This month the fashionable social events continue with horse racing on Derby Day and at Royal Ascot (which means picnics) and tennis at Wimbledon (which means strawberries). On the 21st it’s midsummer solstice (like St Valentine’s Day and Pancake Day – a very ancient celebration), a night of Shakespearian fairy frolics. And, not to be forgotten, on the third Sunday of June, it’s fathers’ day.
The main event for June is elderflower. If you are lucky enough to live in the country it’s musky scent pervades everywhere. Make it into cordial and bottle it to enjoy for the rest of the year…. otherwise…. buy it! Roses are beginning… however you use the petals, do it sparingly otherwise your food will taste like something out of a tart’s boudoir.
food in season in June:
- agretti aka barba di frate
- almonds
- apricots
- artichokes (globe)
agretti aka barba di frate - asparagus
- aubergines – from the continent
- avocado pears
- basil
- beans (French)
- beans (broad)
- beetroot
- blackcurrants
- blueberries
- borage
- cabbages
- carrots
- cauliflower
- chard
Many different types of basil - cherries
- cheese – soft goats’ and sheeps’ cheeses – are good thanks to all the grass and herbs the animals are eating – that’s chevre, ricotta, feta….try a Riblaire St Varent
- chervil
- chillies
- chives
- coriander
- clams
- cockles
- cod
- coley
- courgettes
- crab
- cucumber
- currants – all types, black, white and red
- dill
- duck
The beautiful burgundy coloured beetroot - elderflower
- endive (chicory)
- fennel
- flounder
- french beans
- garlic scapes, also green and wild
- gooseberries
- guinea fowl
- haddock
- halibut
- herb fennel
- herring
- John Dory
- kale
- kiwi fruit
- lamb
- lavender
- lemon verbena
- lettuce and salad leaves
Riblaire goats’ cheese – especially good at this time of year - lobster (UK)
- loganberries
- lovage
- mackerel
- mange tout
- mangoes
- marigolds (if you planted in April)
- mint
- mushrooms
- nasturtium
- onions
- oregano
- parsley
- peas and pea shoots
- peppers
- pigeon – wood
- plaice
- pollack
- potatoes
- prawns
- rabbit
- radishes
- raspberries
- redcurrants
- rhubarb
- rocket
- roses
use sparingly – you want your food to taste like a thousand and one nights… not a tart’s boudoir! - runner beans
- salad burnet
- salmon
- samphire
- sage
- sardines
- scallops – queen
- sea bass
- sea bream
- shrimps
- sole (dover)
- sole (lemon)
- sorrel
- spinach
- spring greens
- spring onions
- strawberries
- tarragon – French
- tomatoes
- trout (river)
- trout (sea)
- turbot
- turnips (baby)
- walnuts
- watercress
- whelks
