Nothing says summer more than alfresco dining. Whether one to one, in a small group or large crowd it really can project the whole Mediterranean vibe when done properly. The principles are always the same: good simple food made with the best ingredients presented in a straight forward informal manner. Forget the linen napkins, this is where random crockery, wooden boards and mix and match glasses come into play The common theme, which holds the table together, is the food. Never forget it’s all about the food! Picture a spread of delicious, colourful and vibrant dishes which deliver a host of flavours and textures to delight the palate – there really is nothing finer.

The beauty of good antipasti, meze or tapas is that the portion size is up to you. Go small-taster size (a couple of stuffed peppers, a handful of olives, perhaps several cornichons or a spoonful of tapenade all served individually) or great big sharing platters and to feed many mouths.

The pace of eating also changes when we eat outdoors. Yes there is a little more effort to carry everything outside, but the rewards are tenfold. The lighting is great, people get a bit more excited about the whole ‘outdoors’ thing and (by default) the weather is good, so your fellow diners are in good spirits. And if that’s not doing the job, then a cold glass of something lovely can always seal the deal. People then tend to slow the pace a little and take their time (apart from the last minute trip to the kitchen to grab the balsamic vinegar or olive oil). If the effort has been made for eating outside then there really is no reason to rush – now is the time for umami heaven! So next time you have company for food (and the weather allows it) go outside with your offerings, do away with the formality of regimented place settings and let the food do the talking.

Simply Open, Pour & Serve!

If you are looking for the joy of shared food, with a wonderful mixture of tastes and textures, then make way for Meze! This ready to serve, perfectly balanced and expertly curated offering, bridges the gap between your food menu and dry snacks. It is easy to serve – straight from pack with no cooking, kitchen or chef involved. What’s more, the resealable pouches and tubs will help to keep your foods tasting deli-fresh. Serve it on boards & bowls or in recyclable trays and pots – the choice is yours. We’ve even taken care of skewers, serving guidelines and point of sale material! This is a wonderful way of bringing traditional sharing of different types of food and also:

• Offers a balanced & carefully curated selection of six meze
• Bridges the gap between your food menu & dry snacks
• Easy to serve – straight from pack with no cooking
• Offers food between services without the need for a Chef
• Acknowledges the trend in sharing & small plates
• Suitable for front-of-house staff to serve

Two serving options

Option 1: The hardware solution:

• 1 Bamboo serving board
• 6 melamine bowls
• Envelope containing 4x skewers

Option 2: The recyclable solution:

• 1 Sturdy corrugate tray
• 6 card pots
• 1 Envelope containing 4x skewers

These are then filled with this delicious selection:

• Antipasti mix – sun dried cherry tomatoes, peppers, cornichons, garlic & mixed olives.
• Rustic Italian crostini with rosemary & olive oil
• Mammoth Chalkidiki olives with basil & garlic
• Smoky harissa meze dip with spicy pepper, sun dried tomato & smoked paprika
• Chilli, lemon & paprika habas fritas & baked giant corn
• Marinated Cheddar cheese with Macedonian peppers, chilli flakes & oregano

This could be just the food solution for you this summer – Simply Open, Pour and Serve!

The Real Olive Company – Food, Sharing, Sustainability and People

Founded by Karin Andersson and Ben Flight, in Bristol, in 1998 their mission is simple: ‘To make life taste better by connecting people to the natural vitality of Real Food’. As producers of Mediterranean foods, specialising in fresh olives and deli products this is why they strive to make a healthy choice taste great, by creating natural and sustainable food that can be enjoyed together, whilst nourishing mind, body and ‘soil’.

From grove to table, every step we take retains each olive’s natural goodness. After being hand-picked, we prepare, marinate and pack our olives using time-honoured recipes and cold-pressed oils so you can enjoy the freshest, most authentic olives bursting with Mediterranean sunshine. 

Staying true to our roots is at our very core; it’s about our relationships with our farmers and growers, about how we value and respect our hardworking team and how we understand and communicate with our customers.

Love Life – Eat Real.