The culinary game season has begun!
The period from 15 October to after Christmas is known as the culinary game season. From this date, game dishes appear on the (online) menu at many restaurants. Fans eagerly await this period, making the game season one of the most important culinary seasons in the Netherlands. Because game is available all year round nowadays, the game season is now called the culinary game season.
Several restaurants in the municipality of Eersel offer the tastiest game dishes. Look at the bottom of this blog for an overview.
Hunting and game
Game meat comes only from animals that are allowed to be hunted. This is allowed, for example, to combat overpopulation. There are strict rules and conditions attached to hunting. For instance, only certain animals may be hunted during a certain period. Hunters must be members of a local hunting association and have a licence.
The taste of game varies from animal to animal, but is best described as 'aromatic'. The meat is better blooded, softer and fuller in flavour. You can taste that they have lived in the wild, where they have had plenty of exercise and ate natural, varied food.
Hunting in the Kempen
In the nineteenth century, it became interesting to clear large areas of land in our region for agriculture, with barons and bankers investing in cheap Kempen heathland, also for hunting. There was a hunting lodge in Duizel until 1965, which banker Victor van den Schrieck had built in 1863. From 1873 to 1937, the de Cartier de Marchienne family lived there, after whom the Cartier heath was named. Both families were fond of hunting and organised large hunting parties. Not only was this a spectacle to behold, this way the men from the village could earn some extra income. The famous birch lane along Pannegoor on Cartierheide was specially created for the baron, so he could hunt ducks and other water birds.
Where can you eat game in the municipality of Eersel?
In every church village in the municipality of Eersel, you will find good restaurants with the well-known Kempen hospitality. During the culinary game season, various restaurants put game dishes on the menu. Below is an overview. Is it incomplete? Feel free to let us know.
Craft in Wintelre serves various game dishes.
Promessa in Eersel has game on the menu all year round. Now you can eat hare stew with pumpkin spaghetti, curry foam and amaranth there, for example.
Dinee cafe de Kempen in Knegsel serves various game dishes. On 15 November, they will organise a culinary game night with a six-course dinner. By reservation only.
Vessumse hoeve in Vessem serves a variety of game dishes, with venison steak, game goulash and game pâté being some of the dishes on offer.
Dinee-café Veertien in Eersel has a new menu with game, including hare stew and venison steak, from 21 October.
Yaya in Eersel collaborates with a hunter. The menu will include venison, hare and roe. One of the dishes is venison steak with dark chocolate, a game jus and pears stewed in red wine.
Booking in advance is recommended. For up-to-date information, please refer to the restaurant's website.