.Approved by The Vegetarian Society, the oil contains no cholesterol. Available in a 2-litre bottle. Also new from Anglia Oils is the relaunched Whirl, a butter substitute, which can be used for a viariety of cooking and preparation applications.This vegetable oil is suitable for grilling and griddling, roasting and basting, vegetable glazing, soups and sauce preparation.There's no need to melt or clarify as Whirl can be poured straight into the dish or pan. It does not spit, burn or discolour pans in normal use. As an ambient product, it doesn't need to be kept in the fridge. Available in 3 x 4 litre bottles and also 20 litre tubs.
www.angliaoils.co.uk
Anglia Oils

Salmon is in the pink! Fresh Shetland salmon is growing in popularity, as demonstrated in the recent Master Chefs of Great Britain (MCGB) 20th Annual Luncheon, where salmon was provided by the Shetland Salmon Farmers' Association.Nigel Frost, executive chef of the Hilton London Metropole Hotel, accepted the task to prepare a gastronomic feast for 350 guests using pre-selected ingredients.The meal featured three salmon dishes served as a "composite of Shetland salmon". These were Citrus Marinated Salmon Slivers on Picked Autumn Leaves; Hot Smoked Salmon Tracnhe on Petit Potato Salad and Chilled Salmon Souffle With Scallop and Lobster.
Shetland Salmon Farmers' Association

Knorr soups up its range The Knorr Classic soups range is extendig its collection of classic soups with four new varieties and revamped packaging.The four new soups are: Cream of Pea & Mint, Sundried Tomato & Basil, Cream of Pumpkin and Thai Vegetable.The soups are made from a roux base, apart from the Thai Vegetable and Minestrone that are light, clear soups. The roux base and granulated format mean that the soups can be prpared with the minimum of effort.All soups are in case sizes of 4 x 25ptns, with a list price of £13.15.The new packaging features clear cooking instructions and useful serving suggestions for each variety.
Caterplan

It's jammin' The latest offering from Beacon Foods is chilli jam in a variety of tongue-tingling strengths to suit customers' tastes.The jam can be used as a garnish, pizza topping or as a sandwich filling.The company produces a portfolio of over 300 products including roasted, chargrilled and flame-roasted fruit and vegetables.
Beacon Foods
Dead ringers Kitchen Range Foods provides a huge array of savoury products for buffets, party canapes, starters or main meal accompaniments.These include Garlic & Herb Potato Wedges and Crispy Coated Garlic Mushrooms, which can be served with a sour cream and blue cheese dip. Or there's Baby Camembert in a Crispy Crumb; Goats Cheese Bites or Tempura Mix - a mix of baby carrot batons, fine green beans, baby corn and red and green chillies, all in a tempura coating.
Kitchen Range Foods