Faces

The Eat Game Awards 2018

THE inaugural eat Game Awards celebrated the very best in game eating, cooking and retailing at Boisdale of Canary Wharf in October. The awards – an initiative by Taste of Game, James Purdey & Sons and

Boisdale Restaurants – gave the general public the chance to vote for their favourites and celebrate those who are cutting a swathe as the champions of the game world.

Hosts Adam Henson, JB Gill, William Sitwell, Rose Prince and Mark Hix exhorted both the necessity of and pleasure in eating game, the latter message reinforced with an elaborate menu that included many of our gamebirds. even the pre-dinner drinks had a shooting-party flavour, with guests served King’s & Tonic, a zesty concoction made with the King’s Ginger Liqueur.

Such was the level of enjoyment that many were in danger of missing the last drive – or, in this case, the last tube. Led by Boisdale’s owner, Ranald Macdonald, cigars were lit and the whisky emerged as tweedy tales of salmon lost, stags stalked and grouse found drifted over the land of pinstripe. All the stories had the same ending: we love our fieldsports and all who partake must do their utmost to encourage game consumption.

editor Jonathan Young confirmed The Field’s long commitment to the cause by presenting the Best Added Value Game Meat Product award, sponsored by the magazine, which went to Truly Traceable for its exceptional hand-made venison and game pies and sausage rolls.

The success of the awards makes it likely that this will become an annual event, so keep an eye open for your local game champions and encourage them to enter.