As the weather warms up, operators are refreshing their menus with a range of seasonal and trending dishes. Whilst PizzaExpress returns to fan favourites for inspiration, Ole & Steen and Busaba embrace a reliable summer staple with strawberries and cream themed dishes.
PizzaExpress
To celebrate the start of summer, PizzaExpress has launched a new range of seasonal dishes, including new salads and a reimagined fan-favourite. The Dynamite Dough Balls is a spicy-take on the classic recipe, with chili, garlic, and basil salsa.
Meanwhile, new pasta dishes include the creamy Carbonara PizzaExpress with pancetta and Gran Milano cheese, a return to classic Italian staple dishes, as well as the Prawn Peperonata, featuring prawns in a tomato and garlic sauce with chili flakes and roasted peppers.
Reflecting the increasing demand for plant-based and health-focused options, there is also the colourful Vegan Buddha Bowl with mixed grains, roasted beetroot, tomatoes, spinach, hummus, and spiced seeds, and the returning Goat’s Cheese & Beetroot Buddha Bowl.
Meat eaters can also enjoy the Crispy Chicken Buddha Bowl, topped with breaded chicken, leafy greens, and sundried tomatoes.
New dessert items cater to the trend for innovative sweet-treats, with the indulgent Biscoff Billionaire Sundae, made with Lotus biscuits, salted caramel gelato, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. Meanwhile, a refreshing Summer Berry and White Chocolate Sundae, combines vanilla gelato, mixed berries, berry coulis, and white chocolate curls.
Ole & Steen
The authentic Danish baker has unveiled more new dish items after launching its biggest ever menu refresh earlier this year, with a focus on fresh and seasonal ingredients, and carefully hand-finished desserts.
In honour of Midsommar - the Scandinavian festivity marking the summer solstice- the bakery brand introduces a quintessentially British, Strawberries and Cream cake, inspired by the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, featuring white chocolate and lemon sponge topped with strawberry mousse, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and dried rose petals.
Further fresh, zesty flavours can be found in the new, and simple, Lemon Cheesecake.
There is also a Raspberry Pistachio Tart, combining an almond base with dark chocolate, fresh raspberries, with pistachio cream, and extra pistachios; a nut flavour trend which has seen a recent surge alongside its perceived health benefits.
Wasabi Sushi & Bento
Japanese restaurant brand, Wasabi Sushi and Bento’s summer menu embraces a diverse range of fusion cuisine, plant-based options, and health-conscious dining choices.
An extended Dragon Rolls selection includes the Salmon Avocado Dragon Roll with sriracha mayo, teriyaki sauce, and crispy onion, the Chicken Katsu Dragon Roll with curry mayo and sesame seeds, as well as the vegetarian Yasai Dragon Roll, catering to a range of meat, fish and plant-based diets.
The California Dragon Roll, topped with crab salad and salmon nigiri, and the Bang Bang Chicken Dragon Roll, featuring a sweet and spicy sauce, introduce vibrant, fresh flavours for summer.
The introduction of a range of Donburi Rice Bowls and Teriyaki Rice Boxes, such as the Tofu Donburi with mango and spicy cucumber, Prawn Donburi with kimchi, and the classic Salmon Donburi with raw salmon and avocado, reflects a trend towards bowl-based meals that balance proteins, vegetables, and grains in a convenient offering.
Customers also have the option of new Teriyaki Salmon or Teriyaki Chicken Rice Boxes, each served with edamame, spicy cucumber, and sesame seeds, focusing on balanced and nutritious combinations.
Busaba
Alan Yau-founded Thai concept, Busaba, introduces a new summer selection of refreshing dishes and drinks, with two summer cocktails, another take on combining strawberries and cream, and three new salads.
The introduction of vibrant Thai-inspired salads like the Chilli Prawn Mango Salad, Nam Tok Beef Salad, and Spiced Crab Salad taps into a demand for fresh, healthy, and flavourful dishes.
Meanwhile, the inclusion of the Aperol Spritz on the drinks menu offer up a classic cocktail that shows no sign of declining, whilst the It’s Just Peachy Cocktail caters to the growing demand for innovative and refreshing serves.
To finish, the Strawberries & Cream dessert offers a seasonal and indulgent treat, aligning with the trend for classic and nostalgic flavours.
