Chef Thomas Leatherbarrow explains why Loch Duart is his salmon of choice every time
Loch Duart Salmon has been working with Chef Thomas Leatherbarrow, founder of TLC Gourmet since summer 2023 to highlight why our fish are often the go to choice for respected chef s and restaurants around the world.
A high end catering company and hospitality firm TLC Gourmet operate in 29 countries around the world working in corporate hospitality, weddings, bespoke events and corporate expos. Watch the Chef Thomas Leatherbarrow on Loch Duart’s YouTube channel here.
Consistency is Key
“Produce sourcing is a massive thing for me,” explains Chef Thomas Leatherbarrow. “I’d rather spend £10,000 a week on produce to ensure we have the highest quality and deliver the best to our clients, than going to someone because they’re £2 cheaper. You’re not getting the same quality and you’re not getting the same consistency. We buy Loch Duart Salmon every time!
“If we order 40 sides of Loch Duart Salmon, we know we’re going to get 40 identical sides of fish with the same flavour profile, the same texture and the same consistency, across the board. And that for us is key.”
Served by name
“The confidence in serving Loch Duart by name comes from my experience of being at their sites and having that insider knowledge,” Thomas continues. “ It’s about the brand, the structure of their welfare programmes for the fish and what they believe in.
“It’s also about eating for me. I have Loch Duart Salmon at home and if I go out to a restaurant and see it on the menu, I’m drawn to picking that dish.
“For me it’s the flavour the consistency, the texture and the mouth feel. It’s what you look for as a chef when buying a quality piece of fish, and Loch Duart holds all of this.
“That’s why we serve Loch Duart by name.”
You know you’re eating quality
The quality of produce is vital for Chef Thomas Leatherbarrow.
“From a chef’s perspective it speaks volumes for us to be able to put a named product on the menu. It’s also important for our clients to understand that we believe whole heartedly in this product and that we’re willing to stake our reputation on saying, this is Loch Duart Salmon.
“With Loch Duart Salmon, smoking it is great, roasting it is great and the finish of the salmon when eating it, cooked or raw, it’s got everything you want. Sashimi sliced, raw, untouched Loch Duart Salmon has a mouth feel and texture which gives you the reassurance that you’re eating quality. You can really taste it.
“People say chefs have enhanced palettes, which may be true, but if you went in to any supermarket or shop and bought an off-brand, generic fillet of salmon and a Loch Duart fillet of salmon and then compared them, you’d instantly be able to tell the difference, not only visually but texturally as well.”
Close to wild
Having Loch Duart Salmon on the menu is key for Chef Leatherbarrow and his team.
“Despite some stigma around farmed salmon, amongst my friends and those close to me I always say, Loch Duart is as close to wild salmon as you can get.
“For me there isn’t a better salmon brand and with Loch Duart we know we’re going to get consistency on quality. There’s no corners cut. We know where the fish come from, we know when it was harvested and we know when it’s been delivered. Loch Duart always share with us how their salmon are cared for and welfare is at the heart of every stage of how they raise their fish.
“I’m so fortunate to have visited Loch Duart’s sites several times and I believe if people who care about quality food produce could see what I see, they’d understand that Loch Duart is ‘not just another salmon brand.’
“Loch Duart is a cornerstone in what we deliver. We’ll be serving Loch Duart Salmon for a long time to come.”
Watch the Chef Thomas Leatherbarrow on Loch Duart’s YouTube channel here.