Ah, springtime—when the flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and the sun begins to show its face again. If you’re a fan of eating seasonally, you probably also associate springtime with certain delicious, fresh foods. Veggies like asparagus and peas and fruits like cherries and citrus are famous for having their heyday in the spring. To soak up best the season has to offer, why not incorporate nature’s springtime bounty into your catering orders?
At CaterSquad, we’re happy to help you make seasonal choices when placing orders for your clients or colleagues. Here’s a look at how to enjoy the flavors of spring with catered meals from our restaurant partners.
Vegetables
It doesn’t get much tastier (or healthier) than crunching on veggies harvested at the peak of freshness. Of course, the seasonality of springtime vegetables certain can vary depending on your location—what’s growing in North Dakota may not be the same as what’s growing in California from March through May. In general, though, springtime vegetables in North America include asparagus, arugula, artichokes, peas, radishes, spinach, and rhubarb, among others.
Want to savor spring-fresh veg? Sample the piquant bite of arugula with Panera’s Seasonal Greens Salad, or get your in-season greens with a Spinach Feta Rollup from Zoe’s Kitchen. A side of grilled asparagus from Romano’s Macaroni Grill might give you a spring in your step (as well as load you up on fiber, folate, and vitamins A and C). Meanwhile, Corner Bakery has you covered for seasonal noshing with their Fresh Vegetable Basket, which rotates veggies by season.
Fruits
When April showers are bringing you down, maybe it’s time to brighten your mood with tasty springtime fruits! Apricots, cherries, grapefruit, kiwis, and lemons all appear on the scene this time of year. Some berries, like strawberries, also begin their season in the late spring.
You can dig in to spring fruits with numerous options from our nationwide partners. Corner Bakery and Einstein Bros Bagels, for example, offer seasonal fruit salads in their catering menus. Zoe’s Kitchen’s Chicken Salad and Fruit Plate comes with a seasonal mix of fresh fruits. And Macaroni Grill’s Chicken Scaloppine gives you a dose of springtime fruits and veggies with artichokes and a lemony butter sauce.
Herbs
Springtime foods sometimes come in smaller packages—namely, in the form of herbs. Plants like dill, chives, mint, lemongrass, basil, and parsley grow especially well in mild weather. Any herb-infused dishes can bring on those delightful springtime feels.
For zingy herbed goodness, try Zoe’s Kitchen’s Baked Falafel Platter with Lemon Herb Tahini, or their Harissa Salmon Pita with fresh dill. You’ll find plenty of fresh parsley in Corner Bakery’s Shrimp Scampi Linguini. Or, to get your fill of bright, tangy basil, check out Macaroni Grill’s Basil Pesto Pasta Salad or Panera’s Modern Caprese Sandwich.
Can’t wait to dive into the flavors of spring? Visit our Contact page for all the ways to place an order! And, for more info on what’s in season near you—in the spring or any time of year—check out the Seasonal Food Guide.