Ventspils Technical College students learn about natural meadow products and their use in cooking

The Latvian Nature Fund, together with the association "Young Chefs Movement," continues to hold master classes for aspiring chefs on natural meadow products and their use in cooking. On February 18, students from the Ventspils Technical College chef program participated in the master class.

At the beginning of the master class, the Latvian Nature Fund gave the audience a presentation on what natural meadows are, why they are important to us, and what people can get from meadows, concluding with a small competition and prizes. Representatives of the Young Chefs Movement then talked about themselves, their participation in various collaborative projects and events, and encouraged aspiring chefs to be bold, join in, and get involved.

This was followed by a practical master class in the kitchen-laboratory. Aspiring chefs from all groups participated, including both first-year students and more experienced chefs who have already competed in culinary competitions. The master class was led by experienced chefs – Žanis-Raivo Behmanis from the restaurant "Kopa" and Kristaps Lieldaudzietis from the restaurant "Goldingen Room".

The young people had the opportunity to prepare various dishes from natural meadow products themselves. The menu included: fried meadow cheese with spices and freeze-dried lamb pieces, lamb liver pâté, beef tartare, and caramelized butter ice cream.

The dishes were prepared using natural meadow products from farms in Kurzeme: beef from naturally raised cattle from SIA Rukši, lamb products from the Kliņģeri farm, and meadow milk products from ZS Bišudārzi. These producers manage natural meadows, and their products are labeled "Natural Meadow Product."

Natural meadows are the most endangered habitats in the European Union and Latvia, whose existence depends on human economic activity. Over the last century, the area of natural meadows has declined rapidly, and currently they cover only 0.9% of Latvia's territory (for comparison, about 100 years ago, natural meadows covered more than 30% of the territory). Natural meadows provide us as a society with many different benefits, which can be described in a few words as ecosystem services that are very important for ensuring the well-being of society. 

Masterclasses for aspiring chefs are organized as part of the EU LIFE-IP LatViaNature project with the aim of supporting entrepreneurship for sustainable natural grassland management.