With the clocks going back, the nights drawing in and the weather cooling, autumn has firmly arrived. The shift means many menus are changing too, with diners being drawn to cosy seasonal dishes, which make the most of the autumn harvest.
Many root vegetables are at their best in autumn. We love dishes which make hearty veg like pumpkins, squashes, carrots and sweet potatoes the star of the show. Seasonal plant-based dishes not only taste great, they also cater to a variety of dietary requirements. This means many ‘accidentally vegan’ options can also be enjoyed by meat eaters and vegetarians.
Cooler weather and less sunlight mean many people crave food with more carbohydrates during autumn and winter. The body needs more energy to stay warm when the temperature drops so people are naturally drawn to dishes with more calories. It’s a perfect time to showcase hearty and warming dishes like pies, stews and en-croutes, or dishes like our pizza pie, for when you need double to comfort food.
Innovation in ingredients and recipes means gluten free versions of many of these dishes now taste just as delicious as traditional ones too.
Autumn is the perfect time for puddings like crumbles, sweet pies and cheesecakes. Apples, pears and berries work really well combined with autumnal spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. It’s a great time to experiment with fun flavours, textures and ingredients in desserts like honeycomb, pistachio, praline and cookies. Our gingerbread roulade is popular at this time of year, as are s’mores inspired desserts with meringue, chocolate ganache and a crisp biscuit base.
We are also seeing a rise in new flavours like miso, which offers a rich umami flavour and works perfectly with chocolate and caramel. Meanwhile citrus flavours like lemon and lime can work really well to complement and finish more hearty main courses.
Whether your menu is changing completely, or you are adding in one or two autumnal touches, embracing the seasons can help you meet customers’ needs and offer a wonderful dining experience. If you’d like to discuss how we can help create the delicious dishes for your menu, do get in touch.