I haven't lived in D.C. for the past ten years, but there was a poultry butcher shop in Eastern Market, where all types of fowl could be found: partridge, quail, pigeons, ducks, along with the usual suspects, turkey, chicken, and guinea hens. Is it still there?
Thank you for the recommendation. We had an exquisite lunch at Le Vieux Logis. Exquisite food, lovely setting, charming unpretentious service. No game birds in the menu but who cares (we did see a local group gathering in hunters orange when we set out that morning).
I'm lucky to live in the urban core of Boston, MA in a neighborhood that was predominantly Portuguese and Italian. Fresh and frozen rabbit, frozen quail and duck are always available. We also have Savenor's which specializes in game and was the local small supermarket of choice for Julia Child. Unfortunately, none of my friends hunt,so no fresh game.
You're lucky indeed. But in the UK, stock sof game and broad choice in general also depends on where you live. On the Isle of Mull in Scotland, we couldn't get fresh fish from the Co-Op (although we could if we were discreet, get it from fishermen's boats) because it was sealed at sea for sending to supermarket depots - for distribution back to Scotland and the rest of the UK..
I lived in Kentish Town eons ago and never saw any game but we had a wonderful Greek butcher who made the most delicious sausages. Independent butchers and fishmongers seem to be the current trend here for those fighting for more humane and ecological treatment of animals and have money. My local supermarket market also carries goat, chicken feet and several types of offal. There is very little I can't buy within a 5 mile radius and most food items are available in less than a mile.
Wherever it is that you live now sounds as though there's large enough support in the community of interesting meats to support imaginative suppliers. But the one needs plenty of the others to survive.
Remember as a small child my father and brothers plucking ducks in our basement. Feathers flying, much to my delight. My mom didn’t like the duck we ate — she claimed it tasted fishy from the waters of the Pacific Northwest of the US. And once the men in the family stopped spending their weekend mornings in hunting blinds, duck disappeared in our house. Today I hunt out quail and pigeon as well as duck in our grocery stores with limited success.
Your tale made me laugh! My father liked gulls eggs so fishy! As to birds, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: if supermarkets won't stock game because the market is too small then the market disappears completely.
Not sure what supermarkets you visit in Britain but here in the far flung reaches of North Wales its chicken only on the shelves. And cod and imported prawns on the fish section. Even at our local farmers market there is very rarely game available. Yet roads are covered with dead pheasants.
You're right! It's postcode specific, although so much game on sale in the large cities comes from areas where it isn't sold. I remember this from when I lived in the Inner Hebrides
I was going to say something very similar about the Co-Ops of the Scottish isles! Now that I live in west London, with its insane variety of supermarkets catering to specific diasporas, I have much more luck getting all manner of creatures and their insides.
My cousins had a pet duck named Quackers. We tried to teach him kickball and other silly stuff. Thanksgiving was at our house that year. In addition to turkey we also had duck. For the first time! My older Mensa in the making cousin made the observation that Quackers is a duck…and then “It’s Quackers!“ All four of us got up from the table screaming, running outside and then throwing up. Many tears and how could you. Never forgiven nor forgotten!
This is true - to an extent. British produce bought in season, field-raised meat and line-caught fish are so packed with flavour they don't need much meddling with.
The produce is excellent, especially in Scotland! It what people do with it that's the problem. The number of Brits I know who don't eat vegetables because all they know is the Victoria Wood line about the veg for Christmas dinner being put on to boil in October is depressing.
I haven't lived in D.C. for the past ten years, but there was a poultry butcher shop in Eastern Market, where all types of fowl could be found: partridge, quail, pigeons, ducks, along with the usual suspects, turkey, chicken, and guinea hens. Is it still there?
It's been a while since I, too, lived there. But my understanding is that you can still get game in Eastern Market.
We are headed to the Pèrigord Noir this weekend. Any recommendations for a restaurant that will serve excellent game birds?
It may or may not have game on the menu, but if you're near Tremolat, Le Vieux Logis is a wonderful restaurant.
We will be reasonably near Trémolat (we will be outside Plazac) and I am reaching out to Le Vieux Logis about a reservation for lunch. Many thanks.
Bon appetit!
Thank you for the recommendation. We had an exquisite lunch at Le Vieux Logis. Exquisite food, lovely setting, charming unpretentious service. No game birds in the menu but who cares (we did see a local group gathering in hunters orange when we set out that morning).
You've no idea how pleased I am! When he was President, Jacques Chirac used to helicopter down from Paris for lunch.
I'm lucky to live in the urban core of Boston, MA in a neighborhood that was predominantly Portuguese and Italian. Fresh and frozen rabbit, frozen quail and duck are always available. We also have Savenor's which specializes in game and was the local small supermarket of choice for Julia Child. Unfortunately, none of my friends hunt,so no fresh game.
You're lucky indeed. But in the UK, stock sof game and broad choice in general also depends on where you live. On the Isle of Mull in Scotland, we couldn't get fresh fish from the Co-Op (although we could if we were discreet, get it from fishermen's boats) because it was sealed at sea for sending to supermarket depots - for distribution back to Scotland and the rest of the UK..
I lived in Kentish Town eons ago and never saw any game but we had a wonderful Greek butcher who made the most delicious sausages. Independent butchers and fishmongers seem to be the current trend here for those fighting for more humane and ecological treatment of animals and have money. My local supermarket market also carries goat, chicken feet and several types of offal. There is very little I can't buy within a 5 mile radius and most food items are available in less than a mile.
Wherever it is that you live now sounds as though there's large enough support in the community of interesting meats to support imaginative suppliers. But the one needs plenty of the others to survive.
Ah, to go to Europe and Latin America and eat real food!
There is hope. We used to eat pretty badly in the UK, too. No longer. So things can change.
Remember as a small child my father and brothers plucking ducks in our basement. Feathers flying, much to my delight. My mom didn’t like the duck we ate — she claimed it tasted fishy from the waters of the Pacific Northwest of the US. And once the men in the family stopped spending their weekend mornings in hunting blinds, duck disappeared in our house. Today I hunt out quail and pigeon as well as duck in our grocery stores with limited success.
Your tale made me laugh! My father liked gulls eggs so fishy! As to birds, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: if supermarkets won't stock game because the market is too small then the market disappears completely.
Not sure what supermarkets you visit in Britain but here in the far flung reaches of North Wales its chicken only on the shelves. And cod and imported prawns on the fish section. Even at our local farmers market there is very rarely game available. Yet roads are covered with dead pheasants.
You're right! It's postcode specific, although so much game on sale in the large cities comes from areas where it isn't sold. I remember this from when I lived in the Inner Hebrides
I was going to say something very similar about the Co-Ops of the Scottish isles! Now that I live in west London, with its insane variety of supermarkets catering to specific diasporas, I have much more luck getting all manner of creatures and their insides.
Can't quarrel with your observation, sad to say. London is a cornucopia of interesting food from all over the world.
My cousins had a pet duck named Quackers. We tried to teach him kickball and other silly stuff. Thanksgiving was at our house that year. In addition to turkey we also had duck. For the first time! My older Mensa in the making cousin made the observation that Quackers is a duck…and then “It’s Quackers!“ All four of us got up from the table screaming, running outside and then throwing up. Many tears and how could you. Never forgiven nor forgotten!
What an absolutely devasting tale! I'm impressed you survived to tell it! Have you eaten (non-pet) duck since?
Without immigration our food would be flavourless! (I think; I know that some people enjoy British food, but I'm not one of them...)
This is true - to an extent. British produce bought in season, field-raised meat and line-caught fish are so packed with flavour they don't need much meddling with.
The produce is excellent, especially in Scotland! It what people do with it that's the problem. The number of Brits I know who don't eat vegetables because all they know is the Victoria Wood line about the veg for Christmas dinner being put on to boil in October is depressing.
I didn't know that line. Brilliant!