Atholl Glens Supports Mutton Revival
First the first time Atholl Glens Organic Meat is offering delicious Highland mutton in whole or half sheep boxes, available at the touch of a button by mail order. Atholl Glens is a partnership between the historic Atholl Estates in Highland Perthshire and its tenant farmers, believed to be the only one in Scotland.
Mutton is said to be enjoying a revival in British kitchens thanks to its backing by Prince Charles and celebrity chefs such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Gordon Ramsay.
The staple meat in Britain for hundreds of years, considered far superior in flavour and texture to lamb, mutton has virtually disappeared from British menus over the last 50 years. But poor quality meat available during World War II gave mutton a reputation as being tough, and since then changes in farming and cooking lead to its decline.
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“The word about mutton is starting to get around. Smart chefs are already putting it on their menus, and a few enlightened butchers are beginning to market it as something rather special.”
With most lambs going to slaughter at 5 months old, farmers were able to see a much quicker return from their animals, so the vast majority stopped producing mutton and focused on its more profitable relative. Similarly, as the pace of everyday life increased and people began to want everything quickly, food included, people did not want to spend time cooking mutton when they could cook lamb hotter and more quickly.
The Mutton Rennaissance campaign was launched in 2004 by the Prince to support British sheep farmers who were struggling to sell their older animals, and to get the meat back on the nation’s plates. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, in his River Cottage Meat Book, says, “The word about mutton is starting to get around. Smart chefs are already putting it on their menus, and a few enlightened butchers are beginning to market it as something rather special.”
People are beginning to take far more interest in their food, taking an interest in the welfare of the animals and wanting to know they have been well produced in a natural environment. The slow food movement has contributed to people spending more time in the kitchen, preparing real home-cooked food once more, and mutton fits in perfectly with this philosophy. Best cooked slowly, mutton is perfect for roasting, stewing, casseroles or in a slow-cooker.
Atholl Glens offers mutton in two boxes - the half-sheep Glen Loch selection, ideal as an introduction to this special meat, or the whole-sheep Glen Derby selection, which is perfect for aficionados or for sharing amongst friends and family, with the option of free delivery.
Tasty recipe ideas can be found at: www.athollglens.co.uk.
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