FRIDAY FOOD FACT – TENNIS AND STRAWBERRIES


Wimbledon is on, and it’s a well known fact that the fruit of the season will be served by the bowlful during the two week tournament taking place in London now. Strawberries are a quintessentially tennis thing! So if you’ve been watching, you’ve no doubt seen spectators scoffing them  while they wait to see their favourite players take to the hallowed turf. A news story in the London Evening Standard last week stated that 28000kg of strawberries will be consumed with cream during this year’s competition. That’s a lot of berries! As followers of Good Food Ireland know, we have our very own strawberry producers right here on these shores. So there’s no excuse for you not to have your own seasonal summer bowlful while watching the tennis on telly this weekend. Look to our Fruit Growers  for the best Irish strawberries. So what else can you do with them other than just eat them straight with cream?

Use fresh sliced strawberries and whipped cream to fill a light and fluffy Victoria Sponge cake – a delightful afternoon tea treat.

Do as the Italians do and sprinkle your strawberries with balsamic vinegar and black pepper – for savoury or sweet consumption!

Puree strawberries smooth and fold loosely into thick whipped cream to make a simple Strawberry Fool

Pop them in a shake, smoothie or slushie for summer drinking

Dunk them into warm chocolate sauce for a sensuous snack – mmm, we like this one!

Blitz fresh strawberries and pour the puree over ice cream. Serve with extra whole berries on the side.

And finally, pop whole strawberries  into a refreshing glass of Pimm’s – another Wimbledon favourite drink! 230.000 glasses are expected to be sold this year! The perfect Pimm’s is made with a mix of Pimm’s No 1 topped up with Lemonade, over ice with  lots of fresh fruit and mint leaves.