Micro mighty! Look what we've found for caterers

A range of wholesome gourmet dishes using the best of British produce has been developed for serving in restaurants and pubs, or even as room service meals in hotels.

Launched under a new brand -- Look What We Found! Professional -- the range is the brainchild of Keith Gill and Roger McKechnie, founders of the Phileas Fogg brand of snacks.

The entrepreneurs received a £135,000 grant from the regional development agency One NorthEast to help create the Tanfield Food Company, based in Tanfield Lea, Derwentside, which will produce the dishes.

Each dish has been developed and cooked by chefs and made from high quality ingredients, sourced from small-scale farmers from around the UK, many of which are featured on promotional material and packaging.

Tanfield is marketing the products as "slow food". It says people want to have more assurance about what is in their food, where their food comes from and how it is grown or reared and the range reflects the growing support for sourcing local food and the popularity of farmers' markets.

It says: "We want to become a conduit for a rural revolution and a catalyst for the emergence of a new 'micro is mighty' food phenomenon which supports traditional food producers and provides consumers with exceptionally good food."

Sold in single portion packs, the meals are pre-cooked in a sealed pouch at high temperature by a steam pressure cooker. The method ensures a long shelf-life while capturing all the aromatic and flavour components.

The pouches can be stored at ambient temperature, which creates less wastage and cuts costs for foodservice outlets compared with chilled foods.

The meals also provide catering staff of all skill levels the opportunity to offer gourmet meals in minutes.