Shooting Chefs 2023

London's leading chefs compete in the 6th annual 'Shooting Chef's competition at Holland & Holland's world famous shooting grounds.

To celebrate the consumption of British game across the country and its growth over the last decade, Boisdale Restaurants, who have been serving game since 1989, brought together the best in the restaurant business to go head-to-head for the ultimate title of Shooting Chef of the Year 2023.

Tuesday 17^th January saw 30 of the country’s most accomplished chefs and restaurateurs gather to compete in the annual Shooting Chefs Cup. The competition sees the finest chefs and restaurateurs shoot clays across five different simulated stands at the world-famous Holland & Holland shooting grounds. Joshua Hunter and Hubert Beaston-Bird shared the crown for Best Shot 2023.

They all had their ‘game-faces’ on, to battle it out for the top spot and be crowned the winner. Holland and Holland provided much needed refreshments on a very cold day, handing out pheasant broth and meat-pies to the ‘shooting chefs’ as they made their way around the grounds. This year Graham Chatham won the ‘Most Appalling Shot’ which has over the years become a much coveted prize, this year it was a Jeroboam of Rock Angel provided by LVMH.

Following the shoot, the chefs were treated to a winter serve of Chandon Garden Spritz with canapes from Holland & Holland’s restaurant team, under the supervision of Head Chef, Joshua Hunter. The group then boarded a Routemaster bus back to Boisdale of Belgravia, refreshed on the journey with magnums of Rock Angel Rose. The winners were announced during a lavish three-course shellfish and game-pie lunch followed by cheese and a WhistlePig Old Fashioned, with wine throughout from Davy’s and LVMH (menu below).

SELECTION OF SCOTTISH CURED FISH AND OYSTERS

Dunkeld Classic Oak Smoked Salmon, Isle of Gigha Smoked Halibut,

Pickled Orkney Herring, Boisdale’s whisky Cured smoked Salmon,

Jersey Rock Oysters

Shallot vinegar, Lemon

Bread supplied by St. John Bakery

Terrazas de Los Andes Chardonnay, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 2020

Furmint ‘Váradi’, Gilvesy Cellars, Szent Görgy-Hegy, Hungary 2019

GAME PIE, CEPS & JUNIPER

Spiced Red Cabbage, Mashed Potatoes, Claret Gravy

Game supplied by Braehead Foods

Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec, Uco Valley,

Mendoza, Argentina 2017 en Magnum

‘Vitola’ Rioja Reserva, Bodegas Miguel Merino, Rioja Alta, Spain 2016

BRITISH FARMHOUSE CHEESE

Ashcombe, Katherine

Oat cakes & mustard fruits

Quinta da Silveira Reserva Tinto, Duoro Valley, Portugal 2015

Whistle Pig 10yr Old Fashioned

SHOOTING CHEFS 2023 WINNERS

Joint 1st Place, winning a bottle of 12yr old WhistlePig Rye Whisky, lunch & shooting for 2 at Holland & Holland and a Double Magnum of Barolo ‘San Lorenzo di Verduno’ Pelassa 2014

Joshua Hunter & Hubert Beatson-Hird

2nd Place, winning a bottle of Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Rose and a bottle of Holland & Holland Dalmore Whisky

David Stafford

Joint 3rd Place, winning a Chandon Garden Spritz set and a Holland & Holland Hip Flask

Francis Flavin and Jose Souto

Joint 4th Place, winning a bottle of Boisdale 1er Cru Champagne

William Sitwell, Valentine Warner and Oliver Gladwin

Most Appalling Shot of the Day, winning a Jeroboam of Rock Angle

Graham Chatham