|
THE supermarket chain Waitrose has just launched a novel new form of seafood - but it has nothing to do with fish that swim in the sea.
Sea vegetables traditionally found around Britain's shores are hitting supermarket shelves following a surge in demand linked to the foraging trend. Samphire and sea aster, both native British plants, will appear at Waitrose fresh fish counters this summer.
The company says that demand for samphire outstripped supply at the supermarket last year as the foraging trend raised its profile and made the green vegetable a foodies’ must-have.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall of Fish Fight fame and Rick Stein are among the celebrity chefs who have sung the praises of samphire, typically found in marshlands and mudflats around estuaries. British samphire will be sold at Waitrose fish counters for the first time thanks to the supermarket securing its own dedicated supply.
Waitrose fresh produce buyer Rhonwen Cunningham said: “Samphire became so popular during 2010 that customer demand outstripped our supply, so we’ve worked hard to get more of this delicious green vegetable into our stores.
“British-grown sea aster and samphire will be available at Waitrose this summer while the season lasts – so shoppers won’t have to go foraging in the wild for them.”
Samphire and sea aster are classed as sea vegetables, not seaweed, and have a light delicate flavour. Apparently, they take just a few minutes to steam cook or sautee and are usually served with fish and other seafood. The Ledbury in London - this year's highest new entry in the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Britain’s foraging trend grew to such an extent last year that illegal wild mushroom picking at beauty spot Epping Forest hit a record high. Now it has moved to the coastline.
Should people be 'stimulated' to eat white fish alternatives to cod?
