Juniper Berries - have you ever used them?

Cinisajoy said:
I think I have had juniper berries a time or two. Are they in sloe gin?
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Not used in sloe gin. That's just sloes and gin. Here in the UK gin is going through bit of a revival. Something to do with government relaxing regulations thus allowing loads of small artisan producers to enter the market. If only I had some of last year's sloe gin left...
 
Often use juniper berries in beef or venison stews. Coincidentally, I made up a batch of the former last night, beef and ale, to go into a pie for lunch today. Crushed juniper berries, bay leaves, black peppercorns and a spring of fresh thyme added for flavour boost.
 
Francesca/Margi/Sagittarius, you just liked my post within seconds of me posting it.

Do you have an answer?
 
buckytom said:
I'm curious: is venison a common ingredient in England and the European continent?
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In Spain, it is common in Autumn & Christmas Holiday Time ( Autumn - Jaunary 6th ).

There is a Hunting Season for deer, elk, boar and feathered game as well ..

Venison is very common in the Mountainous regions of Spain including the Pyrenees & Los Picos de Europa Mountains. It is also common in the mountainous regions of France and Switzerland ..

It is also commonly found in Michelin fare as well ..

Have a nice day.
 
buckytom said:
I'm curious: is venison a common ingredient in England and the European continent?
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Yes, very common here. Not a staple meat like beef, pork and chicken but most butchers stock it, at least round here. Even supermarkets sell venison steaks, and venison sausages are becoming popular. It is perceived as a lean thus healthy meat. Personally, I would prefer it with more fat on!
 
Francesca said:
In Spain, it is common in Autumn & Christmas Holiday Time ( Autumn - Jaunary 6th ).

There is a Hunting Season for deer, elk, boar and feathered game as well ..

Venison is very common in the Mountainous regions of Spain including the Pyrenees & Los Picos de Europa Mountains. It is also common in the mountainous regions of France and Switzerland ..

It is also commonly found in Michelin fare as well ..

Have a nice day.
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Most of the venison sold in the UK is farmed. Wild venison is available, but it is seasonal and only found at specialist game suppliers.
 
Francesca said:
In Spain, it is common in Autumn & Christmas Holiday Time ( Autumn - Jaunary 6th ).

There is a Hunting Season for deer, elk, boar and feathered game as well ..

Venison is very common in the Mountainous regions of Spain including the Pyrenees & Los Picos de Europa Mountains. It is also common in the mountainous regions of France and Switzerland ..

It is also commonly found in Michelin fare as well ..

Have a nice day.
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Have you ever had it with juniper berries?
 
epicuric said:
Most of the venison sold in the UK is farmed. Wild venison is available, but it is seasonal and only found at specialist game suppliers.
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Do you know where it is farmed? Locally, or is it imported?

What species of deer are the most commonly farmed?

We have so many deer here that they are almost a nuisance. It seems weird to me to have to farm raise them. I can walk into my backyard almost any day and "harvest" a wild one. Or five.
 
buckytom said:
Do you know where it is farmed? Locally, or is it imported?

What species of deer are the most commonly farmed?

We have so many deer here that they are almost a nuisance. It seems weird to me to have to farm raise them. I can walk into my backyard almost any day and "harvest" a wild one. Or five.
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The farmed species are usually red deer or fallow deer. There is a deer farm about 10 miles away from me. It is only a small one and they sell mostly at the farm gate. Wild species here are the two mentioned above, plus sika, muntjac, roe and Chinese water deer. You need a special licence to shoot them. Most wild venison is shot either in Scotland or the New Forest in Hampshire. You are very lucky having such a ready supply of meat wondering about!
 
buckytom said:
Have you ever had it with juniper berries?
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@buckytom,

Yes of course I have had Wild Venison at restaurants & also, my parents & inlaws have prepared it during the Christmas Holidays but not on the 24th or the 31st .. It is always, amazingly spectacular .. All our venison is local and wild from the Autonomous Región of Lérida, northwest of Gerona, and hugging the Catalan Pyrenees ..
 
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Francesca said:
I answered you .. Look at the post below .. Have a nice day ..
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My apologies.

When you mention 17 different places that food comes from, mixed with odd pictures, I start to glaze over and stop paying attention.

I'm glad your family has such successful hunters.
 
buckytom said:
Do you know where it is farmed? Locally, or is it imported?

What species of deer are the most commonly farmed?

We have so many deer here that they are almost a nuisance. It seems weird to me to have to farm raise them. I can walk into my backyard almost any day and "harvest" a wild one. Or five.
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I will take one or two please. Just give me a couple of days notice so I can get a new freezer and find a place for it. Are they white-tail or mule deer?
The regular stores down here do not sell venison.
 
buckytom said:
My apologies.

When you mention 17 different places that food comes from, mixed with odd pictures, I start to glaze over and stop paying attention.

I'm glad your family has such successful hunters.
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@buckytom

We are not hunters, however, we have access to purchasing wild fresh deer meat, ( We have it cleaned / butchered ) for the holidays ..

I thought you had asked me about where our deer are from and some breeds.

My parents and in laws have prepared venison for special occasions for a long time .. I have not posted any photographs on this thread.

Anyway, have a lovely Sunday ..
 
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