Locally sourced Dexter 'n chips

Rusty Pig in Ottery St Mary is holding a ‘Dexter’ event on August Bank Holiday weekend, to highlight the importance of local sourcing.

The Dexter beef will be served as super-sized steak and chips cooked in beef dripping at the ethical restaurant in Yonder Street on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 August.

Rusty Pig owner Robin Rea believes that local sourcing has become ever more popular, and says there are more benefits than may be immediately obvious.

“People have started to take the phrase ‘locally sourced’ for granted as so many businesses are using it,” he said.

Resident chef, Mark Russell agreed. “This in itself is a really good thing, as it means many of us now expect restaurants to adhere to using products from neighbouring suppliers – it’s become the norm.”

The benefits of local sourcing include higher animal welfare, as the provenance of locally sourced meat can be easily checked out with a visit. Robin, for example, visits all the suppliers he uses to ensure welfare standards are met, and he always knows where the meat he serves at Rusty Pig comes from. In the case of the Bank Holiday Dexter beef, the supplier is Haymans of Ottery.

On the back of welfare comes taste, as it is a well-known fact that meat from well cared for animals kept in a healthy environment has an improved flavour. In addition, there is a benefit to the community with small businesses receiving a boost from regular orders from restaurants and other outlets.

Robin added: “Food miles are an important consideration in helping the environment. When a supplier lives ‘just up the road’, it is an added bonus that transportation is kept to a minimum.”

To try the local Dexter beef, call Rusty Pig on 01404 815580. The dinner costs £25 for two courses.