a meat-eater’s delight at Ardross

Once a year, we spend a long weekend in Elie and one of the most wonderful culinary delights is our trip to Ardross Farm Shop, just I mile north-east of Elie on the coast road. Our delight mostly centred around the delicious meat they have on offer.

Ardross Farm use traditional farming methods to produce their own cattle. While not 'organic', the welfare of their animals is a priority as is providing them with local GM-free feed. A perfect opportunity to buy local and feel comfortable about how the beasts were kept. The rump steak was excellent, full of flavour and tender to boot. We are very satisfied customers: 3 frozen packs have made it via the cooler to our freezer in the city.
http://www.ardrossfarm.co.uk/

They are also suppliers of Ballencrief sausages and bacon, which we found out comes from Longniddry on this side of the Firth. Absolutely phenomenally delicious and lucky for us, also available at the Edinburgh Farmers Market. Again 2 packs via the cooler to freezer. Their honey mustard one sausages are excellent and I can't even find words to explain exactly how delicious the bacon is. I'm just in heaven.
http://www.ballencrieffrppigs.co.uk/shop.php

If that's not good enough news for the Edinburgh resident, they share another good thing in common: Mrs Hamilton's lamb. I was delighted to find delicious gluten-free lamb and onion burgers that blew my socks off. Next to the Ardross steak, it was definitely rich, but certainly no less delicious.
http://www.mrshamilton.com/

And to round off the meaty entries with a touch of green... just yesterday, we discovered their garlic scapes. These are the parts of the garlic grown above ground, and can be sauteed for 6-7 minutes and then served. They are truly garlickily delicious. They were a bit strong for some as part of our 11am Sunday brunch, but would be perfect to have with some fresh crispy greenery a bit later on in the day. Looking forward to a trip up to the farmers' market when our supplies run out for more tastes in the present to remind us of the beautiful East Neuk and one of its many perks, Ardross.

http://www.scottishfarmersmarkets.co.uk/ (every second Saturday on Castle Terrace).