More than 70 MPs were among 100 guests at a game and wine tasting session held at Westminster.
They were served with a selection of game canapés including carpaccio of venison, wild hot-smoked mallard and roulade of potted pheasant with Parma ham. The canapés were prepared under the direction of Jose Souto, chef-lecturer at Westminster College. Students from the college served the canapés and were able to discuss their recipes and preparation with guests.
The event was hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Shooting and Conservation and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Wine and Spirit. It was organised by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) which provides the secretariat for the All-Party Group for Shooting and Conservation.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Wine and Spirit arranged for English wines to be served to complement each dish. They included Wickham Fumé 2011 and Wickham Row Ash Red from the Wickham vineyard in Hampshire, Gusbourne Pinot Noir 2011, a red from the Gusbourne estate in Kent and the award-winning North Star dessert wine from the Eglantine Vineyard in Nottinghamshire.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, chairman of both All-Party Groups, said: “This was an excellent showcase for the best of British game, cookery and wine. The great taste of game canapés was wonderfully set off with a selection of England’s finest wine. It was good to see so many MPs and others sampling the best of British produce within the Houses of Parliament.”
BASC’s director of communications Christopher Graffius said: “Game meat is increasingly popular with chefs, food fans and the wider public. The All-Party Groups provided a great opportunity to demonstrate the excellent dishes which can be produced by top-flight chefs such as Jose Souto and his dedicated students.”