How often do you think about cattle? How many do you think there in are in Ireland? Six million, give or take a few. If they were intelligent, they might take over. Or if they hooked up with 70 million chickens in Ireland, they could easily wipe us out. Animal Farm, all over again.
Thankfully, we do not need to worry about these things. The taking over of the animals that is. Not for the moment. However, we do need to worry (or begin to think about) industrial farming on a massive scale. While we may argue, we are nowhere near this in Ireland, if we look across the pond, we should be worried.
Do not get me wrong. I enjoy my beef. I enjoy a good slow roasted Dexter shin with onions and beef dripping potatoes. Or a beef and oyster pie slowly braised so that every morsel succulently melts in your mouth. Or a tartare: the taste of raw beef on your tongue. There are so many ways to show your appreciation of beef, in particular the slow and long ways that induce those mouth watering umami notes. A slow braised beef cheek with a fried egg, sandwiched between two slices of sourdough. With butter! That is perfection.
I love beef. But with this love comes responsibility. What kind of beef farming do we want to represent us? Our green country needs to stay green. As much as I love my beef, I love my vegetables as well. And my seaweed, as many readers will already know.
Love your beef, but appreciate it, twice or three times a week. For the other days explore your vegetables: give love to that slow-braised cauliflower in butter, treasure it’s sumptuous notes of caramel; or find a moment for those leeks roasted to tender perfection. Serve them with some barley or rye, two of our ancient grains.
The first farmers brought cattle and vegetables, along with many other food stuffs. Balance, at the end of the day, is the way forward. Love your beef, but love your vegetables as well.
