Glorious Twelfth

Today is 12 August - known in the UK (but mainly Scotland) as the 'Glorious Twelfth'. This is the start of the grouse season. A race takes place to see who can 'bag' the first grouse to make it to the table at a major London restaurant.... Quite frankly, as grouse should be 'hung' for a minimum of 7-10 days..... the resulting dish must be quite awful!

Sounds intersting. I'm glad I am not there to eat it. *blech*

I love to eat grouse - but only when it has been prepared well.... and believe me, after only being shot early this morning, it won't be 'ripe' enough!

Hung??? Meaning in a cold locker, like is done with venison and other large game? OR hung, meaning just outside blowing in the wind?????


I'm sure it's the first, but you never know????

It's the first option, Jason

All game in the UK is traditionally 'hung'.... venison, grouse, partridge, ptarmigan, capercaillie etc....

The only game bird I am not so keen on is capercaillie.... it is quite 'gamey' in flavour, even after being hung....

So what type of game bird is that? Water, or field? Hmmmm. Never heard of it. When I was in your neck of the woods, I saw SO MANY pheasants. I couldn't believe it. It was great! You don't see to many around my area. They are making a comeback. But not like the wild turkey. Wild turkeys are becoming very pleantiful. It's nice to see them out at my grandparents farm out in the freshly cut corn fields.

I have heard the name. I just didn't refer it to being a game bird.

Here is a site of a wildlife painter, he illustrates Black Grouse and ptarmigan on his site, and I also think, capercaillie, although I didn't bother to wait for the site to load to check if that was true!

http://www.wildlife-art-paintings.co.uk/pi..._game-birds.htm

ptarmigan are like bigger grouse (btw the 'p' is silent!)... capercaillie are the biggest of the local game birds!

Yes we have lots of pheasants around..... the grouse and capercaillie are a little more wily and are not quite so easy to spot!

I've put a recipe for roast grouse on the Scottish cookery section.... but if you don't have the birds in the USA, then I suppose it's a waste of time, as so few Scottish people post on here!

OH NO!!! Please don't quit posting them. We have them, ( gamebirds)you just have to drive a bit to get to them. It's an hours drive to my Grandparants farm. There is a good amount of wildlife there. I live very near the Big city. :/ I always print out your recipes!

I prefer my meat and game to be fresh.....

I couldn't figure out the need to let the flesh age...
I guess I'm just not a connisiour of fine cuisine.

I know some people who wouldn't a eat fresh kill.
I guess I spent to much time in survival training and
living in the woods/jungle. I eaten a lot of game animals
and not so game animals and critters.

RICH