Michelin-star chef celebrates Local to Ludlow market

Chef Will Holland (L) with Ellie Harrison and Adam Henson of BBC1's Countryfile

BBC One’s Countryfile have been filming a Michelin-starred chef experimenting with local Ludlow produce to create a dish using “the most free range chicken you will ever find,” from the Welsh borders at Brinda Farm, writes Kieran Ward. 

Chef Will Holland’s, of La Becasse restaurant, list of ingredients included strawberries to add a sweeter taste to the chicken, almost like honey, and to contrast with the strong flavours of the pink peppercorn paste. Tarragon oil was used to marinate the chicken and soak up the complementary sweet and spicy flavours. 

Speaking at the market, Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, said that the rural food economy is under huge pressure from modern supermarkets and global warming which is making the ground infertile resulting in smaller crops. 

The local food availability is failing since more farmland is being lost and more food is imported from abroad, he added.

Sarah-Jane Brough of The Ludlow Jam Pan Company

Held twice-monthly, the Ludlow Farmers’ Market celebrated its 10th anniversary with stallholders offering a wide range of goats cheese, bread, meats Wenlock Edge Farm and fish were on sale and even homemade pies of which I ate a salmon and goats cheese pastry.  Delicious.  Beer and cider were on offer from the Ludlow Brewing Company and Berriew Cider.

Also enjoying the market was Sara-Jane Brough of The Ludlow Jam Pan Company (pictured), offering fruit cordials, curds, jams and chutneys made with home grown fruit and veg.

If you’ve missed the demonstration and market, the Countryfile episode featuring Will and Ludlow will be shown on BBC1 TV on Sunday, 29th August.

 www.labecasse.co.uk

 www.localtoludlow.org

www.bbccountryfilemagazine.com

The Art of Smoking

   

The art of smoking with Ludlow Food Centre butcher, Tamas Borbas

The butchery team at a Shropshire food centre have been spending a great deal of time and effort smoking behind the building.  John Brereton and his team at the Ludlow Food Centre have acquired a surprisingly healthy smoking habit by spending time developing a range of smoked meat products.  In just the last 4 months John and his team have worked on smoking an alarming array of smoked meat including local, free range chicken and duck, estate reared venison, Gloucester Old Spot pork and even locally sourced trout. 

John says, “We started by smoking our own bacon and its grown from there.  We are now working on more unique smoked meat such as spiced turkey breast, pastrami and even smoked garlic.”

The Food Centre invested a small amount of money in a hot smoker with the view of smoking a small range of meats to increase the product range their butchery offered.  John had found it difficult to find the variety of smoked meat locally and so decided that it would be best to try himself with meat from the Food Centre’s, Earl of Plymouth Estate. 

John says, “We use Oak chippings and meat from the Estate whenever possible but it’s the attention to detail that makes the difference.  We smoke chicken differently to pork and have tailored the process to get the right length of time and heat for each product.  This means that we keep the moisture in the meat whilst still achieving a rich smokey flavour….Everyday is different, we are always having to make allowances for the change in weather such as heat or humidity to get the best product.”

John admits that smoking has been a passion of his for a long time and that only recently has he had time to embrace his passion at work. 

He says, “Even my wife likes me to smoke because the smell is nicer than raw meat!”

www.ludlowfoodcentre.co.uk

Ludlow Food Centre and Gloucester Old Spot Pigs

  

Shrosphire herdsman Darrel Bray with a Gloucester Old Spot

The Gloucester Old Spot Pig has recently been singled out to gain TSG (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed) accreditation.  The breed which is recognisable for its white skin and black spots is among 42 types of British food and drink to be awarded this privileged status by European authorities.  The breed standard for the Gloucesters declares that meat sold as ‘Old Spot’ must come from a pedigree animal reared using traditional methods.  However, the largest herd of Gloucester Old Spots does not reside in Gloucester, they live in Ludlow. 

The Ludlow Food Centre, part of the Earl Of Plymouth’s Oakly Park Estate are proud owners of the largest herd of Gloucester Old Spots in the UK with over 500 pigs.  The Centre has been breeding the pigs for 4 years and have been trying to increase demand and interest in the breed.  The meat from these pigs has a little more fat than commercial varieties which is why it has a greater depth of flavour.  

Tom Hunt, Marketing Manager at the Food Centre says, “‘We have worked really hard to increase the popularity of Gloucesters … To have the breed recognised throughout Europe as a pedigree is fantastic and will definitely help protect the breed standard” 

Other British foods that have been included on the accreditation list include Melton Mowbray pork pies and clotted cream.  This type of accreditation is the same as that granted to Champagne and will prevent businesses selling products that do not meet the requirements.  Pork from Gloucesters will have to be from a pedigree herd which will prevent supermarkets selling meat from cross bred pigs at ‘Gloucester Old Spot’ meat.  

Mr Hunt says, “In marketing it is easy to pass something off as a genuine product but this accreditation means that only the real thing can be sold as such…The Food Centre is proud to have bred the largest herd in the country and we hope that people we come and try it to see how much better it is than commercial varieties.”

Wroxeter Hotel Authentic Roman Banquet

July 23, 2010
7:30 pmto8:00 pm

Enjoy an authentic seven course Roman Banquet set within the ramparts of  the ruined sity of Viroconium, just south of Shrewsbury. Created using authentic roman dishes and techniques and accompanied by wine from the Wroxeter Roman Vineyard priced at £37.50 per person or £350.00 for 10 people

Set in an area where the locals admire their Roman architecture and traditions the Wroxeter Hotel is the perfect venue for such an occasion with a few “surprises“ in store.

 www.thewroxeterhotel.co.uk

Powis Castle Pudding Evening

July 23, 2010
7:00 pmto10:30 pm

Work up an appetite with a glorious summer evening tour around the caslte gardens with head gardener of Welshpool’s Powis Castle..  Then relax with a savoury supper, served in the restaurant, followed by three desert courses, a total of six mouth watering puddings all sourced locally from Welshpool!

For more information please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-powiscastle_garden

Shrewsbury Food And Drink Fair

August 6, 2010

This popular event takes place in Shrewsbury Square on every first Friday of the month.

Scenic Foodie Walk ‘Magnalonga’

August 8, 2010

A mouth watering day out for the whole family. It’s a 9 mile walk through forest and unspoiled countryside stopping along the way for a taste of the best of the Marches-cheese, wine, beer, breads. EARLY BOOKING ESSENTIAL!

 The walk will start and finish at the Dinham Bridge in Ludlow and will take place around the outskirts of the town and the surrounding countryside.

 www.foodfestival.co.uk

Telford Cider Festival

August 27, 2010
12:00 amto1:30 am

Taste  20 different ciders and perry while enjoying live music. , Free entry.

Based on the Haygate Road in Wellington, Shrospire  the event is the perfect opportunity to test locally sourced ciders.

 www.thehaygate.co.uk

Bridgnorth Food Fair

August 29, 2010

An anual event bringing together a selection of local producers and manufacturers to showcase the high quality food and drink available in and around Bridgnorth, supplemented with top quality suppliers from around the county and beyond such as suppliers from counties such as Herefordshire and Wiltshire.

For more information please email info@bridgnorthtcmp.org.uk

National Cream Tea in Aid of RABI

August 30, 2010
2:00 pmto5:00 pm

A fund raising event in which cream tea will be served to celebrate 150 years of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution. Music by harpist Nerys Hewitt and demonstration of model helicopters, jet planes and sea planes by Sleap Model Flyers. Adults pay £5 and Children pay £2.

The event is being held at Dearnford Lake in Whitchurch on Tilstock Road.

www.dearnford.com

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