Go on a course: preparing and cooking game

'As a keen amateur cook and, I would say, a professional eater, I jumped at the chance of going on a Gastro Game course at Ashburton Cookery School to learn the finer points of dealing with and cooking everything from pheasant to rabbit, partridge to pigeon.

 

'Surrounded by Devon's natural bounty, both animal and vegetable, we couldn't help but be inspired. One student even brought chanterelles, hand picked near her home, which we incorporated into roast breast of pheasant enriched with a chocolate sauce. Our enthusiastic teacher, Darrin Hosegrove, wasted no time in getting us to make focaccia for a pan-fried roe deer sandwich with figs and caramelised onions, which we later ate for lunch.

 

'As we got to grips with the plucking and drawing (not tasks for the overly squeamish), I became aware of the ancient ritual I was taking part in - that of the hunter-gatherer. Luckily, I didn't have to wield a shotgun at any point during the weekend, but I did gain an appreciation for using meat in a seasonal and much more efficient way than popping to the supermarket and buying something encased in plastic.

 

'We learned how to use every part of the bird or animal to make dishes such as rich game stock and confit of rabbit leg. More than anything, I realised how affordable game is. Knowing how to deal with it from feather to plate is extremely useful, as it is not always possible to find a butcher who will do this for you.

 

'A completely hands-on experience, this is an ideal course for real food enthusiasts who appreciate the process of preparing and producing delicious, seasonal meals from start to finish. The recipes are the kind that you can recreate at home to show off at a dinner party (you are given a comprehensive recipe pack), as well as skills to carry on practising. One word of warning - make sure you take a pair of trousers one size bigger than you arrived in; this weekend is a gourmet extravaganza.'

 

For more information about courses at Ashburton Cookery School call 01364 652784 or visit www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk.

 

 

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