This is the ideal season for taking long walks in shady woods and returning home loaded with brambles, blueberries and raspberries; those who have a vegetable patch can try their hand at growing them too.
Small berries bursting with flavour, this type of fruit is extremely versatile. Blueberries, for instance can be paired with sweet or savoury ingredients. As a preserve they team up perfectly with cheese and game and, as a sauce, no Fondue Bourguignon would be complete without them.
Raspberries, on the other hand, have won a place of honour alongside dark and white chocolate whilst blackberries team up superbly with duck and panna cotta.
Blackcurrants are used to produce Crème de Cassis, a liqueur that appears in various cocktails. Kir, for instance: 1 part Crème de Cassis, 9 parts white wine.
A novel idea? Try offering forest fruits at the end of a meal as a mouth freshener, served in small dishes of the same colour as the fruit of your choice. Let it be a joy for the eye as well as the palate…