A masterclass on natural meadow produce for aspiring chefs at the Vidzeme Technology and Design College

On 12 November, the Latvian Nature Fund, in collaboration with the association “Young Chefs” Movement”, held what is now the seventh masterclass of the year on natural meadow products, this time at the Vidzeme Technology and Design College. The aim of the masterclass was to promote young professionals’ understanding of the products that can be obtained from Latvia’s natural meadows and the wide range of culinary uses for these products.

The masterclass began with an educational seminar for second- and third-year trainee chefs on Latvia’s natural meadows and the produce they yield. This was followed by a short sprint competition with prizes. Representatives of the Young Chefs’ Movement then spoke about their organisation, highlighting in particular their participation in various festivals and other events, and inviting the trainee chefs to join and get involved.

This was followed by a practical session – a masterclass led by experienced chefs: Artūrs Trinkuns from the “Barents” restaurant and Markuss Žamoidiks from the “B7” restaurant.

Nature offers products, ideas and exciting opportunities – don’t be afraid to experiment! This was emphasised repeatedly by the masterclass leaders. The young people had the chance to prepare various dishes themselves using natural meadow produce: lamb, sheep’s milk, yoghurt and honey. Pēteris Langrāts, a farmer from the “Siliņi” farm and a member of the association, explained and demonstrated how to use both wild and cultivated plants in cooking and food presentation.

The masterclass on cooking used lamb and honey from the “Priežukalns” farm, and sheep’s milk products from Iluta Straģe’s “Piena aitas bio” farm.  These producers manage natural meadows and their products are labelled with the “Natural Meadow 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 organised As part of the EU LIFE-IP LatViaNature project, with the aim of supporting entrepreneurship in the sustainable management of natural grasslands.