Search for UK's Game Chef of the Year begins
With the game season well and truly under way, the annual search for the UK's best professional game chef has now begun.
Entering its sixth year, the competition is run by one of the UK’s main game suppliers, Braehead Foods and is once again supported by specialist venison producer Highland Game.
The competition involves a four-month search to find the best professional game chef in the UK with the overall winner receiving a once in a lifetime trip to Sweden to hunt wild boar.
Contestants have to submit two feathered or furred game recipes, one starter and one main course in order to enter the competition,. Judges will then select 10 finalists to take part in a cook off on Monday 25th January 2016 where they will have the chance to cook their dishes for a panel of judges including Paul Gayler, Tom Kitchin and Martin Wishart.
Last years top prize was claimed by Martin Zahumenksy from the Playboy Club in London with Stephen Waters of Loch Lomond Golf Club finished second with Jonathan Cook from One Square Restaurant, Sheraton Edinburgh finishing third.
Martins starter was partridge with pickled blackberry, sorrel emulsion, pearl barley and jus; the judges said his dish has nice composition and the meat was cooked perfectly. For his main course he made hay smoked fallow deer, roasted butternut squash, medjool date paste, confit potatoes, mustard and shallot puree and cinnamon jus. This dish was the judges favourite of the day with Paul Gayler MBE describing it as 'a fantastic well balanced dish with excellent presentation'.
Entries can be made online at www.braeheadfoods.co.uk/gamechef from Tuesday 12th August and you can remain up to date on Facebook.com/GameChefOfTheYear and on Twitter @GameChefOfYear