Apparently so. On my last trip to Notting Hill’s farmers’ market I was pleasantly suprised to find a pack of pheasant breasts at the Manor Farm stall. They weren’t cheap, but I really miss pheasant when it goes out of season, so I was delighted to grab hold of these.
At first I thought they must be frozen but I was told that they were fresh. Apparently, even though the gamekeeper supplying the stall couldn’t shoot birds out of season, he would manage to catch some from time to time, and so the occasional bit of pheasant would end up on the stall in late spring.
I was so enthralled with my pheasant, I thought I should do something exciting with it. Then, on reflection, I realised one of the things I miss most about pheasant in the summer is simple things like this.
Here I just stuffed the breasts with porcini mushrooms with I’d fried up with some onion, herbs and garlic, then wrapped them tightly in streaky bacon and roasted them. We ate them with fresh egg tagliatelle tossed in parsley and olive oil and steamed asparagus. There was a calvados cream sauce too, although I forgot to photo it.
Hooray for Manor Farm! I hope they manage to get one or two more packs in the next couple of weeks. I also discovered this week that they do some very tasty venison and chilli sausages that I’ll be going back for. 
Apparently so. On my last trip to Notting Hill’s farmers’ market I was pleasantly suprised to find a pack of pheasant breasts at the Manor Farm stall. They weren’t cheap, but I really miss pheasant when it goes out of season, so I was delighted to grab hold of these.
At first I thought they must be frozen but I was told that they were fresh. Apparently, even though the gamekeeper supplying the stall couldn’t shoot birds out of season, he would manage to catch some from time to time, and so the occasional bit of pheasant would end up on the stall in late spring.
I was so enthralled with my pheasant, I thought I should do something exciting with it. Then, on reflection, I realised one of the things I miss most about pheasant in the summer is simple things like this.
Here I just stuffed the breasts with porcini mushrooms with I’d fried up with some onion, herbs and garlic, then wrapped them tightly in streaky bacon and roasted them. We ate them with fresh egg tagliatelle tossed in parsley and olive oil and steamed asparagus. There was a calvados cream sauce too, although I forgot to photo it.
Hooray for Manor Farm! I hope they manage to get one or two more packs in the next couple of weeks. I also discovered this week that they do some very tasty venison and chilli sausages that I’ll be going back for.
Oh Ros, That looks So gorgeous! NOW I’m really hungry! Silly me for skipping lunch today!
Comment by Lauren — May 18, 2007 @ 8:37 pm
This looks so delicious! And with a yummy mushroomy surprise within. I confess I’ve never cooked pheasant before–or any sort of game. I really should get out of the chicken rut . . .
Comment by Sarah — May 18, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
Oh my goodness! That is exactly the kind of meal that sets my little heart to go pitter patter! It’s marvelous looking. I certainly wish I was having that for dinner tonight.
Comment by sher — May 18, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
Presumably it’s farmed pheasant, Ros. Did it taste as good as wild? And any chance of me coming round for dinner?
Comment by Trig — May 20, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
Lauren, you skipped lunch? don’t be so mean to yourself! On busy days, I have to eat on the run rather than skip lunch. Otherwise I’m half dead by 5pm.
Hi Sarah, welcome to the site. It’s a shame that game is a bit hard to find in some places but, if you get the chance you should definitely try it. It’ll open up a whole new range of things to make.
Hi Sher, I’m glad I went for this rather than something complicated and elaborate now. It made cooking and eating a bit more pleasurable.
I don’t think it was farmed, Trig. I get the impression that Manor Farm only sells wild birds, but I’ll double check next time I visit their stall. It tasted the same as the other pheasant breasts I’ve eaten. Of course you can come around for dinner- just once I’m living away from insane flatmates and have a schedule that means dinner happens before 10:30pm each night. It might be October before that happens though
.
Comment by ros — May 21, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
Oooh pheasant! I’m yet to sample it.
I’ve found that everywhere i go the asparagus is hideously expensive. Sainsburys half price offer means they never have any, and the only other time i bought it this year was when i stumbled upon a market stall selling it £1 a bundle at the end of the day - now i’m loathe to pay any more for it! Woe, woe…
Comment by schmoofaoof — May 21, 2007 @ 10:37 pm