Strawberries
Friday 20th June 2008 by Tom Aikens
 At 26, Tom Aikens was the youngest recipient of two Michelin stars; today he is one of the most exciting chefs working in the UK. In 2003 he opened Tom Aikens Restaurant  and in 2006 Tom’s Kitchen (both in Chelsea).
Tom’s first cookbook, Tom Aikens: Cooking is hugely popular and he is currently working on his second book. Watch this space...
This fortnight’s Food For Thought: Strawberries
As far as I’m concerned, British strawberries are the greatest strawberries in the world and I always look for British strawberries for my restaurants simply because they're tastier than any others. I’ve heard it’s going to be the best crop in years and I want to make sure my customers sample the fruit whilst it’s at the height of its season so we’re ordering them in now!
White strawberries are quite unique and very good too; they’re long and thin and not as intensely sweet in flavour as traditionally shaped red strawberry.
 Take some strawberries, trim the tops off and wash them. Make a simple stock syrup from 500ml water, 200g caster sugar, a little fresh mint, one vanilla bean (split and scraped) and the juice of a lemon. Bring this to a simmer, add the strawberries and cook for a minute, then remove from the heat and leave to chill. Serve cold.
Chop strawberries and mix them with other seasonal berries. Add this to a mix of chunky pieces of meringue (just lightly crushed) and two parts whipped cream to one part Greek yoghurt to make a refreshing summer Eton Mess – a traditional favourite.
Chop fresh strawberries into a tub of good quality strawberry ice cream that has been left out for a while (but not totally defrosted) so it’s easy to mix them through. Put it back in the freezer for ¾ hour and you’ll have delicious fresh strawberry ice cream.
Other seasonal ingredients to look out for:
Cauliflowers
English lettuce
Rocket
The start of English tomatoes
At the end of June, the first of English cucumbers
And Tom’s final word this fortnight: if you haven’t discovered them yet, then a box of the finest Sir Hans Sloane chocolates, from Master Chocolatier Bill McCarrick, is the perfect end to any meal...
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