Key Components:

Alternative meat cuts - certain meat cuts which were more commonly cooked in the past have fallen out of fashion in the last 30 years or so. We see chickens killed purely for the breast meat, cows for the fillet and rump cuts and pigs for the legs and loins but what then happens to the rest of the animal? It often goes to waste. Using these alternative cuts, is not only more sustainable and cheaper than going for your usual prime cut but also tend to have a lot more flavour to them.

Small growers & producers - Daniel sources his pork from a local Irish butcher who cares a lot about his produce and ensures the pigs have a good quality of life, living free-range. Where possible he encourages you to know where your food comes from taking care to pick producers who are fairly compensated and who treat the animal with respect. The added benefit of careful sourcing is you have a real story behind your food which adds to the eating and creates conversation around the dinner table.

Acid - a key part of this dish is the fennel salad. Daniel uses the vinegar with the fennel to cut through the richness of the pork, sauce reduction and pearl barley. The acid helps to give balance to the dish, amplify existing flavours and adds an extra layer of depth to the dish.

Sauce reduction - reducing the braising liquor has a key part to play in the visuals of the dish. Pork cheek contains a lot of collagen and gelatin which melts down into the sauce when reduced, creating a rich sauce ideal for adding a shiny, glaze to your meat.

‍Teachings:

1. Butchery - develop your butchery skills further by utilising this underused cut of meat, and further your understanding of nose-to-tail cookery.
2. Braising - used across many cuisines, master this slow-cooking technique taking a tough piece of meat that does plenty of work and cook it until it's moist and tender.
3. Pickling - further refine your pickling skills and preservation techniques.

Make It Your Own:

1. Pork cheek - feel free to experiment with different pork cuts - shoulder, neck, tongue or pork butt. You can also try a different type of meat such as organic chicken breast or thigh or a leg of lamb.
2. Carrot puree - Daniel uses carrot as he enjoys the flavour but you can have a look for what is in season, for example, sweetcorn in September works well as a puree for adding to the barley. If you don't want the thickening that you get from a vegetable puree, you could also use some of the braising liquor from your pork and add it to your pearl barley for a stickier, jus mix.
3. Pearl Barley - if you're looking for alternatives to this Irish grain, you can look at what is being grown and harvested in your local area. A close substitute would be farro which has a similar texture but a shorter cooking time, but other options you could go for include millet, buckwheat for a gluten-free alternative, or for an equally ancient grain - quinoa.