Well-Chosen Ingredients

It is always worth seeking out the very best ingredients. Whether it is a piece of meat or fish for a main course or the raspberry decoration on a grilled melon dessert, a mediocre item is never going to deliver the same taste sensation as a carefully chosen ingredient that has been produced with care.

Use organic produce whenever possible, buying it from farmers' markets or specialist suppliers of fine, fresh ingredients. If these places aren't nearby, there may be mail order box schemes in your area, which will deliver a range of organic ingredients to your home.

If you are lucky enough to have the time and space, try growing rocket (arugula), fennel, herbs, tomatoes and various edible flowers yourself - even a few pots on the patio can produce wonderful results.

Supermarkets nowadays offer a fabulous selection of ingredients. Always buy fresh ingredients when you can and avoid frozen fish and shellfish that have started thawing as they will have lost all their natural juices and with them their flavor. Also take care when choosing meat - even organic cuts may have been prepared some days earlier.

Special items If your store cupboard is well stocked, readying food for an impromptu barbecue will be much easier. Good quality olive oil and chili oil, vinegars of various types - including champagne, raspberry and rice -and sauces such as tamari and Mexican tomato sauce are good to have on hand, as are spice mixes such as ras el hanout. Chipotles in adobo (chilies in sauce) and Japanese wasabi, which is similar to horseradish, will add big bursts of flavor, and dried kombu, arame seaweed and bonito flakes are nutritious as well as adding their distinctive flavor to dishes.

When buying herbs and spices, keep an eye out for unusual items such as Australian aniseed myrtle, Mexican oregano, ground sumac and dried pink rose petals: these add a unique flavor to grilled food.

Banana and pandanus leaves, used for wrapping, are available from Asian markets. Also look out for cooked rice in bamboo and banana leaf parcels. These are a convenient accompaniment, as all you need do is wrap them in foil and heat them over the coals.

Breads Middle Eastern flat breads are great for wrapping cooked food and crisping on the grill. Keep items such as round Chinese pancakes, corn and wheat tortilla wraps and ciabatta in the freezer. Even bread sticks are useful for last-minute grilling. For a simple appetizer, serve grilled breadsticks or toast slices of ciabatta on the grill and top with warm chopped tomatoes and olives in oil.

Using good ingredients simply There are many quick and easy ways to use good ingredients so they can be served as snacks before a meal or as accompaniments.

Salads can be made with just about any lettuce but look out for mizuna and rocket, which have a great mustardy kick to them.

Add bite to a basic salad dressing with a little tarragon-flavored mustard, chopped garlic or chili.

Certain marinades seem to go with just about any dish. Lemon, extra virgin olive oil and garlic is simple but adds great flavor. 

Accompany grilled breads, vegetables or char grilled meats and fish with a few simple savory butters. Add some chopped herbs and a little garlic or try some finely chopped olives with a splash of lemon juice mixed into softened butter. Pack in small pots and chill until needed. 

Put out bowls of cheese cubes, olives, caper berries and sun-dried tomatoes in oil. Baby radishes first dipped in softened butter and then in salt make the classic French nibble, radis au beurre. Olive oil with chopped herbs and garlic also makes a good dip for bread.