Aubery Allen, sourcing Irish Hereford Prime Beef for leading British restaurants for over twelve years.
Coventry-based Aubrey Allen is one of Britain’s leading beef suppliers, working with the UK’s best restaurants and chefs, including Heston Blumenthal and Michel Roux Snr. The company prides itself on sourcing the best quality beef from across Ireland and the UK and have partnered with Irish Hereford Prime for the past twelve years.
Simon Smith, Director of Customer Relations for Aubrey Allen, was first introduced to the breed by Michelin star chef, Heston Blumenthal, who requested it for his award-winning restaurants. “We’ve worked with (Heston Blumenthal) for many years and he said, ‘please go and have a look at this brilliant beef.’”
Simon’s first visit all those years ago, confirmed that Irish Hereford Prime was indeed something very special and Aubrey Allen has been supplying it to top British restaurants ever since.
This summer will once again see a contingent of British chefs coming to Irish shores to visit Irish Hereford Prime farmers around the country. This trip, which is a yearly tradition, is organised in conjunction with Aubrey Allen, and gives their chefs the opportunity to come and experience first-hand the Irish Hereford Prime system. The focus of the visit is to educate leading British chefs on the Hereford cattle breed, to introduce them to the farmers and to let them experience the care, attention and time that goes into the rearing of these cattle.
As renowned catering butchers, Aubrey Allen understands that great beef starts well before the kitchen, and the company works closely with Irish Hereford Prime farmers to ensure that they can reliably supply the very best of Irish beef. There is a strong focus on education within the company and Simon explains that they encourage all of their chefs to visit their supplier farms to see for themselves how the cattle are raised.
He believes that seeing the Irish Hereford Prime herds in their natural environment, grazing in the open air, in a carefully managed paddock system, highlights how this kind of ‘stress-free’ life can help to produce the unique tenderness and marbling that Irish Hereford Prime beef is renowned for.
The chefs’ visits are hosted in partnership with Bord Bia Chefs’ Irish Beef Club and Micheal Cleary, from Irish Hereford Prime is happy to be on hand to show them around.
Aubrey Allen’s trips have proven very popular, and the chefs have been impressed by the quality of the animals, as well as the care and professionalism of the farmers involved.
Speaking about her visit to Dwayne Stanley’s farm in Thurles in Co. Tipperary, Adriana Cavita, chef and owner of Mexican restaurant Cavita said “My first impression of the Irish Hereford Prime is that they are very docile and friendly… It is beautiful to see how they live, moving around freely.”
Simon Smith points to the quality and consistency of Irish Hereford Prime beef as Aubrey Allen’s main reasons for recommending it to his customers.
“The reason that we stay so loyal, in a long-standing relationship (with Irish Hereford Prime) is consistency and quality, you just can’t beat getting that time and time again, with that compliment from the diner, after all that is who we are trying to please.”
He goes on to emphasise how the hard work of the Irish farmers impacts the quality of the meat that he is supplying to the best restaurants around the UK and he looks forward to continuing the relationship into the future.
“This passion that goes behind all of the farming here in Ireland is just amazing, so long may it continue.”
