"Low lie the fields of Athenry" where once .......

Athenry County Galway is where the Friendly Farmer raises his chickens on his farm and all processes in between & they are packed and sold, Athenry also is home to Bradys butchers which is also a business that looks after it's own from farm to fork .

As a members of Eurotoque we get the chance to go visit these producers that have the same values as us chefs do and if brave enough we get to see the whole process as we did In both businesses. Il admit its not pretty to someone if they have a week stomach but I think it's important we learn where our food comes from.

Our first visit of the day was to Brady's butchers & abattoir what is unique about this is it is one of very few butcher shops that still have their own abattoir where lamb and beef are processed whilst to see the whole process is not for the faint hearted and I will refrain from posting pictures of that may offend . We were taken through their prep rooms their shop again something that came to mind was the complete control of the end product this butchers has its not been bought to a big processing plant miles away it is quite simply field to shop . Here is their website if your every in Athenry
http://www.bradysbutchers.com/

Ronan Byrne the Friendly Farmer is a person that once you start talking to him about his chickens you get energised by his passion and his beliefs and his want to make his business work but make it work with out cutting corners as well as trying to be innovative walking around his farm and seeing how they raise the chickens to the abattoir and packaging you just know that this is going to be a top quality product that he also has complete control over he deosnt have to drive miles with the chickens it's all done in a short walk radius . To find out more here is a link to his blog

http://thefriendlyfarmer.blogspot.ie/p/ordering-for-home-delivery.html?m=1

After our busy morning we headed back to Galway city to Sheridan's cheese mongers where Seamus Sheridan told us why he is opposed to the largest fish farm in the world being built in Galway harbour
And tasted some beautiful Irish cheeses & their famous crackers

The evening finished in Masimo gastro pub where JP Produced a wonderful meal with produce from the suppliers we had visited with matching craft beers with a education on them from Galway hooker brewing company

So maybe it's not so lonely around the fields of Athenry anymore .... Make it your business to know where your meat comes from .