Rabbit discovered at Slow Food event!

Wild rabbit is a neglected food, once a common part of the British diet. And with so many in our countryside, freely available and able to sustain themselves, it makes sense to eat them. But how do you deal with a wild rabbit and get it ready for the pot? Last night we hosted an excellent event all about it with the Berkshire and Wiltshire Slow Food convivium.

Hungerford gamekeeper Robin and his son Craig shared their knowledge with us and demonstrated what to do. We learned about the hunting methods, what to look for in a rabbit, and how to prepare it for cooking. We watched the experts skin, gut and portion a rabbit each, showing us very important details in the method to ensure good hygiene. Then everybody had a go themselves, carefully guided by Robin and Craig.

The hind legs and the ‘saddle’ made the best joints, with the saddle often filleted. The rest of the carcass is perfect for stock and soups. The offal is good stuff too – liver and lungs are particularly good for paté.

Everyone enjoyed a lovely meal at the Eco Conference Centre afterwards. Rabbit and Hazelnut Terrine as the starter, Braised Rabbit with Dijon Mustard on a bed of mashed root vegetables and kale as the main course, and apple crumble for dessert. The rabbit was delicious and  fresh from Sheepdrove’s organic farmland.

Slow Food

Clare Marriage, who leads the Berkshire and Wiltshire Slow Food convivium, coordinated the event. We were delighted that Slow Food UK’s Chief Executive, Maria Devereaux joined us for the evening too. Clare brought news from the recent Slow Food International Congress in Puebla, Mexico. The congress convened 600 people from more than 130 countries. Clare was a delegate, as were Peter and Juliet Kindersley, and Maria, joining the pro-active cultural movement to improve global food issues, and help build a sustainable future for food. Read more about Slow Food…

Join the next local Slow Food event…

Tuesday 8th Jan 2008. Starts 6.30pm
How to Make Sausages, & Sausage Supper

Start 2008 with a tasty learning experience! Watch the expert and then have a go at making your own links. Enjoy a great sausage supper afterwards.
Venue: Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre.
Fee: only £15 (£10 for members)
Book now: call Clare Marriage on 01488 684880 or email slowfoodbw@hotmail.co.uk to reserve your place.

Another great day at the conference centre

 

Today’s event for Liberata, an outsourcing company, was all about corporate ethics. Naturally they chose our conference centre, as a sustainable and ethical venue. Their after-lunch guest speaker was Lucy Siegle, broadcaster and journalist in ethical living.

“The Kindersley Centre is on my top three places to go, as an environmentalist, I’ve always wanted to come here.” said Lucy, “There’s the Eden Project, *The Kindersley Centre, and the Centre for Alternative Technology, and now I can tick them all.”  *(now called Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre)

Lucy sees it as “sort of my job to wear hemp….” but where style is concerned she’s a million miles from the weave your own tofu hat brigade as she would put it. Lucy Siegle embodies the growing trend for ‘eco chic’ and the green consumerism that’s now so mainstream. Her expert presentation featured striking images as well as a great collection of facts and figures, such as; this Christmas our wrapping paper will be enough to cover an area the size of Wales.

The delegates had enjoyed a delicious organic lunch in our Dining Room, with Organic Chicken and vegetables from Sheepdrove. And so, fittingly, we gave a presentation all about Sheepdrove Organic Farm. Jason Ball introduced the delegates to the animal welfare and environmental ethics at the farm, with photos of everything from dung beetles to happy organic pigs!

Delegates included representatives from the Ministry of Justice, UK local authorities and associates from the USA. Guests ended their event very pleased, inspired, and carrying Sheepdrove goods home too! We loved working with Liberata and the team from Creo, who with our behind-the-scenes staff made everything go smoothly. Even the weather was perfect. What a great day.

To make Sheepdrove your next venue, call 01488 674737 or email myevents@ecoconference.com

LINKS:

• Liberata 
• Creo communications
• Read more of Lucy Siegle’s work at The Observer.

Take a look around…

Our sustainably-designed conference centre has a lot to offer…

For meetings and conferences it’s an energising alternative location. Gorgeous rooms, unusual breakout areas both indoors and out, modern audio-visual equipment, wireless broadband, delicious food with organic meat and seasonal vegetables grown here and freshly cooked in our kitchen, farm tours, with creative touches all around. The place inspires ideas.

For weddings the building and its surroundings create a delightful atmosphere. Bespoke organic catering and a selection of multi-purpose rooms enable you to host the whole special day all in one place.

Take the Oak Room, for example. With a capacity of nearly 200 it’s our largest room, and it has an uplifting character, rather like a cathedral with a contemporary touch. Read more… or take a look around…