I met Polly Conroy a few months ago, while having lunch in a local pub with my business partner Tim. She explained that she reared beef correctly, using cattle bred especially for their flavour, mostly on her own.

New companies contact me weekly, promising the world. Most are a waste of time, so I was initially sceptical.

However, I was very impressed by Polly. She rears Dexters, Old English Longhorn, Limousin, Charolais and Aberdeen Angus, all of them fed a natural diet and, once slaughtered, hung for 28 days. She sent me some Old English Longhorn sirloins and rumps. I cooked them carefully for my wife and youngest daughter - the steaks were tender and full of flavour. And they tasted delicious. One of Polly's endearing features is the fact that she is still open about the fact she is learning her trade - and that, coupled with her enthusiasm and total belief in the importance of the diet and care of her animals, is really refreshing.

She's is now producing proper beef burgers and they are outstanding, well worth a try.

The Fine Beef Company, Little Kingshill, Buckinghamshire, tel: 01494 863393.