Glorious Game at the Royal Welsh Show

A magnificent feast of game dishes were served up by the talented chefs of Castell Howell, Stewart Williams and Steve Owen, at the Countryside Alliance stand during this year’s Royal Welsh Show.

Stewart is no stranger to the Royal Welsh Show and has supported the Countryside Alliance’s game cookery demonstrations at the stand for almost a decade, bringing game into modern day cuisine with exquisite dishes and street food. Joined this year by Steve Owen, former Executive Head Chef at Bettws Hall and best described by Castell Howell as the “dynamic duo”, the two racked up hundreds of tasty game masterpieces which were enjoyed by the general public, public body employees, and politicians sitting at both the Senedd and Westminster who were visiting the show.

The game was supplied by award winning Izzy’s Butchers, Pennant Valley Game from Llanrhayader-Ym-Mochnant. Izzy is not only a Wales’s Best Butcher Countryside Alliance Award winner but the recipient of this year’s prestigious Clarissa Dickinson Wright Award for her innovative ways with game, and her unswerving commitment to local produce and educating the public about game and the rest of her larder. It is a first for this award to come to Wales.  

Rabbit and salsa, and wild venison meatballs simmered in a delicious tomato sauce, pan fried rabbit and lentils, pigeon and watermelon, satay pheasant skewers, and Izzy’s own pheasant bacon were just some of the canapes and dishes served up to hundreds of people who visited the stand over the four-day show.

On the Tuesday, 48 Local Authority procurement staff from all over Wales enjoyed a talk by both Izzy and Countryside Alliance Director for Wales Rachel Evans, which was followed by a Thai green pheasant curry served with mixed vegetable rice, homemade slaw, and poppadoms. As the individuals responsible for procuring our school meals, we will now see whether wild game will be served in school canteens in the future.

Senedd Members were incredibly keen for the offer of a cooking lesson as James Evans, Senedd Member for Brecon and Radnor, ably took to the stove on Tuesday. He was followed swiftly by Llyr Gruffydd on Wednesday, the North Wales Plaid Cymru Senedd Member who clearly relished in the opportunity to show off his cooking skills. Thanks must be given to both James and Llyr for being great sports and for their unswerving support for game shooting in Wales.

Rachel Evans said:

“Game cooking certainly brings people to the stand and enables us to strikes up conversations about the value of game shooting to Wales, including its vital contribution to conservation and, of course, the rural economy. We also had many discussions on how the benefits of game shooting and game meat sit comfortably within the Future Generations Wales Act, paying particular attention to the seven well-being goals for Wales.

This would not be possible without Izzy Hosking’s unswerving support and the incredibly willing and talented chefs at Castell Howell, Stewart Williams and Steve Owen, who cooked for hours on end, showcasing fabulous Welsh game. We were all very fed!"