Politicians at the Northern Ireland Assembly sampled a Taste of Game served up by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC NI) and local chef Derek Patterson.
Derek, a keen shooter and owner and chef of the Tannery in Moira, presented Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) with a range of game dishes including poached woodpigeon, seared venison loin, wild mallard breast and rabbit and pheasant sausage with Bramley apple and cinnamon chutney.
BASC NI’s Development Officer, Amanda McCallion said: “The Taste of Game presentation to the All-Party Group on Country Sports was a fantastic opportunity to highlight to our politicians the taste and benefits of game meat. It was great to hear MLAs compliment Derek on his superb food. We are very grateful to Derek and also to Robert Crofts, estate manager and gamekeeper at the Portavo Estate, who supplied the pigeon, pheasant and duck.”
Lord Morrow, Chair of the All-Party Group said: “It was a pleasure to see such a range of superb game dishes being presented at Stormont. Shooting sports make an important contribution to the economy, environment and social fabric of Northern Ireland. I would like to thank the chef Derek Patterson who produced these dishes and also BASC NI for arranging the event at the Assembly.”