Now we're nearing the end of autumn and winter is approaching, most of our clients will be seeking comfort food - tagines, curries, lamb shanks and other wet dishes will be sought after. These are great profit makers as cheaper cuts of meat can be used. I've included a list of potatoes and how to cook them and also what's in season for May.

Potatoes

Different varieties of potatoes are available all year round. New potatoes
tend to be crisp and waxy with soft skins that can be rubbed off.
Fully-mature potatoes are either waxy or floury depending on there type.
Look for firm, dry potatoes with no soft spots, green bits or sprouts. Store
in a dark, well-ventilated spot. Avoid plastic. New potatoes should be eaten
within a few days of purchase. Waxy potatoes are best for boiling,
casseroles and salads as they retain their shape. Floury potatoes are great
for mashing, frying, baking and roasting. Please see below varieties and
their uses.

Bintje - boiling

Bison - boiling, baking, roasting, mashing

Coliban - baking, roasting, mashing, steaming

Desiree - boiling, baking, roasting, gnocchi

Kennebec - boiling, baking, roasting, frying, mashing

Kipfler - steaming, salads

Nicola - mashing, baking, roasting, boiling, gratins, salads, gnocchi

Patrone - boiling, frying, baking, roasting

Pink Fir Apple - salads, boiling

Purple Congo - boiling

Red Pontiac - purees, grating, baking, roasting, boiling

Sebago - boiling, baking, roasting, mashing, frying

Spunta - mashing, frying

Toolangi Delight - boiling, baking, roasting, mashing, steaming, grating,
gnocchi

In Season - May

Fruit:

Apples - bonza, Cox's orange pippin, Fuji, gala, golden delicious, Granny
Smith, Jonathan, pink lady, red delicious

Bananas

Cumquats

Custard apples

Feijoa

Grapefruit - yellow

Grapes - purple cornichon, Waltham cross

Kiwifruit

Lemons

Limes

Melons - honeydew

Nuts - peanuts, pecans

Oranges - navel

Papayas/pawpaws

Pears - beurre bosc, corella, Packham, red sensation

Persimmons

Pomegranates

Quinces

Rambutans

Vegetables:

Artichokes - globe

Asian greens

Asparagus - green, purple, white

Beans - butter, green, snake

Carrots

Celeriac

Celery

Chokos

Daikon

Leeks

Olives - black, green

Onions - brown, red, shallot

Parsnips

Potatoes

Pumpkins

Salad greens

Silverbeet

Spinach

Swedes

Sweet potatoes

Tomatoes

Turnips

Zucchini

Enjoy!