How to Host a Successful Wild Game Dinner

Serving game you have hunted yourself can impress guests.

A wild game party is a unique type of dinner party. The focus is on trying different types of wild game. This can include boar, turkey, rabbit, quail, pheasant, partridge grouse, goose, duck, deer, bear, moose, reindeer, caribou or bison. However, there are many other types of game as well. The emphasis should be on trying different types of meat, small portions of a variety of meats cooked to perfection will help make the dinner a success. Does this Spark an idea?

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Wild game
Cooking utensils
Decorations
Cutlery

Instructions

- 1
  
  Research different types of game to serve. Including five or more dishes ensures that guests receive a good mix of tastes. Select game that is not similar or at least uses different preparation method. For example, deer and elk are similar, but if one is cooked and the other is barbecued, the tastes can be quite different.
- 2
  
  Learn how to prepare the game. There are certain recipes that are famous for each type of game. Select recipes that are different from one another to give guests a variety of tastes. Learning how to prepare the game correctly is vital, as improperly prepared food can be a disaster.
- 3
  
  Stage a dry run. Cook each item for yourself first. This will help you estimate cooking times, tweak recipes and make you feel comfortable.
- 4
  
  Learn about the game you are cooking. Researching why the game is prized can make for some excellent dinner conversation. For example, "Did you know that moose have some of the purest meat? This is because they live deep in the wilderness and drink from unpolluted streams and eat fresh foliage." The history of the food and its use in other cultures can also be worth knowing and sharing.
- 5
  
  Purchase fresh, organic wild game from a reputable butcher. If you are a hunter, use game that you have hunted. Purchase enough for each person. The wild game dinner should be a sampler, meaning each person should have a little of each game. The total amount of food consumed should be a healthy meal. Include a vegetable side with vegetables that are high in fiber to help guests process the meal.
- 6
  
  Prepare the table setting and decoration. Setting up the dining room to look like a hunting lodge will add to the atmosphere. Photos from the hunt, paintings of animals, stuffed animal heads and a gun rack can make it more authentic.
- 7
  
  Set the table with good knives. Butterknives are inefficient for most game. High quality steak knives are a must.
- 8
  
  Plan your timing so that all the items come out at once, or at least close together. The items can also be served in courses, if you choose. This will depend on the type of game and its preparation method.

"Dressing & Cooking Wild Game: From Field to Table: Big Game, Small Game, Upland Birds & Waterfowl"; Teresa Marrone; 1999
"The Everything Wild Game Cookbook: From Fowl And Fish to Rabbit And Venison--300 Recipes for Home-cooked Meals"; Karen Eagle; 2006
"Simple Soirees: Seasonal Menus for Sensational Dinner Parties"; Peggy Knickerbocker and Christopher Hirsheimer; 2005