On the positive side, my partner managed to snaffle the last pack of bacon from the farm shop, and also brought home some milk and sausages for us to try.
On the negative side my partner spotted three bull calves in crates on the farm, and wondered if this means that there is veal being produced on the farm. The crates were big enough for the animals to turn round.
We don't support veal production though - if an animal is to be kept, keep it healthy. Restricting movement so that muscles do not develop properly hardly seems healthy.
I know that there are extremes of veal production - calves head tied so they cannot turn or lay (who end up standing in their own urine, damaging their legs and feet) and calves fed an iron deficient diet to keep them anemic and their flesh pale. I know the UK has laws preventing the worst cases of this treatment to calves, which is why UK veal is not as white or tender as veal produced in some other countries, but I have no idea what the laws are in Jersey.
Saturday, 23 December 2006
Wednesday, 20 December 2006
Beautiful bacon
I rarely eat bacon. My partner enjoys it, on occasion. I think we will both be eating it more regularly now, as tonight we tried the bacon I bought from Darren Quenault's farm shop. It seems wrong to call it the same name as the flimsy, watery tasteless stuff I normally buy in supermarkets even though I make an effort to buy flavourful bacon (buying Duchy Originals where I can, or something from the Waitrose "Taste the Difference" range).
The Quenaults' bacon doesn't look that brilliant on the fridge shelf - the colour is good but the bacon is vacuum packed, so the slices are shapelessly mushed together. The rashers are quite streaky as well, something we normally avoid, but that bacon tasted indescribably good. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I find myself longing for an excuse to try the bacon in a bacon sandwich - the flavour is intense enough to cope with the bread. The bacon had a good shelf life, but it definitely wont need it in our house.
The Quenaults' bacon doesn't look that brilliant on the fridge shelf - the colour is good but the bacon is vacuum packed, so the slices are shapelessly mushed together. The rashers are quite streaky as well, something we normally avoid, but that bacon tasted indescribably good. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I find myself longing for an excuse to try the bacon in a bacon sandwich - the flavour is intense enough to cope with the bread. The bacon had a good shelf life, but it definitely wont need it in our house.
Monday, 18 December 2006
Shopping Locally
My Mother visited the Island this weekend, and after having lunch at Big Vern's last week, I had noticed that their plates and mugs are produced at a local pottery located at 7 Belvedere Terrace. I used to live at 7 Belvedere Terrace, so whilst my Mum was over we visited the pottery and I bought a beautiful dish for grating garlic or ginger upon. Theresa was there and as well as talking about the house and how it has changed over the years she introduced us to her creations. I wanted to buy lots, but being stoneware the pottery is not cheap and at this expensive time of year I could not treat myself to anything more than the dish I bought.
I notice that the pottery is a member of Genuine Jersey. The Genuine Jersey website has a large list of members upon which I notice Classic Herd Ltd, the Quenaults' business. I used the rare opportunity of having some free time last week to pop into the Quennaults' farm shop where I was surprised to find a large number of luxury biscuits and relishes. A farm shop seems an odd place to buy Christmas presents, but there you go! I did buy some bacon, soup, spare ribs and the Jersey Brie and those we have so far eaten were good. The Brie has a much more solid texture than Brie from France or Somerset, but was very creamy. The farm shop is quite large and when I visited I was the only person buying, although they were re-stocking the sausages which indicated plenty of customers earlier. I do wish the Quenaults every success, and will be shopping there when I can, although I can not see myself buying many of the luxury biscuits, sauces etc. I am hoping that next year they may sell new potatoes that have not been through the grader.
Grading new potatoes bruises and dries them, and should be made illegal. Potatoes that have not been through the grader are more tender and seem to stay fresh longer than those that have, but I have a dreadful job finding any. The only way to be sure to get some is to befriend someone growing them! Eating potatoes that have not been graded is like eating the potatoes we enjoyed as children.
I notice that the pottery is a member of Genuine Jersey. The Genuine Jersey website has a large list of members upon which I notice Classic Herd Ltd, the Quenaults' business. I used the rare opportunity of having some free time last week to pop into the Quennaults' farm shop where I was surprised to find a large number of luxury biscuits and relishes. A farm shop seems an odd place to buy Christmas presents, but there you go! I did buy some bacon, soup, spare ribs and the Jersey Brie and those we have so far eaten were good. The Brie has a much more solid texture than Brie from France or Somerset, but was very creamy. The farm shop is quite large and when I visited I was the only person buying, although they were re-stocking the sausages which indicated plenty of customers earlier. I do wish the Quenaults every success, and will be shopping there when I can, although I can not see myself buying many of the luxury biscuits, sauces etc. I am hoping that next year they may sell new potatoes that have not been through the grader.
Grading new potatoes bruises and dries them, and should be made illegal. Potatoes that have not been through the grader are more tender and seem to stay fresh longer than those that have, but I have a dreadful job finding any. The only way to be sure to get some is to befriend someone growing them! Eating potatoes that have not been graded is like eating the potatoes we enjoyed as children.
Another service award
This time to Boots where a member of staff noticed how much I was spending and suggested I take my Boots card to a card machine they have in the store whereupon I printed out a voucher entitling me to £4 worth of Boots points if I spend more than a certain sum that day. The lady, who was not English/Jersey, was very helpful in other ways as well, but they are too boring to detail. Thank you Boots for the £4 extra sitting on my card. It will come in useful in January.
Wednesday, 13 December 2006
A beautiful day
Walking the dogs down Val de la Mare valley today I was pleased to see that the water level in the reservoir is rising though there is still plenty of room to store more water - perhaps we should hope for more rain? I really enjoyed my walk in the sunshine, with late leaves swishing overhead and the stream tinkling to the side of me, and I was not the only one - everyone I met was smiling and happy to stop and chat.
Thursday, 7 December 2006
Service to be proud of
Jersey recently came 10th from bottom in a customer service shopping survey of the Channel Islands. But I had a lovely experience today, and would like to give a gold star to the lovely lady who served me at Hallmark cards in King Street.
Not only was she helpful and pleasant whilst I paid for my cards, but when I was cheeky enough to ask for a second free 2007 datebook she happily popped another in without hesitation. Then I remarked upon a 2 Euro chocolate coin on the desk amongst some sterling ones and she handed it straight to me, insisting I kept it whan I protested. My smile lasted all the way back to my car.
Not only was she helpful and pleasant whilst I paid for my cards, but when I was cheeky enough to ask for a second free 2007 datebook she happily popped another in without hesitation. Then I remarked upon a 2 Euro chocolate coin on the desk amongst some sterling ones and she handed it straight to me, insisting I kept it whan I protested. My smile lasted all the way back to my car.
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