The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday's venison cooking competition, which had its final cook off at the Scottish Game Fair, produced very high standards, according to the judges who took a nail-biting 25 minutes of deliberation before choosing the final winner.
The eventual champion was Ally Bremner from Melrose, whose winning dish of Venison fillet with parma ham, courgettes and butter bean mash was described as 'delicious' and 'perfectly cooked'. Ally wins a break for four at the 5-star Alexander Residence in Perth, plus dinner in Perth's Pig'Halle restaurant, plus £100 worth of Scottish venison vouchers, plus VIP tickets to next year's Scottish Game Fair.
The judges of the competition, which was to prepare a venison dish in under 20 minutes, were Nichola Fletcher, venison ambassador and award-winning food writer, and Joe Queen, executive chef of Braehead Foods, member of Masterchefs of GB and ex president of The Federation of Chefs Scotland. Both chefs gave one of their own cookery books to the runners up Lyndsay Campbell and Jacalyn Moffat.
Nichola said: "We were amazed at the quality of entrants and it was hard to make a final choice. But it was the perfect cooking of a piece of perfect venison that finally won the day, as well as Ally's creation of a special gluten free dish."
Joe said: "The competitors were outstanding. The cooking was excellent all round and I feel that all the ladies involved should go and attempt the Masterchef TV programme because of their good ideas and technical ability."
Winner Ally said: "The other two finalists worked such miracles in the 20 minutes that I though I had no hope as mine was simple in comparison, but the venison provided was so delicious, tender and full of flavour that it really worked in my recipe. It really is the most amazing prize to have won."
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Photocaption: The three finalists with winner Ally Bremner centre, flanked by judges Nichola Fletcher and Joe Queen. (Picture courtesy of Rosemary Walker, www.playfairwalker.com)
Notes to editors
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is an independent wildlife conservation charity which carries out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.
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