Top Chef Visits Wiltshire Farm For New TV programme

11 August 2001: Langley Chase Organic Farm, Kington Langley, Wiltshire, was today visited by one of the UK's leading chefs and is set to feature in a new TV programme - Eat Up.

The farm was visited by top chef Mark Hix. Mark is Chef Director of leading London restaurants The Ivy, J Sheeky and Le Caprice. He is currently filming for his forthcoming TV food programme Eat Up and came to Langley Chase Organic Farm to find out more about the farm's Manx Loghtan lamb.

The organic smallholding, registered with the Soil Association, is run by Mrs Jane Kallaway, and specialises in producing top quality organic rare breed Manx Loghtan lamb. The lamb, reared on the farm's organic pasture and hay, is sold to customers locally and via mail order around the UK.

The Manx Loghtan is a striking multi-horned primitive rare breed. Widely understood to have been introduced to the British Isles by the Vikings, the breed produces dark cuts of meat with a distinctive taste and flavour. In studies by The Scottish Agricultural College, Manx Loghtan meat has been found to be lower in fat and cholesterol than commercial sheep. Mark interviewed Jane Kallaway and filmed the sheep being fed. He also baked a leg of lamb in the farm's organic hay and lavender from the garden.

Mark said: "It is tremendous to visit a small organic farm producing top quality organic produce. I cooked the lamb for about 20 minutes and the result was a delicious tender meat with a little hint of game".

Jane Kallaway said: "We are delighted Mark has chosen to film here and cook our lamb. We firmly believe that small scale organic farming produces top quality produce. Our Manx Loghtan lambs are not only striking but also produce tremendously tasty meat and it's great that Mark has been so encouraging!"

Mark used our lamb when writing a recipe for grilled lamb cutlets with butternut squash and broad bean relish in The Indpendent Newspaper.


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* Scottish Agricultural College data 22 May 200. Taken from The Manx Loghtan Breeders Magazine. The table of data illustrating both cholesterol, and fat content can be found here.