A masterclass has been held for aspiring chefs at Kuldīga Technical College of Technology and Tourism

To promote young professionals“ understanding of the products that can be sourced from Latvia’s natural meadows, the Latvian Nature Fund, in collaboration with the association ”Young Chefs“ Movement”, is organising masterclasses this year for aspiring chefs at several vocational education institutions across Latvia. The first masterclass took place on 12 March at the Kuldīga Technology and Tourism Technical College, attended by 15 trainee chefs. It was led by experienced head chefs from restaurants in Kuldīga – Žanis Raivo Behmanis from the restaurant “KOPA” and Kristaps Lieldaudzietis from the restaurant “Goldingen Room”.

At the start of the masterclass, the young people learnt about the importance of Latvia’s natural meadows and discovered the products produced there, before testing their knowledge in an engaging competition. In the practical session, the main focus was on the ways in which beef and beef bones can be used in the preparation of various dishes. Under the guidance of the head chefs, the young chefs prepared beef tartare, steak, beef bone marrow and a beef bone broth sauce.

“Our meadows are veritable treasure troves – they are the source of a variety of superb, high-quality products. For example, beef from cattle reared on natural meadows has a more intense and richer flavour. Similarly, research shows that such grass-fed meat has a higher nutritional value – a higher concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids and more antioxidants,“ says Inga Muižniece, head of the “Natural Meadow Product” brand developed by the Latvian Nature Fund.

Beef products from “Kazdangas Miesnieks” (SIA Rukši) were used in the cookery masterclass. This producer rears cattle on natural pastures and labels its products with the “Natural Pasture Product” mark.

Natural grasslands are the most endangered habitats in the European Union and Latvia, and their survival depends on human economic activity. Over the last hundred years, the area of natural grasslands has declined rapidly, and currently they cover only 0.9% of Latvia’s territory (by way of comparison, around 100 years ago natural grasslands covered more than 30% of the territory). Natural meadows provide us, as a society, with a wide range of benefits. which, in a nutshell, can be described as ecosystem services that are vital to ensuring the well-being of society.

Nowadays, in the field of nature conservation, various innovative methods are being sought to integrate nature conservation into land management. One such innovation is the “Natural Meadow Product” label created by the Latvian Nature Fund. This label is used to identify products produced in natural meadows.

Masterclasses for aspiring chefs are organisedAs part of the EU LIFE-IP LatViaNature project, with the aim of supporting entrepreneurship in the sustainable management of natural grasslands.