The Elevenses of 2019

It's not just the big shoots that are changing what they serve though, smaller shoots are impressing guns with game from the previous shoot cooked on pop-up BBQs straight after a drive. This can all be a bit daunting for some though - fear not, we've uncovered what we believe to be the elevenses of 2019.

The best solution?

There's a solution that's much easier than all of the above and is the choice of one of the UK's most well-known shoots, Ashcombe in Wiltshire, amongst many others.

Step forward Wild & Game, a small not for profit company started by well-known shoot owner Michael Cannon, driven by the desire to offer easy to serve and delicious game pies and pasties. Having sampled the latest batch of ever developing products very recently, we can share with you that they've hit the nail on the head.

Jamie Lee who runs Ashcombe Shoot said: "We’ve been serving a selection of Wild and Game products this season and have found that they’ve been very well received by our teams of guns. We particularly like the pasties and sausage rolls as they’re very easy to eat with one hand whilst you’ve got a mug of soup in the other. Preparing them couldn’t be easier, 20 minutes in the oven, into an insulated container and off to the shoot. The guns love them as they not only taste great but when you explain what they are, and how important it is that we eat more game, they really do buy into the fact that they are doing ‘their bit’ to help support the sport that we all love so much."

Having chatted to many shoot owners on the subject, it seems that if you aren't cooking your own servings from scratch, pork pies or similar are being purchased from a supermarket to do the job. It's therefore a very simple adjustment to switch from the supermarket to a not for profit company in the shooting world and provide a quality game product with no effort at very similar cost.

Steve Frampton of Wild & Game said: “We have talked to, and visited, a lot of shoots and I think we have put together a good combination of options for shoots of all sizes with all types of facilities. We offer a range of pies and pasties which can be served hot and we now offer a range of options to be served cold: pate, and two pies which are sold as multi or individual portions. We’re finding that most shoots are benefiting from our wholesale prices by ordering over £100 which really helps them too.”

Many of the Wild & Game pies come blended with other more common meats such as chicken and steak, which has seen them have success in markets less familiar with game. On shoot days however, products like the Grouse & Pheasant Pie are particuarly enjoyed. If you want to copy Ashcombe, slicing up the grouse and pheasant layered pie will make sure your elevenses are a hit with your guns.

What are the best elevenses you've seen this season? What do you enjoy as a mid-morning snack? Share your findings in the comments below...

Wild & Game products can be ordered online at www.wildandgame.co.uk with delivery to most of England, Wales and Scotland by courier.