The Gittisham Herd, Combe Estate - Ruby Red Devon Beef

The Gittisham Herd is a pedigree herd of Ruby Red cattle which have grazed the hills in and around Gittisham since the early 1800’s. Smaller than most beef cattle, Devon Ruby Reds are slow to mature and with their natural resilience to the conditions in which they thrive, the beef has been recognised by some of the country’s leading chefs as being their product of choice.

The quality of the beef produced from the Gittisham Herd is second to none. The meat is hung for the traditional three weeks, which allows it to develop a depth of flavour and tenderness you will find hard to beat.

Now available online, visit www.reddevonbeef.co.uk and remind yourself how good beef can taste.

Blacklake Farm, Ottery St Mary - Organic Dorset Down Spring Lamb

The lamb comes from Blacklake Farm, on East Hill, about 6 miles from here. 
The carcasses are delivered whole and we butcher them ourselves. 
Blacklake Farm is a certified Soil Association farm, run by Catherine and Nick Broomfield, who manage a pedigree herd of Red Ruby Devon cows and a flock of Dorset Down sheep.  Catherine and Nick make a strong connection between farming and the production of fine quality food.  This is summed up in their farming practice which, in addition to meeting Organic Standards, also meets their own standard of all meat coming from animals “home bred and grass fed”.

In our opinion, lamb fed exclusively on mother’s milk and good spring grass produces the highest quality meat.  The Dorset Down lamb thrives probably better than any other breed of sheep on a grass-only diet, particularly the kind of species-rich old pasture found at Blacklake Farm.  The wide variety of grasses and herbs has an important bearing on the taste and texture of lamb which in our experience is fine textured and delicately flavoured with just enough fat to baste and sweeten the meat as it cooks.

As we get the whole carcasses we are able to use all cuts of lamb – so enabling nose-to-tail eating.  The dish will necessarily change each day and your waiter will be able to explain today’s dish to you.  This small six-week season of lamb is probably the highlight of our seasonal produce.  We are very privileged.

To find out more about Blacklake Farm please visit their website at

www.blacklakefarm.com

Or better still, visit their farm – Catherine and Nick are inspirational!

Devon Rose Farm, Seaton - Smoked Applewood Bacon, Beef, Pork, Lamb and Sausages

Situated on the southern coast between Devon and Dorset, Devon Rose is steeped in three
generations of farming and butchery know-how.

The business today has diversified into producing highly lauded welfare friendly meat products, game, dry cure bacon, specialist sausages and burgers from meat sourced within a 40-mile radius of Seaton.

Meat comes from animals bred and raised in a traditional manner on pasture land. Grown slowly outside and free range, Devon Rose use a mixture of rare, traditional and modern breeds all noted for purity, taste and eating quality.

Reared at Gatcombe Farm, Seaton.