FARMER Lee Straw of Straw Farm in Newcastle, Maine raises Maine Island Lamb, Cattle, and Chickens.

"The sheep love to forage on seaweed and I'm sure that gives some of the flavor."

SUSTAINABILITY/LOCAL FLAVOR
Farmer's advice: A good environment is so important to raising healthy happy animals.

FOOD HISTORY
Maine's foodways date back to the 1600's.

VOCABULARY
LAMB: A sheep less than 1 year old, known for its tender meat. When it is over 2 years old it is referred to as mutton and has a much stronger flavor and less tender flesh.

MORE INFORMATION
Lee Straw
STRAW FARM
30 Brick Hill Road
Newcastle, ME 04553
207.882.6875
Localharvest.org

CHEF Chef Sam Hayward won a James Beard Award for Best Chef – Northeast.

"Small farms across America are in trouble and that is not something that is new—it has been going on for decades...I try to make sure that everybody is buying from local farmers, even if it is only $10 a week, it nurtures your own community and that is very important."

DISH 1
Grilled Rib Chop of Lamb with Matsutaki Mushrooms & Kale
RECIPE (pdf) >>

SPECIAL TOOLS/TIPS
When preparing the lamb you don't want to overwhelm it with a lot of extraneous ingredients.

FOOD HISTORY
Farming in Maine dates back some 3,000 years. The first farmers here were the Abenaki Tribe who farmed the lowlands along the rivers, growing corn, squash, and beans.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FORE STREET
288 Fore Street
Portland ME 04101
207.775.2717