The Kings Ginger Shooting Chefs Cup 2018
Shooting Chefs 2018
September 25 2018
LONDON’S LEADING CHEFS COMPETE IN SHOOTING COMPETITION TO BE CROWNED THE UK’S BEST SHOT IN CELEBRATION OF GREAT BRITISH GAME
Hosted by Boisdale Restaurants & Boisdale Life magazine, Tuesday 25 September saw 30 of the country’s most accomplished chefs and restaurateurs gather to compete in the fourth annual Shooting Chefs Cup.
The competition sees the finest chefs and restaurateurs compete against each other to shoot clays on simulated drives at the West London Shooting School. Nick Weston of Hunter Gather Cook was crowned champion for the second year running (Mark Edwards of Nobu was champion in 2016 and Mike Robinson of Harwood Arms in 2015) and presented with a stunning King’s Ginger stitched leather bottle holder with strap & buckle and Caol Ila 1981 single malt whisky kindly provided by Berry Bros. & Rudd (£800 retail value).
To celebrate the consumption of British game across the country and its growth over the last decade, Boisdale Restaurants, who have been serving game since 1989, brought together the best in the restaurant business to go head-to-head for the ultimate title of Shooting Chef of the Year 2018.
Old school titans such as Trevor Gulliver from St John fought it out with fresh competition from the new crop of London’s hottest chefs including Jackson Boxer from St Leonards and Boisdale guest of honour singer-songwriter Rebecca Ferguson. They all had their ‘game’ faces on to battle it out for the top spot against each other and be crowned the winner after a sumptuous game lunch hosted at Boisdale of Belgravia.
The six teams competed in a range of simulated drives with an assortment of clays including Pigeon, High Pheasant and Rabbit and culminating in a magnificent five gun flurry. Neil Rankin and Lee Maycock came joint second but there were no sore losers as Stuart Turner was awarded the ‘Most Appalling Shot’.
Following the shoot, the chefs were treated to The King’s Ginger cocktails served with Double Dutch premium mixers, whilst further refreshment was provided by Orchard View, a refreshing new cider from Kentish brewer Shepherd Neame in collaboration with Aspall.
The winners were announced during a lavish three-course shellfish and game lunch that included a selection of British seafood (Hebridean lobster, Devonshire crab, langoustine, Shetland blue mussels, oysters, razor clams), Boisdale’s Bowmore whisky-cured smoked salmon with lemon, lemon mayonnaise, shallot vinegar and accompanied by bread by St John Bakery and 2016 Muscadet Gros Moutons, Haut Fevrie from Berry Bros. & Rudd.
Boisdale’s famous traditional roast young grouse from the Scottish borders, crab apple & rowanberry jelly, offal toast, wild brassicas served with goose fat roast potatoes was prepared by Boisdale of Belgravia’s Scottish Head Chef Gerry Rae and served alongside 2016 Valpolicella, Borgomarcillese, Marion from Berry Bros. & Rudd.
The meal culminated with Sheep Rustler & Mrs Bell’s Blue cheeses and after the feast, guests enjoyed negronis made with The King’s Ginger and No. 3 Gin on the terrace.
The competition marks the continuation of Boisdale Restaurants’ campaign to draw further public and media attention to the promotion of British game in all restaurants across the UK.
THE 2018 WINNERS
Best Shot: NICK WESTON of Hunter Gather Cook
Joint Second Place: NEIL RANKIN of Temper & LEE MAYCOCK of Craft Guild of Chefs
Most Appalling Shot: STEWART TURNER of Berry Bros. & Rudd
The Boisdale Shooting Chefs Cup was held at the West London Shooting School — Sharvel Lane, West End Road, Northolt, Middlesex UB5 6RA
Attending chefs included:
Andre Garrett — Cliveden House
Andrew Turner — Alfred’s
Andy Waugh — Mac & Wild
Antonio Favuzzi — L’Anima
Calum Franklin – Holborn Dining Rooms
David Stafford — Rules
Emile Galvin — Galvin’s Green Man
Graham Chatham — The Royal Horseguards
Greg Marchand — Frenchie
Harry Hensman — Harry’s Kitchen
Jackson Boxer — St Leonards
James Knappett — Kitchen Table
Julian Marshall — Bleeding Heart
Lee Maycock — Craft Guild of Chefs
Neil Rankin — Temper
Nick Gibson — Drapers Arms
Nick Weston — Hunter Gather Cook
Oliver Gladwin- Rabbit
Quentin Plateu — Landau
Robin Gill — The Dairy
Stuart Turner — Berry Bros. & Rudd
Tony Singh — Oloroso
Trevor Gulliver — St John