Once called ‘strayberry’ because it propagated itself by runners, the strawberry was known to epicures in Roman times. Today’s varieties are no doubt much changed but let us be thankful for those experiments which have given us a berry not only beautiful in shape and colour but delicately perfumed and refreshing too.
Nothing compares with the flavour and fragrance of ripe strawberries. They have enough natural sweetness not to need sugar but this is really a matter of choice. They are wonderful on their own but take to other ingredients extremely kindly – cream, sprinkled with red wine or orange juice, fresh cream and, oddly enough, freshly ground black pepper. And when the time is ripe for an old-fashioned Loving Cup, fill 2 wine glasses with chilled demi-sec Champagne, place a dish of sugar-strewn strawberries close by – and the rest is up to you.