Friday, August 12, 2011

The Glorious 12th

For 180 + years August 12, The Glorious Twelfth, has marked the opening of grouse hunting season in the UK. It's big business, not only for the landed gentry whose grand estates provide game and lodging to hunters from around the world but to the finer restaurants around Britain as well.

Roald Dahl, in My Uncle Oswald says it best:


“That’s all right, then,” I said.


I've no idea how this exists on line, but if you've a taste for the randier side of Dahl, My Uncle Oswald is available to read here. Not suitable for Puritan's though.

Toad

1 comment:

Deana Sidney said...

Grouse is awfully good. A cheeky chef in 19th c London jumped the gun and served grouse early, infuriating a noble sportsman. The chef was taken to court, fined and reprimanded and he promised not to do it again. When the sportsman came back to the restaurant he ordered a Frenchified dish called ’salmi de fruit defendu’ .. yes, you guessed it, the Lord had been had... it was grouse!

Here's to the 12th!