Caerleon restaurant 'overwhelmed' by success of horsemeat (From South Wales Argus)
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Caerleon restaurant 'overwhelmed' by success of horsemeat
9:30am Friday 8th March 2013 in News
POPULAR: Reporter Sophie Brownson tucks into horsemeat at The Roman Lodge Hotel, Caerleon
A CAERLEON chef isn't horsing around with the introduction of horsemeat on his menu.
The Stuffed Dormouse Restaurant at The Roman Lodge Hotel, Caerleon, is now serving horsemeat steak on its menu.
This comes after food producers and supermarkets across the UK have withdrawn products when tests found items that were supposed to contain beef actually had up to 100 per cent horsemeat.
The scandal hit the headlines following a study that showed horse DNA in beef burgers sold in British supermarkets.
The UK Food Standards agency admitted that horsemeat containing the painkiller Bute could have been in the food chain for a long time.
A Newport catering firm is at the centre of the latest horsemeat scandal after the meat was found being supplied to Newport and Caerphilly councils.
Now an Abergavenny butcher, Vin Sullivan, who specialises in exotic meats and fresh fish, is supplying the horsemeat to the restaurant for £2.20 to £2.40 per steak.
Head chef Gareth Lee, has been a chef for 22 years and works with his business partner, Simone Asen.
Just two weeks ago they started to sell horsemeat on their menu and have been overwhelmed with the public's response.
Mr Lee said: "The feedback we have had since selling the horsemeat has been very good, but quite a lot of customers who haven't had it before ask to see me and find out what it tastes like.
"I would say it tastes like beef but it is full of flavour, and it’s healthier than beef, as it is much leaner.
"It has a different texture, it's more like venison, and you can't overcook it, so is has to be medium-rare.
"But if the customers don't like it, they don't have to pay for it."
The 'good quality' rump steaks are from horses specifically farmed for meat, and with the recent horse-meat scandal, Mr Lee is quick to defend the meat that has caused such controversy.
He added: "People don't understand what is going on in the papers.
"The scandal is not eating horse it’s the fact that people thought they were eating beef.
"At the end of the day, it is an animal that has been raised for meat."
"The restaurants name, The Stuffed Dormouse, comes from Roman times where only the rich could afford to eat high-quality meat, and the peasants had to eat food like stuffed dormice.
"We wanted to give people to opportunity to try different and exotic meats without the expensive price, and with two courses for £10 you can’t go wrong really."
Horsemeat was a pleasant surprise
REPORTER Sophie Brownson went along to The Stuffed Dormouse to give the horse steaks a try.
When I followed chef, Garth Lee into the kitchen and saw the little brown package labelled 'horsemeat', my heart sank. I was really going to do this.
He cooked the medium rare steak and served it alongside a pomegranate salad and chips.
The presentation was lovely, however I was unsure about the steak.
As I took the first bite all I could imagine was a little ponies face looking up at me from my fork, but I manned up and took the plunge.
And I was pleasantly surprised - it was actually nice Although chewy, it was tender and lean, and tasted no different from any other steak.
I could see why it was the healthier, and increasingly more popular option.
Mr Lee explained: "People can be put off by the emotive aspect.
"They see horses as pets, but in places such as South America and France it is perfectly normal.
"Everyone has eaten horse at some point in their lives."
Now I can say I have.
Comments(27)
Goldy_Lookin_Clart
says...
4:46pm Fri 8 Mar 13
I was hedging my bets lol
Goldy_Lookin_Clart
says...
4:46pm Fri 8 Mar 13
I was hedging my bets lol
County
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5:03pm Fri 8 Mar 13
NakedDancer
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5:13pm Fri 8 Mar 13
sisterrene wrote:As the chef says this is an emotive British response because unlike most other countries we're not used to the idea of eating horse (though its now evident we have been forever). Many people would say cows, pigs, deer, rabbit or other animals are beautiful.
Eating horsemeat is digusting - have a look how these beautiful animals are treated at abbatoirs - 8 million horses died in the 1st world war - 35 horses saved just last week from misery and abandonment - now this restaurant glorifies eating their flesh. Shame on them
If you are vegetarian or object to how abatoirs are run fair enough... but to object about the treatment of horses and not any other animal bred for food is ridiculous.
ExNewport
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7:28pm Fri 8 Mar 13
bloggsy1
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7:57pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Limestonecowboy
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8:13pm Fri 8 Mar 13
sisterrene wrote:Totally agree!
Eating horsemeat is digusting - have a look how these beautiful animals are treated at abbatoirs - 8 million horses died in the 1st world war - 35 horses saved just last week from misery and abandonment - now this restaurant glorifies eating their flesh. Shame on them
MR DUDLEY
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8:48pm Fri 8 Mar 13
Dolieboy
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9:57pm Fri 8 Mar 13
How ? you are a woman!!!
smokintheweed
says...
2:30am Sat 9 Mar 13
sisterrene wrote:I would like to know some further details.
Eating horsemeat is digusting - have a look how these beautiful animals are treated at abbatoirs - 8 million horses died in the 1st world war - 35 horses saved just last week from misery and abandonment - now this restaurant glorifies eating their flesh. Shame on them
1: Are you a vegetarian?
2: Do you like horses? (why do you seem to think that a streamlined cow is disgusting to eat)
3: Are you one of those idiot vegetarians that will eat chicken and fish?
Your concern for horses is apparent but other animals seem to have been put on the back-burner.
I'd eat a horse and I would fully enjoy old dobbin with some peppercorn sauce. I've never gone showjumping with a cow but no-one seems to care if they are eaten or not.
smokintheweed
says...
2:43am Sat 9 Mar 13
To start crying about the poor dobbins is relevant but only in the sense that you thought it was beef.
Awww... Poor horses....
An animal still had to die for it. A tasty, tasty animal. With mustard and a bit of pepper.
Davi
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11:41am Sat 9 Mar 13
KarmaSuitsYa
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11:41am Sat 9 Mar 13
"The scandal is not eating horse it’s the fact that people thought they were eating beef."
Ha, condescending much?
Mervyn James
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12:21pm Sat 9 Mar 13
NakedDancer
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1:47pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Davi wrote:Why would you be more concerned about this restaurant than any other restaurant ? a chef of 22 years wouldn't risk his reputation with poor quality meat.
How do people know if this horse meat being served is good ...I don't think anyone knows how this particular meat regarding the meat chain is coming from a horse that was healthy.This meat could be full of horrible chemicals .I for one would not recommend people eat the meat at this particular restaurant.
Did you not read this article ? They have a specialist supplier and "the good quality rump steaks are from horses specifically farmed for meat".
So you can have confidence its traceable quality and ...and you cant say that about beef. Or do you think its beef being passed off as horse ?
If you have concerns about the quality of meat then best find a butcher you trust and don't eat out or go vegetarian because there will always be rogues in the supply chain for any meat.
Dai the Milk
says...
1:49pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Mervyn James wrote:I quite like carp.
Fraud simply. I recall in the 60s fast food shops opening up in London selling rat burgers and did a roaring trade apparently. Newport has no taste anyway.... just look at the 'food' outlets we have, unadulterated carp with few exceptions.
Dee-Gee
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5:16pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Limestonecowboy
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6:11pm Sat 9 Mar 13
NakedDancer
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7:18pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Limestonecowboy wrote:Horses have always been bred for food in the UK and processed in UK abbatoirs, usually the same abbatoirs that process beef. However, most UK horsemeat is exported as there's little customer demand in the UK.
This article is thoroughly distastful, this is Britain & the British don't do things like this. Horses are not bred for food. Hopefully there will be a backlash & this place will re-consider.
There's no logical difference between eating one type of animal and not eating another. Anyone thats eaten meat on holiday outside the UK has probably eaten horse.
corpamassive
says...
6:21am Sun 10 Mar 13
I was to and fro the toilet like a pony in a relay race at a gymkana.
Just a thought though,If you fed the horse on mints as a treat would it taste minty.
corpamassive
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6:25am Sun 10 Mar 13
Davi wrote:If its got a saddle on it when the waiter brings it to the table thats a strong indication it's not beef.
How do people know if this horse meat being served is good ...I don't think anyone knows how this particular meat regarding the meat chain is coming from a horse that was healthy.This meat could be full of horrible chemicals .I for one would not recommend people eat the meat at this particular restaurant.
Dai the Milk
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12:29pm Sun 10 Mar 13
Big Bus Driver
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11:46pm Tue 12 Mar 13
Mervyn James
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10:10am Wed 13 Mar 13
Koreans are rather fond of cat and dog meat with bean sprouts etc Brits eat Macdonald turds in a bap.... lumps of fat in donor kebabs.... cannot help thinking food is rather bad for us of late......
doris18
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3:13pm Thu 14 Mar 13
These horses have not been bred for their meat and may well have spent several years as a much loved pony club ponies.
Many of the gypsy cobs that you see grazing on the roadsides are also being fattened there, so that they can then be sold on for meat.
These horses have not undergone the tight legislation that cows and sheep have. Their owners have not had to jump through the hoops that British farmers do to ensure that the quality of meat meets the required standard.
Mr Bump.
says...
4:49pm Fri 22 Mar 13
sisterrene says...
4:27pm Fri 8 Mar 13