Al Fresco Appetisers

When the warm weather arrives, there are scarce more rewarding ways to make the most of the summer sunshine than a spot of al fresco dining.

So, whilst the meat roasts, the grill heats, and your pans slowly come to the boil, take the time to embrace a Mediterranean sensibility, and awaken your palate, with an array of appetising options that showcase the very best on offer in our Food Hall.

Simple, but decidedly moreish, when bringing together even the most small and basic appetiser spread, a decent olive oil option is not to be overlooked. So, whether you like your extra virgin infused or unadulterated, we have a wide selection to suit just about any taste. Take, for example, Honest Toil’s Classic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Cold pressed right after harvesting, this extra virgin olive oil from Greece is unblended, unfiltered and bursting with the simple goodness of crushed Koroneiki olives. Or, if it’s a flavoured oil you’re after, A l'Olivier’s range of tinned infusions are a clear cut above, from fiery espelette pepper to more traditional Provencal herbs.

Next, when it comes complementing your oils, consider a choice from Seggiano’s collection of balsamic vinegar and glazes. Naturally, it goes without saying, that in the culinary world of small plates, few combinations are as classic, and as crowd pleasing, as that of a choice olive oil and a Modena balsamic, and few balsamic offer the clarity of flavour you get from Seggiano’s Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.

Equally, you’ll find few better traditional Mediterranean snacks with which to enjoy these oils and balsamics than Seggiano’s celebrated range of grissini breadsticks and flatbreads. Sourced from Piemonte in northern Italy, these classic appetisers are crafted with locally milled wheat and maize flour, hand rolled and baked using traditional methods.

So far, so good. But, with your toothpick at hand, let’s build on this already enticing offering with some more substantive favourites for you and your guests to pick at.

In recent years, Perrello’s cans of Gordal and Manzanilla olives have established themselves as an iconic fixture in delicatessens and department stores right across the globe, and not without good reason. However, just as much as their olives, their pickled garlic cloves and pickled Guindilla green chillies will each add piquant flavour to elevate your next fair weather spread.

Similarly, our gourmet own selection of mixed nuts and further olive options has proved an ever popular range of aperitif friendly nibbles. Made in Dorset by our friends at Olives et Al, they include such highlights as our Truffle Infused Mixed Nuts, our Red Pepper Stuffed Olives, and our award winning Smoky Chilli Mixed Nuts.

While you are at it, why not effortlessly enhance this array of palate pleasers with a ready made cocktail mixed by the expert bartenders at Whitebox?

Lastly, when it comes to deciding the how best to serve up your mouth-watering spread of al fresco appetisers, look no further than our stunning selection of ceramic tableware. For example, Arwyn Jones Ceramics’ collection, with its various sided ramekins, serving dishes, and jugs for pouring over oils and dressings, is perfect for showcasing a whole panoply of produce; offset against its soft green and sky-blue tones.

However, if you are feeling more adventurous, why not delve into the delightfully charming world of Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro. Since the establishment of his factory in 1884, the bold ceramics have gained a reputation for artistic quality, quirky exuberance, and technical merit. So, from a small cabbage leaf dipping to a seven-part fish plate to an extravagant lobster-straddled server, the pieces of this novel, and entirely handcrafted range are sure to serve as quite the conversation starters.