April

Spring is approaching!

Something in the air says that it’s no longer winter and, bearing in mind the sparse snowfall and the cold months that we have had, there should be a rapid thaw this year. The stores are starting to empty and ingredients that are especially welcome just now are the preserved late summer tomatoes, which have developed a fantastically rich flavour after almost eight months in a jar. Their character is gaining fullness and has distinct umami tones.

The other day, during a short walk around the estate, I found something amazing – fresh watercress! I was walking around to see whether any patches of coltsfoot had started to thaw and bloom, but as I passed the edge of a small cold spring I saw something green, something that didn’t fit with the colours of late winter. On the edge of the spring, protected by the water that is a constant 2-3 degrees Celsius, was a splendid stand of dark green watercress. This is good news now that we have more or less run out of fresh vegetables.

Other exciting news is that, along with Peter, we have decided to develop a really good chicken for the summer. We will be starting with Brahma, a heavy meat breed, and the chicks will hatch in May. After a few weeks they will spend the entire summer outside, with 10 sq. m. per bird. We believe that a high quality diet and plenty of space, along with natural flock behaviour and healthy animals, will give delicious poultry. We hope that the result will be large birds with slightly darker, denser meat and a thick skin that can be well roasted.