Occasionally I feature products not strictly within the style remit here on the blog. When I do they are from brands that are important to me in one way or another. Those of you who've followed the blog from the beginning will know my love for the English Lake District - the area of lakes and mountains that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That status certainly doesn't mean that the area is a museum run entirely for visitors. People live and work there and indeed the fells and valleys were shaped by farming over centuries.
Farming in what is often bleak and remote landscapes isn't easy, yet The Lakes have acquired an increasingly strong reputation for high quality food. It has a number of leading restaurants - some with Michelin stars - and farmers produce the highest quality products that are shipped throughout the country to discerning consumers and restaurants.
I was recently contacted by Lake District Farmers (link below) who work with around fifty Lakeland farmers to supply the highest quality products while supporting those farmers who have to work hard to preserve a traditional way of life. Through their website they sell the best beef, lamb, pork and chicken products and you can select products for a box for home delivery.
LDF kindly put together a mixed box for me - beef, lamb and Lakeland pork products. I happen to know the farmers that provides their pork (pictured above at their gate) and they make the best Cumberland sausage you will ever taste. I'm still working my way through the box and all the meat products have been superb - tender and tasty.
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| Beef and pork from Lake District Farmers |
The lamb is from the local Herdwick sheep whose way of life, spending much of their time on the high fells eating wild grasses and herbs, gives the meat an unforgettable flavour. The beef comes from Galloway cattle and Phil Scott, Brand Managers at LDF, told me something about this fascinating breed whose way of life has such a beneficial affect on the harsh but fragile Cumbrian landscape:
I was sent a sample box of products to try - all views are mine.
"To produce the finest steaks that exhibit a true representation of the Lakeland terroir, you need a breed of cattle that flourishes in that environment. This is why Lake District Farmers use Galloway cattle.
Galloway cattle our one of our oldest native breeds. Originating in the 1700’s from the ancient region of Galloway in the South West corner of Scotland, farmers were looking for a breed that could withstand the dramatic Galloway environment. Bred for their stocky legs, excellent temperament and ability to withstand the harsh weather, the Galloway breed was cemented into British farming history.
Due to their natural instinct to roam and forage for their food, these cattle excel on fell farms. This is why farmers in the Lake District have always advocated this breed and quickly adopted it as a Lake District farming mainstay from its inception. As the Galloway region is just a stone’s throw way from the Cumbrian hills, the cattle’s transition over the board was a swift one.
The Belted Galloway, a breed in its own right, with their trademark white belts around their middle, have become as synonymous with the Lakeland fells as their mysterious counterpart, the Herdwick sheep. You will often see both species wandering the open fells sourcing out the best available grazing patches.
The landscape in the Lake District is mountainous, dotted with rich forests and pastures. Though it may seem a rugged and forbearing landscape, it is also a fragile one. Tests have shown that the introduction of Galloway cattle can actually enhance the ecology and sustainability of the natural Lakeland landscape. Their selective feeding, which removes the excess roughage, allows native wildlife an improved access to natural herbage.
In short there are many factors that are beneficial when working with such a unique breed. However, one of the main reasons Lake District Farmers champion the Galloway breed is because of their flavour. The wide variety of grasses, mosses and herbs the animals are feeding on gives the Galloway a standout, rich and earthy flavour profile. In short; if you are looking to create a beef dish that portrays the very best of the British produce, look no further than the Galloway.
Lake District Farmers work on a cooperative basis with their farmers. This means that the farmers are paid a fair price for the exceptionally hard work they put into maintain such a rural icon. By placing your order with Lake District Farmers, you are actively safe guarding this rare and unique breeds future. Something we here at Lake District Farmers are incredible proud of".
To find out more about Lake District Famers and to order their meats for home delivery, go to their website here. There you can read about their farmers and chefs, try recipes and select from a range of Christmas boxes.
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| Bottom left Galloway cattle. Bottom right Herdwick sheep |
