ALMOST 40 top chefs and restaurateurs have ventured out of the big smoke of London this week to head to rural North Wales.

Yesterday (Tuesday, July 10), London restaurants such as Marcus Wareing, Marks Club and the Boisdale Mayfair were represented during a visit to Corwen's Rhug Estate.

Lord Newborough, the owner of the Rhug Estate, hosted the visit.

Ahead of the day, he said: “We invite head chefs and aspiring chefs to visit us to find out more about what goes into creating the organic meat we produce here on the farm.

"We are delighted to be able to call some of the best places to eat in London our customers and the purpose of the visit is two-fold.

"The chefs enjoy coming to the farm to learn more about how the organic meat is produced and we enjoy talking to them about the amazing dishes they create with our fabulous organic meat.”

During their visit, the chefs enjoyed a lunch of Rhug organic Welsh lamb in the bistro, while they were then given a butchery demonstration by the Rhug’s production manager Gary Jones.

They also visited the Rhug’s cutting plant and were taken on a tour of the farm by farm manager Gareth Jones, where they had the opportunity to see the sheep, cattle, chickens, bison and the new herd of deer at the site.

Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales sponsored the chefs’ visit.

The Rhug Estate’s meat cutting plant has been approved by HCC, thus ensuring that only lamb that meets the specifications of the European Commission’s Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) designation is labelled and sold to consumers as Welsh lamb.

Emily Davies, HCC’s UK market development executive, said: “The visit is an opportunity to promote Welsh red meat as well as showcase what the Rhug has to offer.

"The good name of Wales is so important in the culinary world and that’s why we are happy to be involved and lend our support to such occasions.”

At the heart of Rhug is Lord Newborough’s commitment to an organic lifestyle.

Rhug Farm is self-contained and a ‘field to plate’ operation applying the highest standard of sustainability.