SOME of the UK’s leading chefs have been championing under-appreciated cuts of Welsh Lamb at high profile events and festivals across the UK to mark ‘Love Lamb Week’.
Both Francesco Mazzei and Imran Nathoo used under-rated cuts in their cooking, proving to consumers that Welsh Lamb is a contemporary and versatile choice.
Italian chef Francesco used PGI Welsh Lamb livers and kidneys to create his signature Stigghiola dish at the Meatopia Festival in London on September 2. Francesco, who has worked at The Dorchester and other Michelin starred restaurants around the world, is now the chef patron at Radici; a new restaurant inspired by the southern Italian cooking Francesco grew up with in London. Francesco’s cooking combines his Italian heritage and global experience to create dishes which include Welsh Lamb offal.
On the same day in Cardiff, Masterchef semi-finalist Imran Nathoo crafted contemporary Welsh Lamb kebabs at the first event of a pop up restaurant series. Held on the rooftop of Jacob’s Market, diners enjoyed Imran’s fusion-style cooking whilst watching the sun go down on the city. Imran used the under-valued Welsh Lamb shoulder as part of his dish, supplied by local butchery company Oriel Jones.
Cardiff-based Imran said: “The pop-up restaurant series is a really exciting venture for me and it was great to kick of the series with PGI Welsh Lamb, which is such a top quality product.”
Imran continued: “Most people tend to associate lamb with spring, but actually lamb is readily available and plentiful this time of year! For my take on a lamb kebab, I slowly cooked the very best PGI Welsh Lamb over night, shredded it then crisped it up in the pan. Beautiful! It went a treat with my home made naan bread, mint yogurt, pickled onions and signature chilli sauce.”
Both events occurred during national Love Lamb Week, a grass roots initiative established by farmers and agricultural bodies to encourage consumers and chefs to buy and enjoy lamb.
Young sheep farmer and National Sheep Association Young Ambassador Caryl Hughes, from Llangollen, said: “It’s great to see a celebration of lamb across the industry and country. Both Imran and Francesco’s cooking sounds exciting and delicious and a great way to use the cuts of lamb that people often forget about.
“PGI Welsh Lamb is such a great national product which I, along with the rest of Wales’ sheep farmers, am proud to produce. Welsh Lamb is in peak season now so Love Lamb Week is the perfect opportunity for consumers to see for themselves how Wales’ outstanding natural surroundings produce outstanding Welsh Lamb.”
Love Lamb Week ran from 1-7 September.
