Written by: Eleanor Usborne
Photograhy by: ‘The Invisible Artist’
The GWCT Eat Game inaugural dinner and auction at the Pear Tree Café was a highlight of a rather wet month of October. Top game chefs Jaimie Haselock (Gamey Jaimie), Will Alldis (the Shotgun Chef) and Alix Caiger (Caiger & Co) prepared three outstanding game dishes for the chance to win the coveted GWCT Game Chef of the Year Award 2019.
The aim for the game chefs was to prepare a dish that was simple enough that it could be replicated at home or in the field. It was judged by GWCT London Committee Members James Knowles and Lisa Linard, and the British Game Alliance Managing Director Tom Adams, who also generously sourced all of the game for the dinner on the night. In the brisk outdoors of Battersea Park, sportsmen and women gathered together to see this challenge unfold.
Jaimie Haselock has over 15 years’ experience in the restaurant. Jaimie’s private cooking skills are well known amongst numerous shooting estates, wine experts and restaurant critics. He is passionate about creating recipes using seasonal food and has an uncompromising commitment to sourcing fine ingredients locally and ethically. Jaimie is here to fuse flavours, inspire and share his passion for food and wine.
Raised in rural Somerset, he had an early claim to “foodie fame” when he appeared and won the BBC’s Recipe for Success. This awakened a passion for food and wine that has evolved from a hobby to a career.
Jaimie prepared an exquisite Venison with a Blackberry Vodka Jus.
Will Alldis - A farmer’s son that grew up helping with his father's shooting school, and mother who taught him the traditional family recipes that are the base for most of his cooking.
Branded ‘the most stylish’ ‘laidback’ and ‘natural’ shot many accomplished Guns have ever seen, William continues to combine his passion for photography, wildlife, food and, of course, shooting and he now runs with his partner Vicki, the family’s farm, The Cart Shed Restaurant, a small grey partridge shoot, a commercial bee keeping business and The Essex Shooting School; and regularly writes for national titles such as Countryman’s Weekly, Landscape magazine and Shooting Times.
The Shotgun Chef prepared griddled herb crust English partridge on pearl barley and wild mushroom risotto. It’s seriously simple and quite quick to make the risotto, you will only need 2 hobs to cook on and a small prep space for boning and chopping.
Alix Caiger is now known as one of the top caterers in London. She started Caiger and Co. 7 years ago after training at Leiths School of Food and Wine. Alix’s passion has grown the business, and her creativity and talent as a chef has shaped the kitchen for which they are known. Her private clients include The Rolling Stones, Jerry Hall, Kelly Hoppen and many more.
Alix’s teamwork for a huge variety of clients; from high end event companies and corporate firms, to private dining and much more. This lends the Hand-Picked package an edge over anything similar. They bring with them a team who can help you execute the most bespoke events, fine dining dinners, and immersible events.
Alix prepared a rather delicious curried pheasant with samphire and spiced parsnip crisps.
Each dish was fantastic in taste, ease and appearance, for the full recipes please email london@gwct.org.uk. In the end though only one Chef could win the Game Chef of the Year Award. After much deliberation throughout the evening the aforementioned judges awarded Jaimie Haselock for his stupendous Venison and Blackberry Vodka jus; one of the judges commented “by the time the venison got to us it had heavenly wings.”
Many congratulations are in order to Jaimie, but also to all of the chefs who participated and made the evening such a success and a delight for all those who were able to attend.
The GWCT London Committee raised an impressive £5,000 – the funds will be used to continue the vital research undertaken by the Trust for the benefit of the countryside, game and wildlife across the country. This could not have been achieved without the generosity of the auction donors and the guests on the night, to all of which we extend our sincere thanks and gratitude for their continued support.
If you would like to hear more about London events please contact Eleanor Usborne at eusborne@gwct.org.uk