We are what we eat!

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I find this whole business with the horse meat scandal very interesting. The question of traceability of meat products is not an issue if you are running a butcher shop. All our beef comes with a passport which states the farmers name, kill date and the weight of the animal for example so it is easily traced back to the farm and we know what we are selling to 100%.

As the supermarkets seem more interested in making huge profits rather than making sure their customers are safe and demand unreasonable prices from their suppliers, who in turn can’t afford to buy quality ingredients to produce their ready meals or even a pack of quality mince, perhaps it isn’t so strange this has happened.

I must also question the choice some consumers are making. Why do they fill their bodies full of rubbish? These ready meals are not cheap. On the box it might look as if a ready meal Spaghetti Bolognese is oozing a thick, abundant portion of mince. It is only when you open the box you realise it is a very small pot of not very tasty looking food. To buy ingredients for a Spaghetti Bolognese and make it ourselves doesn’t cost any more. 1lb (460g) of lean mince beef, an onion, mushrooms and tomatoes will cost around £4 in our shop and that feeds a family of four and only takes 30 minutes to cook. What would you rather eat?

We have seen an increase in business since the horse meat scandal began and we hope our new customers won’t fall back into their old ways and go back to the supermarket. Once they have made the effort to visit ourCambridge butcher shop we hope they will see that we are very competitive on price and that they will enjoy the quality of our meat. And feel healthier as well! The knowledge that what you buy is safe and carefully sourced may also be a benefactor. Perhaps the phrase “we are what we eat” has finally showed its true meaning!

New Season Spring Lamb

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You may find sheep in just about every country on the planet, but in season British lamb is very hard to beat. Spring lamb season runs from May-October but it is in the earlier spring months that British lamb is at its most succulent and its flavour at its most subtle.

This is partly because lambs are typically weaned to a diet of grass between the ages of 1 and 3 months and the consumption of grass add flavour to lamb.The majority of lamb sold in Britain is from animals between four months and a year old.

Big supermarkets will source lamb from a number of different farms.

Buying home grown lamb from a good butcher’s shop or farmers’ market will not only give you the opportunity to ask about the source of the lamb but your taste buds will thank you as well – and you’ll make the butchers and the British farmers happy too.

Spring lamb is fantastic for roasting simply with garlic and herbs but if you prefer your lamb to be more flavourful and robust, then what’s on offer in the later months, around late summer and autumn, might be a better choice for you.

We have some beautiful Spring Lamb in our Cambridge butcher’s shop at the moment and the feedback from our customers has been fantastic.

So next time you are in Cambridge pop in to see our butchers and buy some for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

Red Meat & Your Health

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There has always been a lively debate as regards to wether red meat is good or bad for the health. (Red meat is any meat that is red before cooking it, i.e. pork, beef, lamb, venison etc.)

As butchers we of course believe lean red meat has got a number of very healthy factors.

The following essential vitamins and nutrients are but a few found in red meat:-

  • B Vitamins – essential to health and has a high presence in red meat. They are important for the release of energy from food. B vitamins help your body burn fat and are also essential for the nervous system.
  • Red meat is an essential source of iron, which is vital to good health as it helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. In fact, no other food contains as much iron as red meat and it is broken down and absorbed by the body easier than iron in grains and vegetables.
  • Zinc – another essential nutrient found in red meat. Zinc is needed by the body to make insulin and is also good for healthy skin and hair but most importantly, it boosts your immune system.

That red meat is an important part of a balanced diet is clear. What may not be so clear is that the red meat you eat should be lean and well matured. That means it has little fat. At our butcher shop here in Fen Ditton Cambridge we can provide you with just that. We only sell beef that has been matured for 28 days which makes it lean and tender.

Our butchers expertly TRIM all the different cuts so it has little fat. So go to your local butchers and buy some lean red meat and ENJOY it!

FINALLY

And don’t forget, as a general rule – to eat (and drink) everything in moderation and you will stay healthy!