Meadow’s Pride Farm

Monterey, Virginia (Dorset/Polypay, pastured)

We always say that John Donaldson and his family set the bar for raising what lamb ought to be. In the clutches of Highland county, Monterey seems to embody the ideal setting for lamb husbandry, and the Donaldson family takes advantage of this through extremely clever practices and bone hard work. The careful crossing of breeds has resulted in extremely tender, cleanly-flavored lamb whose finish is balanced and never gamey. Frames are large and healthy to ensure proper development of muscle and intramuscular fat, increasing yield and building layer upon layer of mild yet complex flavors that sing, backed up by tender yet firm texture and creamy but modest fatcaps. John and family are also the wizards behind the garlic that builds a waiting list throughout the spring months. The only thing better than eating his lamb is enjoying a conversation with the man, who never fails to teach us something new, update us on the goings-on at the farm and how they may correlate to the particular lamb that he’s dropping off, impart some profound wisdom, enrich us with a new idiom, and leave us with a laugh that we chase week-in and week-out.