Welsh meat heading to Llundain for Llamb’s Day
THE Welsh lamb industry is looking forward to kick-starting its summer promotional campaign this week with a special event for food writers in London.
Showgoers at the Royal Welsh Show last week enjoyed demonstrations of how to cook Welsh lamb from top chefs including Francesco Mazzei, Imran Nathoo and Steffan Davies.
Following the success of last year’s “Llamb’s Day” on August 1, PGI Welsh Lamb are moving the festival to the heart of London with an exclusive dinner.
Last year, PGI Welsh Lamb celebrated by cooking lamb out on the hills of north Wales, but this year Llamb’s Day is taking place in one of the hottest new restaurants in London, with one of the UK’s top up-and-coming chefs, Tom Simmons.
Playing on the name of the ancient Lammas Day – the first harvest festival of the year – Llamb’s Day marks the start of the Welsh lamb season, inviting everyone to feast on the finest, freshest lamb that’s been reared on the lush Welsh grasslands using farming methods that date back centuries.
The day will bring the best Welsh flavours to the heart of London, with a specially designed menu highlighting the pure flavour as well as versatility of Welsh lamb.
The menu will be designed by Tom Simmons at his new restaurant in Tower Bridge.
Mr Simmons said: “I love working with ingredients and flavours from Wales.
“I’ve been very lucky in having excellent produce around me my whole life, and it’s something I want to showcase at Tom Simmons, Tower Bridge restaurant.
“I grew up eating classic Welsh dishes and using amazing produce and that has had a huge influence on me.”
He added: “I think Welsh lamb is the best in the world and it makes me immensely proud to use produce sourced from my homeland.”
Attending the exclusive evening will be a selection of London-based food influencers, journalists and representatives from PGI Welsh Lamb.
Rhys Llywelyn, marketing development manager at Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) – Meat Promotion Wales, said: “Welsh lamb is in plentiful supply in August and it is important for us that people have the opportunity to taste fantastic Welsh produce in season.
“This event is a wonderful opportunity to bring the incredible quality and taste of Welsh lamb to London, and working with a fantastic chef like Tom Simmons is really exciting.”