Last week (Wednesday 7 December 2011) HRH The Prince of Wales hosted a lunchtime reception at Clarence House to introduce award-winning ‘Cambrian Mountains Lamb’ to top meat and catering suppliers, as well as leading London restaurateurs and food writers. The event marked the latest Farmers’ Marketing Initiative led by the Prince to help promote regional meat and produce from traditional farms.
The Cambrian Mountains of Mid Wales represent some of the most beautiful, unspoilt landscapes of Europe with farming methods dating back to the Middle Ages.
Meat trade representatives attending the reception were senior staff from Dunbia , Compass/Facilities Management Catering Ltd, Aubrey Allen, Danish Crown, Aramark, Prime Meats, Initial Catering Services, Brakes Bros Ltd, Chefs Connections Ltd. Retailers present included quality meat suppliers Harrods and Partridges of Chelsea plus Monoprix of France and Gesco – Amadori from Italy.
A seasonal product, Cambrian Mountains (CM) lamb is produced by a group of 21 farmers in Mid-Wales whose native breed, mountain lambs graze freely on the hills of varied grasses and herbs. This results in a smaller, slightly lighter lamb (16kg) of exceptional flavour and meat quality. The farmers adhere to strict CM brand principles to ensure best practice land management, maintain valuable habitats and eco-systems. The brand identity also includes a watercolour by HRH The Prince of Wales.
Commenting Cambrian Mountains Company Manager, Deanna Leven said, “His Royal Highness’s unfailing support has been terrific. The reception at Clarence House has afforded us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our lamb to top quality meat and catering suppliers plus restaurateurs and food writers. We are thrilled with their responses and enthusiasm for the product.”
Cambrian Mountains lamb has already featured at a number of high profile functions such as the Ryder Cup and Wimbledon with hopes running high for it to be on menus at corporate events during the Olympics in 2012.
Seasonal Cambrian Mountains lamb is available usually from June through to the end of January each year. The lamb is processed locally and supplied to UK trade outlets through Dunbia at Llanybydder. It is sold in season to consumers as part of the Co-operative’s ‘Truly Irresistible’ range and also featured recently on the shopping channel QVC during a successful hour long programme selling boxes of Cambrian Mountain lamb direct to viewers. Meanwhile a new group of retail butchers in the Cambrian Mountains region is looking to supply the branded lamb to local consumers, restaurants and hotels, plus on-line orders for half lamb selections.
Celebrity chefs at the Clarence House event included Welshman Bryn Williams, plus representatives of Mosimann’s and the Roux brothers’ Le Gavroche. Other famous and Michelin starred establishments included Searcys Commonwealth Club and The Gherkin, Ransome’s Dock, Cafe Spice Namaste, L’Anima, Zafferano, The Cinnamon Club, The Garden Bar & Grill, Bocca di Lupo and Lord’s Cricket Ground.
For the reception, royal chefs had prepared delicious loin pieces of Cambrian Mountain lamb served tagine style (Moroccan spices, prunes, apricots, garlic, tomatoes and ginger) on couscous. Cambrian Mountains Heart of Wales ale was also served.
