THE SHOOT LUNCH: The Tradition, the Camaraderie and the Craic [Hardcover]

This book is best described as sumptuous, the food, the scenery and the recipes. It tells the story of the 'Shoot Lunch' from Edwardian times, complete with footmen and snowy tablecloths, to the more modern shoot lunch, eaten in a shack. The recipes, unsurprisingly contain a lot of game, and are hearty recipes suitable for fortifying hungry 'guns' and beaters after a long day out on the hills. No wispy salads here, distinct lack of quiche.

The author clearly loves the game shoot, and has no apologies for those who disapprove (quite right). he weaves the tales of the shoots from the posh end to the more ordinary with glossy pictures, featuring some very wet, bedraggled but happy people. I especially liked the pictures of the gun dogs, some of them not behaving very well. As a devoted doggy owner I have sympathy.

The thing I liked bout the book is that the author tried to dispel any myths about the shoot, with its hidden etiquette and dos and don'ts. I especially liked the final chapter which was very much, tongue in cheek, A rough guide on how to behave (guaranteed to get you un-invited to the next shoot), including allowing your filthy hound to tiptoe around the dining room.

Whilst I have never been to a game shoot, after reading this book I might have a go..., better leave my disobedient lurcher at home though.

I quite surprised myself by enjoying this book much more than I thought I would. It's not a recipe book as such. It's more a guide to manners, etiquette, how to play the host / hostess etc, with the recipes thrown in as an addendum.

Very readable and entertaining. I grew up in the country, but not in the hunting, shooting, fishing set. However, I've always been a little curious about what goes on at such things - and here were the answers. If you're a country bumpkin like me & have always wanted to know, then you might well enjoy this book too.

I was a bit (read = very) horrified by the thought of devilled kidneys washed down with Black Velvet for breakfast... but I understand that bacon butties can sometimes do just as well! I was also quite relieved to find out that the 'fox curry' didn't contain any fox!! Bullshot sounds utterly disgusting (but now at least I know what it is); whereas the recipe for a shoot punch sounds quite tasty.

So overall, entertaining & nicely produced. I don't suppose there's anything in here for the seasoned game shoot host to learn but for first time shoot attendees I could imagine this book should be on the reading list!

I am a Country girl through and through and in my early years was part of the so called County Set which included hunting and shooting.

I have been a 'Gun' at Rough Shoots (a laugh a minute), organised 'Up Market' Shoots where protocol and dignity must be preserved at all times until one becomes drunk as a skunk after a hard days shooting and finally just shooting on my own and in this case it was to put poor rabbits with Mixie out of their misery. I've also been a beater at several Rough Shoots and I can tell you, it is hard work and a lot of Farmers are really tight about tipping. There are ways of getting your own back here :-)

This book is a delightful history of shooting from the upmarket type shoots to the rough shoots. It includes some really nourishing and warming recipes for both food and booze and some highly interesting anecdotes. It gives information on how to 'tip' correctly and a list of do's and dont's for the so called 'new gun' who thinks that anything that flies or runs can be shot at. This is severely frowned upon let alone dangerous. I recall a Psychiatrist being on the next 'peg' to myself and he shot at a Vole that ran past his foot thus causing the entire shoot to come to a halt, a huge crater appearing in the ground and him being told to leave the shoot immediately.

I have found that on the organised shoots I attended that the Beaters and 'Keeper' as told to us in the book, are indeed segregated from the rest of the party. They do not have the luxury of a hot meal and booze but instead bring along their own sandwiches and flasks of tea or coffee. Rough Shoots around where I live are generally a different kettle of fish and Guns and Beaters often sit together to eat.

I was not surprised when I saw the picture of a shoot lunch out in the open complete with table, silverware and Butler..........those were the hey days of the shooting fraternity. Nowadays it is more likely that the Guns will all sojourn either to a Pub for Lunch or skip it all together, shoot through until nearly dark and then after tipping the beaters and the Keeper, everyone accordingly will either head off to a Pub or in the case of Rough Shoots more likely back to the a Farmhouse for a nice filling game pie or stew.

This is a great book and would make a lovely gift for either a man or a woman. You don't necessarily have to shoot to want to own it either as it is choc a bloc full of social history and interesting titbits.

Very highly recommended.