Hunters and Gastronomers Bond at Millbrook

Media Release from Millbrook Resort
May 7 2007

Queenstown Hunters and Gastronomers Bond at Millbrook

Wild bird and game lovers and Queenstown’s five-star Millbrook resort are coming together in the perfect marriage of hunters and gastronomers thanks to a national food festival.

Millbrook is one of 16 top restaurants chosen by Fish and Game New Zealand to cater for hunters in the second nationwide Wild Bird and Game Festival, which kicks off today (Monday 7 May) for three weeks.

As one of the restaurants participating, Millbrook was asked to create a special game bird menu, based on several game birds on the hunting list, and to match each dish with a complimentary wine.

The festival invites keen Queenstown hunters to choose from Millbrook Resort’s exciting new game menu and contact the culinary team to book a dinner. Millbrook chefs will then advise how to best prepare the game for the dish in question, and hunters have to drop their bounty into the kitchen 24 hours before dining.

The only restaurant chosen by Fish and Game New Zealand in the Queenstown region, Millbrook’s new Executive chef Rob Hope and new Millhouse Restaurant Head Chef Mark Glover have compiled an adventurous menu to attract lovers of game fare.

“We’ve introduced different game onto the menu that people have probably never tried before, like native pukeko, swan and goose,” said Mr Glover.

“We also decided to offer a special tasting menu for two or more people, which is broken up into three smaller courses, including a consommé ‘en croute’ with truffle oil.

“We have special dishes for large birds, including a ‘pot au feu’ using a combination of game birds – for example, pheasant, mallard and quail – and we’ve added some unusual ingredient such as Arabic spices and harissa dressing, or garlic snails with quail.”

Mr Hope said the Wild Bird and Game Festival was the perfect opportunity to introduce both new Millbrook chefs and their talents to the local market.

“Among our keen golfers and members, many are enthusiastic hunters. This is a great chance for us to showcase our cooking styles and introduce game lovers to some new taste sensations.”

Millbrook General Manager Jan Hunt said she was delighted that Fish and Game New Zealand had chosen Millbrook for the festival.

“It’s a fabulous opportunity for Millbrook and the Queenstown hunting fraternity to experience the taste and flavours of what can be prepared from New Zealand’s wild game birds.”

Millbrook was recently named one of the highest ranking hotels for value within New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific by prestigious Travel and Leisure magazine. It has also celebrated major achievements within the past 12 months including the launch of a $5 million refurbishment programme, and awards for being named among the world’s best overseas golf resorts and New Zealand’s top luxury properties.

Pic Caption: (from l to r) Millbrook’s new Executive chef Rob Hope assesses Millbrook Property and Development Manager and keen hunter Ben O’Malley’s morning kill along with new Millhouse Restaurant Head Chef Mark Glover, to kick off three weeks of the Wild Bird and Game Festival at Millbrook Resort

ENDS

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