Cozy up to Winter Fruits for Seasonal Specials
December 2016
Seasonal specials keep diners interested and help chefs explore their culinary creativity all year long. Plus, restaurants that offer seasonal LTOs have about 26% more orders and 23% higher check averages than restaurants that do not. Prepare your menu for colder weather by using these winter fruits in a variety of dishes:
- Clementines: This citrus fruit is actually a cross between a sweet orange and a mandarin orange. Its zest and juice can be used for braising meat dishes and in marinades, vinaigrettes and other sauces. The fruit itself adds fresh flavor to winter salads. Also use it in sweet dishes, such as tarts and sorbets.
- Pears: Pears are a delicious ingredient in both sweet and savory menu items. Try them in pizza, slaw, soups, salads, sandwiches and more. They can also be grilled, poached or braised and served as a side dish or dessert.
- Pomegranates: Pomegranate juice can be used to make dressings, sauces and even pomegranate molasses. Pomegranate seeds add unique texture and flavor to all types of dishes. Use this Mediterranean Power Salad recipe to highlight their flavor.
Discover more recipes using seasonal ingredients in the Culinary Center.
SOURCES
3 Ways to Incorporate Seasonal Items into Your Menu, Grubhub, December 2015.
Lively, Ruth. Clementines: Not just for snacking, Fine Cooking, September 2006.
Retuta, Reena. 5 Ways to Add Pears to Savory Dishes, Bloglovin, September 2016.
Pears, Fine Cooking.
Gallary, Christine. Pomegranates, the Jewels of Winter, The Kitchn, October 2014.
Varriano, Jackie. 4 Winter Ingredients Seattle Chefs Are Loving Right Now, Zagat, February 2016.
