Spring Time Frolics

As it's very nearly Easter we couldn't resist posting this video by Brigg's Shetland Lamb of their adorable lambs gambolling over the hillside.
The video was made last year of week old Shetland lambs playing at Benston, South Nesting, on the Shetland Islands.

To find out more about Briggs' Shetland Lamb visit their page on 
The Artisan Food Trail here

Shetland Food Festival Producers' Market: 12th – 13th November 2011

Shetland produces some wonderful food from exceptional lamb, fine beef, superbly fresh fish and shellfish to some more unusual specialities such as seawater oatcakes, Shetland Black potatoes and more-ish fudge! The Shetland Food Festival is already in full swing and culminates in the Producers' Market held over the weekend of 12th – 13th November 2011.

Local food producers are coming together at Clickimin Leisure Complex to bring you the Producers’ Market, which sits along side the cookery demonstrations. This year it will be packed with a great selection of local produce and food related stalls. There's sure to be a selection of meat, cheese, jams and chutneys, vegetables, oatcakes and confectionery. Wander through the market, enjoy tastings, speak to the producers first-hand and pick up those all important Christmas gifts and ingredients and buy the very best of Shetland's larder.

We are delighted to say that The Artisan Food Trail will be at The Shetland Food Festival, not in person but certainly in spirit, as
Briggs' Shetland Lamb will be exhibiting giving visitors the chance to try their exceptional products, including, no doubt, a piece of lamb pie.

To find out out more about 
Briggs' Shetland Lamb visit them on The Artisan Food Trail here

When: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November 2011
10.00am to 6.00pm (Saturday)
11.00am to 5.00pm (Sunday)
Where: Bowls Hall, Clickimin Leisure Complex, Lerwick, Shetland
www.shetlandfoodfestival.co.uk

Location


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Shetland Seaweed Lamb

Photo: © childsdesign

Widely considered to be ’The Jewel in the Crown’ of Shetland Lamb, Shetland Seaweed Lamb is really quite special.
We were lucky to be sent a sample from Briggs’ Shetland Lamb and were satisfied enough to give it our Artisan Food Trail Approved status.

Read full review

To find out more about Briggs' Shetland Lamb visit their page on 
The Artisan Food Trail here

Original and the Best: Briggs' Shetland Lamb

Richard Briggs is a Shetland Sheep breeder on Shetland and sells whole Shetland lamb PDO. This lamb with subtly different characteristics is available freshly butchered, chilled and packed suitable for home freezing. 18-month old hogget and mutton are also available in the same form.

All the lambs come from pure bred Shetland flocks raised on the isles. They are processed and packed for Richard by the local cooperative, Shetland Livestock Marketing Group.

Delivery direct to you door is available throughout Britain via Royal Mail’s Next Day Special Delivery Service. Briggs’ Shetland Lamb can also, by prior arrangement, deliver the boxes of meat personally in Shetland (Mainland) and to addresses in Eastern Scotland (near to the Aberdeen to Edinburgh Road connection).

Richard believes that the best flavour of Shetland lamb comes from animals that graze the natural Shetland plants and grasses. Consequently, Briggs’ Shetland Lamb is mainly available between September and December.

The Shetland breed of sheep is only half the size of many of the UK’s other breeds. With Shetland Lamb the butcher starts with just 8kg - 14kg compared to the 17kg - 22kg size that is normal for most of the breeds of lamb sold in the UK. Celebrity chefs and food writers have described Shetland lamb as very tender and sweet.

Because the croft at South Nesting, Shetland is mainly rough pasture, Richard produces what Shetlanders would call "park fed lamb".

Shetland Hill Lamb comes from the flock that live more extensively on the open hill at East Kame. (some Hill Lamb I source from neighbours)

Shetland Seaweed Lamb is the most celebrated version of Shetland lamb. The name has been formally adopted by Shetland Livestock Marketing Group to describe lamb from flocks that normally have access to sea shore and are hefted to graze amongst the ebb. These can supplied each autumn.

Healthier Meat
Richard tries to finish his Shetland lambs without the use of corn based feeds. This helps to ensure that the meat has a good balance of the essential fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6. Research has shown that meat from grazing animals contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 in a ratio of 1:2, which matches the proportion required in human nutrition. However, meat raised on corn based diets was found to have similar combined levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 but in the ratio of 1:6.

In other research, Shetland Lamb was found to have significantly higher levels of a derivative of Omega-6, Conjugated Linoleic Acid when compared to levels normally found in lamb. Conjugated Linoleic Acid has been found to be an agent that prevents the onset of cancer.

What is PDO?

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) – The distinctive red and yellow PDO symbol has been awarded to Shetland Lamb produced and slaughtered in Shetland in recognition of the subtly different characteristics of the meat. Other British products so honoured are Cornish Clotted Cream and Stilton Blue Cheese. Look out for the logo on the front of packaging. The EU Geographical Indicator symbol assures customers of the genuineness of the product’s origin.

Visit Briggs' Shetland Lamb on The Artisan Food Trail here

Living Food at Cawdor Castle: Saturday 24th September 2011

Living Food, an event which celebrates local, artisan and organic produce moves into its 6th consecutive year in 2011. The event has grown over previous years and Living Food is now ranked as one of the top three food festivals in Scotland.

This year Living Food 2011is aiming to be a feast for all the senses. It will be a real family day out giving local families the chance to discover and try great quality local, organic artisan food all set in beautiful surroundings with the benefit of huge marquees covering the exhibitors, entertainment and cookery demonstrations.

The Artisan Food Trail is proud to announce that Great Glen Game, producers of the finest wild venison charcuterie will be exhibiting.

As we type this announcement, we can tell you that our newest addition to the food trail, Briggs' Shetland Lamb will also be at the event. You will be able to find them on the Scottish Crofting Federation stand offering tastings of products marketed under the Scottish Crofting Produce Mark

More info
Living Food at Cawdor Castle
Cawdor Castle
Great Glen Game
Briggs' Shetland Lamb

Where is the event?

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