Pigeons

The autumn is almost upon us here and the sound of gunfire echos across the stubble as the woodys fill up on the left over grain. The birds are becoming quite sought after these days and the breasts are on a lot of local menus with varoius sauces and garnishes.
I have a nice method of hot smoking the breasts over applewood and serving them on Puy lentils with a few berries and a red wine and butter reduction. A sprig of thyme to finish.
 Perhaps on a  crouton with a little parfait to enrich the flavour.
The partridge are chattering across on the arable and I can see them running about and jumping up at each other like they do when mating in the spring. Feisty little blighters!!
I drove the length of the country yesterday and the dying summer embers lit the fields of the Midlands with gold and green. Not many rabbits about this year but the pheasants are doing well and the odd hare loping across the meadows gives me hope too! The midland hares are bigger and darker than the northern upland hares which seem to be lighter in both weight and colour. probably a diet and camouflage thing.
Grouse are fetching a good price in London but about half that price in the North. £6 to £8 a bird up here and I saw a good offer at the inn at Whitewell last week, on the menu--a whole local grouse with the usual garnish and vegetables for £16. Get it while its going!!