East Lodge ahead of the game with seasonal grouse on the menu

Seasonal grouse is now on the menu at East Lodge in Rowsley, making a trip into the Peak District over the next couple of weeks even more attractive for game-loving foodies. East Lodge’s first delivery of grouse was taken last week from the North Derbyshire Moors, making East Lodge one of the first hotels or restaurants in the region able to offer its guests the top quality game that is a prized delicacy.

For the uninitiated, grouse is a succulent and juicy bird which arrives long-legged and is then hung to improve the flavour. The day’s grouse catch will feature on the following day’s East Lodge menus, ensuring maximum taste, quality and freshness.

Although East Lodge head chef Simon Bradley loves to eat his grouse roasted and off the bone, the grouse in the restaurant will be cooked to attract the widest appeal.

Simon explains: "For the grouse starter, we cook the bird in a water bath at 58 degrees celcius for 15 minutes – which retains all the juices in the flesh and limits shrinkage. It is then quickly chargrilled and served with our own vegetable garden-fresh watercress, bacon cream and onion compote with cassis. Game lends itself well to sweet and sour combinations and we will rotate the seasonal fruit sweetener depending on what’s available on the day we’re cooking – eg: blackberries are coming into season and make a great jus to go with grouse."

Grouse is also available as an East Lodge main course, roasted and served with all the usual seasonal trimmings.

…/cont


David Hardman, one of the directors at the family-run East Lodge, said: "The grouse season is eagerly anticipated and there are few more exciting passions than the short few weeks from the glorious 12 August, when top quality fresh grouse is available. We also offer a great vegetarian selection, so if your partner wants to give the grouse a miss…..there’ll be more of it left for those who really appreciate it!"

To book a table, visit www.eastlodge.com or call 01629 734474.

East Lodge is owned by the Hardman family and has picked up a number of important accolades in recent years; East Lodge has again achieved the coveted AA "Inspectors’ Choice" accolade with three red stars for 2009/10, placing it within the top 150 hotels in the UK. East Lodge was named "Small Hotel of the Year 2008/09" at the East Midlands Tourism awards, and then went on to become a silver Winner as "Hotel of the Year 2009/10" at the national finals - renowned as the tourism Oscars. In 2007/08 East Lodge was named "Derbyshire Restaurant of the Year" and also scooped the Condé Nast Johansens "Most excellent service" & "Readers choice" awards.
ENDS

Notes to editors
East Lodge grouse is supplied by an authorised local professional gamekeeper who is fully trained, qualified and licensed to carry out managed grouse shooting, whilst at the same time respecting and protecting the environment including other bird species.

Photograph and caption
Simon Bradley with the first grouse catch of the season at East Lodge in Rowsley, Derbyshire.
Press enquiries:
BeyondPR
Tel 0114 275 6996 / 07930 697773
REF: EL0015 – Grouse season 2009