It’s at this time of year that we all look forward to seeing local hearty veg like heritage and traditional butternut squash make an appearance. Perfect for warming soups and interesting salads, packed full of the flavours we tend to associate with this time of year. Real comfort food!
Cornwall’s Autumn Flavours With Nick Hodges
Cornwall’s natural larder brings with it an ever-changing bounty of incredible ingredients. As autumn casts a golden glow over our county, we turn to The Cornwall Hotel Collection’s Executive Chef, Nick Hodges, who shares his perspective on how to make the most of Cornwall’s autumn flavours, and what we can expect to see on local menus this season…
“Autumn is a great time of year here in Cornwall. As myself and the team across The Cornwall Hotel Collection are led by the seasons, this time of year yields its own reward as we seek richer flavours and more comforting dishes when the weather turns crisp and cold.”
Local mushroom varieties are always a favourite, and autumn is a wonderful time to really make the most of those rich, almost meaty flavours. Wild mushrooms will be making themselves known too, and it’s always a lot of fun to incorporate these into the menu.
Summer might be on the way out, but the sea is still warm and the weather still allows for local boats to head out and bring in their catch, with plenty of fish still roaming local waters. Mackerel, red gurnard, skate and monkfish are just some of my favourites that make for great autumnal dishes.
Warm, rich undertones are often at the heart of many dishes at this time of year, which means us chefs get to play around with heavier sauces, packed full of flavour. Comfort is the name of the game as we head into winter, and we’ll start to see things like soups, stews and hearty fish pies take center stage on the menu.
