Don’t duck the Chinese potential
As the world’s biggest sporting event heads to China in August, the Olympic Games offers enormous potential to put the nation’s favourite ethnic choice (1), Chinese cuisine, on the mainstream menu. And what better way to introduce authentic eastern flavours than with duck, a true symbol of Chinese catering which offers premium perceptions and genuine flavours in minutes.
An Olympic opportunityResearch shows almost half of UK consumers regularly eat Chinese food (2) and with increasing numbers of consumers admitting to enjoy foreign foods(3), the opportunity for mainstream consumption can not be ignored - especially not this summer.
With the Beijing Olympics approaching fast and the Chinese Moon Festival beginning soon after the games, August and September offer the ideal opportunity to put Chinese cuisine on any menu - and duck is the perfect choice.
"The Olympics gives outlets a superb promotion opportunity, enabling outlets to introduce Chinese cuisine to the menu on the back of the inevitable public interest which will be generated in the games," says Eric Jagger, sales & marketing director for Cherry Valley, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of duck and duck products.
"With huge profit potential and an authentic Chinese flavour, duck is an obvious choice. Despite its premium image and added health benefits, it is still underrepresented on mainstream menus, with a third of consumers wanting to see more duck on the menu(4) – and the Olympics offers the perfect link."
Convenience is key
Duck is often thought of as a difficult meat to prepare. It can be wrongly perceived as a fatty option, needing a lot of preparation to get authentic flavours and chefs can be scared to approach duck, particularly when thought of as an Oriental dish. But with Cherry Valley, chefs can put duck on any menu quickly and easily - convenience is key.
Jagger adds: "Mainstream outlets don’t always have the time, equipment or expertise to prepare genuine Oriental flavours, but it doesn’t mean they need to miss out on the promotional opportunities that the Olympics provides.
"Cherry Valley has developed added value products such as Crispy Aromatic Duck and Boneless Roast Duck, which are prepared using authentic methods, to enable even chefs with no experience of Chinese cuisine to put genuine dishes on the menu with ease." For more information on Cherry Valley’s range of products, log on to www.cherryvalley.co.uk or call 01472 371271.Recipe Ideas from Cherry Valley
Aromatic Duck Wraps
With an inescapable link to Crispy Aromatic duck pancakes, a sandwich wrap version using Cherry Valley authentic aromatic duck can really add value to any menu. Try sliced crispy aromatic duck with shredded spring onion, cucumber and crisp watercress and a rich hoisin sauce served in a fresh wrap. Ingredients:
Cherry Valley Half Crispy Aromatic Duck
Tortilla wrap
Shredded spring onion
Shredded cucumber
Fresh watercress
Hoisin sauce Method:
1. Prepare a Cherry Valley Half Crispy Aromatic Duck according to instructions
2. Slice the Cherry Valley Half Crispy Aromatic Duck
3. Open a tortilla wrap and insert generous portions of duck, spring onion, cucumber and watercress
4. Drizzle hoisin sauce over the contents of wrap
5. Fold in the bottom and sides of wrap
6. Serve
Noodle Duck Salad
Or tempt customers into a delicious salad of succulent Cherry Valley Skinless Duck Fillet, shredded and tossed in a sweet pomegranate vinaigrette, served with fine noodles and spring onions on a bed of continental leaves for a tasty starter. Ingredients:
Cherry Valley Skinless Duck Fillet
Pomegranate vinaigrette
Fine noodles
Spring onions
Mixed continental salad leaves Method:
1. Prepare Cherry Valley Skinless Duck Fillet according to instructions
2. Shred Cherry Valley Half Crispy Aromatic Duck
3. Prepare fine noodles and serve on continental leaves
4. Add shredded duck and spring onions
5. Add vinaigrette and toss well -ends-
Sources
1. Mintel, Chinese Foods – UK – May 2007
2. Mintel, Ethnic Resaturants & Takeaways – UK – June 2006
3. Mintel, Ethnic Resaturants & Takeaways – UK – June 2006
4. Cherry Valley research
Date of Issue: 23rd May 2008