Venison & Pork Chorizo with fennel and potatoes

Photo: © childsdesign

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A nice simple recipe using Great Glen Charcuterie's Venison & Pork Chorizo which would make an ideal midweek meal.
The chorizo is wonderfully meaty, smokey and savoury with a good amount of spicing (though not hot) that mixes with the aniseed-tasting fennel and juicy tomatoes for a delicious meal.

View recipe

Venison and pork perfect chorizo partners

Photo: © childsdesign

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Last month we announced a new product from Great Glen Charcuterie – Venison & Pork Chorizo.
Eager to get the word out and our opinion on their recent addition, Anja Baak made sure we received a pack to be put to the test.

Read full review

We are pleased to award Great Glen Charcuterie our 'Artisan Food Trail Approved' status for their Venison & Pork Chorizo.

To find out more about Great Glen Charcuterie visit their page on The Artisan Food Trail here.

Great Glen Charcuterie launches new chorizo

Great Glen Charcuterie has added a new chorizo to its line of charcuterie products.
The chorizo is made with a mixture of Wild Scottish Venison and Scottish produced Pork.

Jan Jacob Baak, Great Glen Charcuterie's director said:

"We wanted to expand our Venison & Pork range. The already well received Venison & Pork salami has now found a little brother in a full flavour packed Venison & Pork Chorizo. This new product in our Venison & Pork range adds a distinct variation to the already award winning pure venison chorizos. Working closely with local farmers to source the best of Scotland’s quality pork we have created a new exiting product that will please many of our customers." 

The Venison & Pork chorizo is made with the same high quality ingredients and unique preserving techniques that makes Great Glen Charcuterie products stand out. Over the years they have won many awards and this new product is sure to be another winner.

The chorizo is ready to eat but especially good to use in cooking and soon, some new recipe cards will be available to provide customers with inspiration.

Great Glen Charcuterie is based in the rugged Highlands of Scotland. 
They use sustainably sourced local wild venison and Scottish pork to produce a range of award winning pure venison and venison based charcuterie. 

Other products made include delicious salamis, chorizos, pepperonis, bresaola and smoked venison.
Great Glen Charcuterie is available from independent retailers 
and their online store.

UPDATE!: Read our review of this product

To find out more about Great Glen Charcuterie, visit their page on 
The Artisan Food Trail here

Bacon lovers unite

Photo: © childsdesign

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How wonderful would it be if the internet had the power to transmit aromas? If it did, we’d be uploading the olfactory delight of sizzling bacon to accompany the picture.

This week is Bacon Connoisseurs Week, but why only be a connoisseur for just one week of the year? Devoted lovers of bacon will tell you that it is something they could not live without. Bacon at its best brings back memories whether it’s the holiday breakfast cooked in a dented frying pan, atop a Calor gas stove on a windy British beach or simply lazy Sunday mornings. Bacon is a satisfier of appetite, a comfort, a restorative – some would say, a hangover cure.

Whatever your relationship with bacon, choose the best and buy British at the very least.
Bacon on The Artisan Food Trail is a real step up in terms of quality, craft, animal welfare and above all, flavour. This special flavour is what you get from rare breed pigs that have led a happy, natural life. A pig’s life outdoors which allows it to root around and run about in the fresh air, added to its particular breed, produces full flavoured meat with the all important fat. Remember fat equals flavour.

The rare breeds on the food trail include British Saddleback, Tamworth, Iron Age, Gloucester Old Spot, Large Black and English Lop, Middle White, and Oxford Sandy & Black. Not all of these breeds go into making bacon but the pork is just as wonderful, so well worth a try.

The following producers all rear pigs for pork, some produce bacon and other pork charcuterie products as well as pies and sausages.

Samphire in Norfolk has bacon in either smoked or unsmoked, available in various cuts. Pork, sausages and pork pies too.

Paganum Produce in the Yorkshire Dales create their own dry-cured streaky or back bacon as well as pork charcuterie including their famous Yorkshire Chorizo and of course the best home-reared pork.

Pilkington Farms in Hertfordshire cross-breed rare breeds to produce pork which has just the right amount of fat and flavour that their customers prefer.

Orchard View Farm in Buckinghamshire produces smoked streaky or back bacon as well as their award winning pork along with pies, sausages and ham.

Learn butchery and charcuterie skills in The Yorkshire Dales

A start of a new year is often full of resolution making and one that's always good to go for is to learn something new.
There are several Artisan Food Trail members that offer hands-on courses to enable people to broaden their food horizons, whether it is the gentle art of perfecting new recipes or really getting to grips with where their food comes from.

For those of you that have been reading our blog and saw last year's ITV series 'The Dales' with Adrian Edmondson, you'll know that after months of hard work Paganum's new artisan butchery and charcuterie building opened in September 2012.

Now in full swing, Paganum's owner Chris Wildman has started running a number of butchery and charcuterie courses to teach the skills of his trade. The courses run throughout the year and Chris has kindly given one place on his full-day butchery skills course for us to offer to one lucky Artisan Food Trail competition winner.

Paganum's one day course will cover:

• Basic pork butchery
• Primal cuts
• Knife skills
• Nose to tail uses of the pig – you can eat everything but the squeak!
• Sausage making – create your perfect sausage
• Bacon curing Basic charcuterie
• Tour of the farm, meet the pigs and other livestock
• You'll be treated to great Dales hospitality – refreshments and lunch will be provided.

The course is being held on 22nd March 2013 in the butchery on the farm near Malham in The Yorkshire Dales.
So if you'd like the chance to win a place on this informative yet enjoyable course. Sorry, this competition has now closed.

Quality meat from Yorkshire

You’re probably making plans on what to put on the Christmas table this year, so if you’re looking for some top quality poultry, meats and charcuterie, Paganum Produce offer a wide selection.
Buying couldn’t be simpler as everything is available online or if you prefer the old fashioned method of communication, the people at Paganum are more than happy to take your call.

Stars of the Christmas table

Herb Fed Bronze Turkey
"For a bird with taste" these free range bronze birds are fed on fresh herbs from Thirsk and feed produced in a local mill for a true Yorkshire bird with a difference, moist & full of real turkey flavour.

Yorkshire Rib of Beef
Paganum Yorkshire Dales beef is sourced from breeds that give superior eating qualities and includes Short Horn, Welsh Black, Highland and Belted Galloway. All beef production and suppliers farm using traditional methods by farmers who are committed to animal welfare, sustainable agriculture and conservation.

Yorkshire Lamb
The lambs sourced by Paganum are from the Yorkshire Dales. Blue Faced Leicester rams crossed with Swaledale ewes produce superior tasting lamb, with the guarantee of traditional farming methods.
The lambs are grazed on a mixture of rich lowland Dales pasture and the high moors, where clean air and limestone grassland contributes to the assurance of great tasting lamb. The lamb is matured slowly, producing more succulent tasting meat.

Charcuterie

The festive time would not be complete without a variety of cured meats.

Yorkshire Bresaola
Marinated and cured Yorkshire Beef, first marinated then cured and air dried to produce a fantastic Italian style Beef Bresaola, serve with oil & lemon.

Pickled Yorkshire Beef
Prime Yorkshire Beef wet cured or pickled to the traditional Wildman Family Recipe. 
1.5kg Pickled Joint ready to cook, slice and enjoy, proper old fashioned fayre.

Yorkshire Pancetta
Dry cured home reared Malhamdale Oxford & Sandy Black Pork. 
A fantastic 400g (approx) slab of our own Yorkshire Pancetta, special cure, dry aged and peppered.

Yorkshire Guanciale

Dry cured home reared Malhamdale Oxford & Sandy Black Pork Jowl (cheek). 
A fantastic 300g (approx) slab of our own Yorkshire Guanciale, cured with juniper, thyme and garlic, dry aged and peppered.

This is just a selection so remember to visit the Paganum Produce page here on The Artisan Food Trail to read out more about them and to find links to their website and contact information.

Luxury hampers and gift packs from The Artisan Smokehouse

A new and exciting range of beautiful hampers are available from
The Artisan Smokehouse which have been carefully put together to meet all tastes and budgets. Choose from British, Italian, Vegetarian, Spicy, Award Winners, or Chef's Ingredients hampers, or why not spoil someone (or yourself) with the ultimate Luxury hamper. All products are beautifully presented in an elegant black presentation box and hand tied with ribbon.
Hamper prices start from as little as £18 and Spice & Herb gift packs from just £4.50, so giving a gift of the finest smoked produce couldn't be easier.

Orders required in time for Christmas need to be placed by 19th December (latest dispatch will be 22nd December).

The British Hamper
A classic hamper containing the best British products.
Contains:
Smoked British beef, smoked free-range duck breast, both hot and cold smoked Scottish Freedom Food salmon, smoked Suffolk garlic, smoked Suffolk rapeseed oil, smoked Stilton, smoked Cheddar and accompanying Artisan cheese biscuits.

The Italian Hamper
A delicious selection of finest Italian products. 
Contains: 
Parmesan cheese, smoked Milano salami, smoked Spianata Calabra salami (contains red chillies), smoked Italian olive oil, Italian dried herbs and smoked dried forest mushrooms.

The Luxury Hamper
A stunning hamper, which would greatly impress even the most committed foodie! 
Contains: 
Smoked British beef, smoked free-range duck breast, both hot and cold smoked Scottish Freedom Food salmon, smoked Milano salami, smoked Spianata Calabra salami (contains red chillies), smoked Suffolk garlic, smoked Italian olive oil, Parmesan cheese, smoked Stilton, smoked Cheddar, smoked goat’s cheese, Membrillo (quince paste to accompany cheese), Artisan cheese biscuits, smoked dried forest mushrooms, smoked coarse sea salt and smoked paprika.

The Vegetarian Hamper
A delicious selection of vegetarian friendly foods. 
Contains: 
Smoked goat’s cheese, smoked Stilton, smoked Suffolk rapeseed oil, smoked Suffolk garlic, smoked dried forest mushrooms, Membrillo (quince paste to accompany cheese) and Artisan cheese biscuits.

The Award Winners Hamper
A lovely selection of The Artisan Smokehouse's award winning products. 
Contains: 
Smoked British beef, smoked free-range duck breast, both hot and cold smoked Scottish Freedom Food salmon and smoked Suffolk rapeseed oil.

The Chef's Ingredients Hamper
For those budding chefs out there who like to experiment. 
Contains: 
Smoked dried forest mushrooms, smoked Italian olive oil, smoked coarse sea salt, smoked black peppercorns, smoked dried garlic, smoked chilli flakes and smoked paprika.

The Spicy Hamper
A hamper aimed at those who like the spicier side of life. 
Contains: 
Smoked Spianata Calabra salami (contains red chillies), smoked Habanero chillies, smoked Chipotle Morita chillies, hot paprika and cayenne pepper.

Spice and Herb Gift Packs
A beautiful selection of herb and spice gift packs. The perfect present for all those foodies out there. 
Choose from:
Smoked Sea Salt and Black Peppercorns – contains maple smoked sea salt and black peppercorns

Italian Herbs and Smoked Garlic – contains dried Italian herbs and maple smoked dried garlic

Smoked Chilli and Paprika – contains maple smoked chilli flakes and smoked paprika

Smoked Spice Selection – contains maple smoked black peppercorns, sea salt, paprika and dried garlic
Sweet Spice Selection – contains ground cinnamon, mixed spice, ginger and allspice berries

Fiery Spice Selection – contains hot paprika, cayenne pepper, black peppercorns & maple smoked chilli flakes

Mulled Wine Spice Kit – contains cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, ground ginger, cloves, a reusable muslin bag and a recipe card (contains several servings)

To find out more about The Artisan Smokehouse please visit their page on The Artisan Food Trail here where you will find links to their website to place your order.

Great Glen Game featured in Country Lifestyle Scotland magazine

It is always heart warming to see any of our Artisan Food Trail members featured in a magazine and the latest issue of Country Lifestyle Scotland has dedicated a double page spread to Great Glen Game, producers of wild venison charcuterie.

It is a lovely article telling the story of how they came to be with recipes and some inspiring photos in glorious full colour. It also mentions how Anja Baak of Great Glen Game is making full use of social media such as Twitter and Facebook to get their message across, a medium which we make very big use of at The Artisan Food Trail, so it is good to read that Anja says it is paying dividends while allowing the business to pick up valuable contacts and maintain a connection with its customers.

You can see the full article below:

Click here to see a larger readable version

For more information about Great Glen Game visit their page on 
The Artisan Food Trail here

Highland Mighty: Great Glen Game

Within the heart of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery and located in the old butchers’ shop at the heart of the small village of Roy Bridge near Fort William, Great Glen Game was founded in 2003 by Jan Jacob and Anja Baak, to produce a unique range of 100% Venison Salamis and Smoked Venison. Using only Scottish Wild Venison, all of which is sourced directly from estates and smaller landowners located in the hills that surround them.

Jan Jacob Baak became involved in the management of the wild deer population and discovered the wonderful sustainable meat; the love for Venison was born. He soon started experimenting with the meat in a hand built smoker in the garden. The smoked prime cuts of Venison soon became the favorite talking point when friends came along for dinner, prompting them to start a business.

Over the years new products were developed such as Chorizo, Pepperoni, different types of Salami and a Bresaola all made with pure wild Scottish venison. All salamis and chorizos uses natural skins for casings, oak chips for smoking and air drying in their manufacture.

Venison is a lean product with less fat and fewer calories and lower in cholesterol than beef and pork. It is also high in iron, making venison charcuterie a healthy alternative to the more common pork-based charcuterie.

Vist Great Glen Game on The Artisan Food Trail here

Choice Cuts: Paganum Produce

Paganum Produce is a small artisan butchery and charcuterie based at Church End Farm near Malham in the Yorkshire Dales.

With five generations of butchery, curing and farming experience supplying a traditional product range increasing a range of traditional meats, sausages, dry cured bacon and charcuterie with the benefit of an online shop and direct-to-door delivery.

The Name
“Paganum” is Latin for “Rural Tradition” and was chosen because rural tradition is something that they are passionate about. Traditional methods of farming for slower grown, happier animals. Traditional and rare breeds able to thrive in the outdoor life of the Yorkshire Dales. Traditional ways of hanging, preparing and cutting meat for a fuller flavour. And traditional standards of service where every customer counts.

History
The company is now headed by Chris Wildman and butchery runs deep in his family, the original butchers shop was opened in Bentham, Yorkshire in the mid 1800s by John Wildman (Great Great Grandfather), previously it existed as an on-farm butchery and following his death in 1894 the shop passed through a succession of Wildmans.

Provenance and Preparation
All meat and gourmet produce is fully traceable to family farms and small artisan firms in the Yorkshire Dales.

Sourcing locally means that all farmers and producers are known personally. They've all been chosen by Paganum for their commitment to animal welfare, sustainable agriculture and conservation.

All produce is British giving full confidence in that it's been produced here, not just packed here. They can absolutely guarantee that all fresh beef and lamb is fully traceable to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

Special cuts can be provided as well as advice on the best type of meat for a particular recipe and how to cook whichever joint you choose. It's all down to preparation, hanging and cutting. Beef is hung for a minimum of 21 days, to ensure maximum taste and tenderness.

Yorkshire Chorizo
Paganum is also home to the Yorkshire Chorizo, a fully cured sausage using British pork and made in Yorkshire, of course.

Visit Paganum Produce on The Artisan Food Trail here

Roasted Asparagus with Chorizo & Poached Egg

The season is finally upon us for British asparagus, but what to do with it? We wanted something a little different to the standard steamed method and had heard that roasting really locks in the flavour. Looking around the British Asparagus website we found this easy but delicious recipe using chorizo. Luckily we still had some venison chorizo left in the sample pack that Great Glen Game sent us, so how could we resist giving it a try in this recipe.

We had to adapt the recipe slightly as venison chorizo is considerably leaner than its porky counterpart, so doesn't let out as much 'oil' on cooking, but with the addition of extra virgin olive oil and some extra paprika, there was enough to drizzle over at the end.

The trick is to not fry the venison chorizo, but merely warm it in the oil so that it releases its flavour but does not become too chewy or frazzled.

We loved the flavour, not overpoweringly gamey, just rich, sweet and smokey.

View recipe

Photos: ©childsdesign 2011