Game cookbook recommendations please.

Wander

Expedition Leader
What do you like to use for game receipts? Specifically venison right now as I just got my first doe for the season and am looking for new ideas.
 

flywgn

Explorer
We've used successfully recipes for venison (and elk) from Savor Wild Game Cookbook (Chuck and Blanche Johnson, Wilderness Adventure Press), Game in Season (Romi Perkins, et al, Diane Publishing Co.), Larousse Gastronomique (Librairie Larousse), and personal recipes from game lodge chefs.

One recipe that we're particularly fond of is George Herter's famous Belgian recipe for a venison stew and can be found on page 44 of Bull Cook and Authentic Historical Recipes and Practices (1962 ed. George and Berthe Herter, Herter's Publishing). You might have trouble finding this book. It's been out of print for a few years, but it might be worth it to search out one for your library. We've used this same recipe for venison for various game and it works.

Since I haven't pulled a big game tag for nearly forty years all of our venison, elk, moose, etc. come as gifts from friends who do take that kind of game. That being so, I don't rely on excellent field-dressing practices of those hunters and assume that proper techniques of dressing and hanging the game were not applied. Consequently, this Belgian method seems to be foolproof in tenderizing the meat adequately.

Bon appétit

Allen R
 

Wander

Expedition Leader
I'll look about for a copy, thanks. One thing I am spoiled for when I hunt in SC is good processors that are very close. There are 4-5 processors within 20 minutes of the farm I hunt so it is not necessary to field dress, just load it up and drop it off.
 

flywgn

Explorer
... There are 4-5 processors within 20 minutes of the farm I hunt so it is not necessary to field dress, just load it up and drop it off.

That's great. Having a good abattoir handy is a real plus.

I know SC well...born in Savannah, GA., with many, many relatives in the Piedmont area of SC. When I was growing up in southern GA deer were scarce in both states, but times have changed...for the better, I think. Cousins of mine have land near Union, SC, where the hunting is leased to a club, and I hear the 'take' has been good over the past few years.

I should have mentioned in my suggestion that a recipe really depends on the cut of meat you're cooking at the time. Venison should be cut much the same way as beef, and I'll bet your processor does the same. So...your cut will dictate what kind of recipe you want to follow. Savor and Game in Season have a variety of good recipes.

Allen R
 

titleguy

Observer
Well, although it is geared specifically toward the game we have here in Louisiana, I'll recommend After the Hunt by John Folse. We have the best food in the world here and he is considered to be one of the best chefs in Louisiana. It's a really cool style coffee table book as well.
 

flywgn

Explorer
... I'll recommend After the Hunt by John Folse. We have the best food in the world here and he is considered to be one of the best chefs in Louisiana. ...

I certainly won't quarrel with your assessment of "the best food in the world" nor that Folse is "one of the best chefs in Louisiana", but is that book available? A short time ago I tried to buy a copy but the price was a bit above what I normally pay for "coffee table" books, let alone my cooking library.

Allen R
 

titleguy

Observer
Yes, It is expensive---about $56 now. They were almost $100 last Christmas but I got one for each of my two best hunting buddies. The books are great, beautiful pictures and stories about hunting in addition to a ton of recipes. Check it out, you won't regret it. I need to get one for myself.
 

flywgn

Explorer
Yes, It is expensive---about $56 now....

I found that price at B&N, but with the disclaimer that it's "Currently Not Available". On Amazon used ones start at $350.00. At ABE Books there's one for $850.00. If you have a source for the price you mention, I'll certainly order one. Thanks.

Allen R
 

titleguy

Observer
http://www.neworleansshowcase.com/afterhunt.html

$57.95 with free shipping. They sell them for about that price at most any store that carries cookbooks around here. I literally tripped over a stack of them on Saturday following my wife through a store while texting. I'm a spaz.

He's also got another coffee table type book with just game fish recipes.
 

Campndad

Essayons!!
After the Hunt is a great book!! I also have used The Complete Venison Cookbook by Harold Webster is a great one to use. I got if for christmas one year. It also has some Jerky recipies that you can play with as well. I think you can get it for under $20. A lot of how you cook it can also come from what sex, age and how the deer was killed. Old beautiful bucks are great on the wall, but tough on the plate not to mention if they had been running for a while when you kill them.
 

flywgn

Explorer
http://www.neworleansshowcase.com/afterhunt.html

$57.95 with free shipping. They sell them for about that price at most any store that carries cookbooks around here. I literally tripped over a stack of them on Saturday following my wife through a store while texting. I'm a spaz.

He's also got another coffee table type book with just game fish recipes.

I went to that link the day after you posted it. This, "Sorry but this item is currently out of stock." was posted as a lead-in for the ad. I've had a couple of exchanges with them. Same results and no idea of a re-print.

Allen R.
 

flywgn

Explorer
It's a women's gift shop called Lazybug. 504-455-1444.

Many thanks. I'll call them. Coincidentally, just after posting my inquiry yesterday I received an e-mail from N.O. Showcase informing me that they've now been told that the book is due to be reprinted in November.

Allen R
 

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