Chef Diane Lam won the Overall and the People’s Choice awards, Jamal Hassan of Mediterranean Exploration Company, won Overall in the cocktail competition and Camille Cavan of Quaintrelle was awarded the People’s Choice
Portland, Ore. (October 7, 2019) – It was an extravaganza of epic culinary proportions this past weekend at the 19th Annual Wild About Game, presented by Nicky USA. Chefs from Portland and Seattle competed head to head in four game meat-based categories using Nicky Farms proteins, including goat, quail, elk and rabbit. In the end it was Chef Diane Lam of Revelry who beat the stiff competition and swept the 2019 Wild About Game competition with her rabbit dish, The Last “Barbeque” Plate of the Season: Grilled BBQ Rabbit, Fish Sauce Caramel, and Nuoc Cham Alabama White Sauce served with Collard Green Pickles, Kewpie Mayo Potato Salad, Miso Butter Corn, and a Watermelon Jello Shot. The Overall Award in the Carter Cutler Game Cooking Competition was decided by an esteemed panel of judges, Farideh Sadeghin (Vice Munchies), Justin Chapple (Culinary Director-at-Large, Food & Wine) and Andrea Damewood (Portland Mercury). Attendees of Nicky USA’s Wild About Game, held annually at the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort near Mt. Hood, Ore., had the chance to taste each of the eight dishes and vote for their favorite in this year’s People’s Choice Award, which also went to Chef Diane Lam of Revelry. The winner of the Carter Cutlery Game Cooking Competition received $1,000 and a custom made chef’s knife personally made by master bladesmith Murray Carter valued at $2,000. The People’s Choice winner received a Traeger Grill worth $1,500, and the winner of each head to head competition walked away with Finex Cast Iron Cookware. Carter Cutlery also sponsored the Winning City award, winning a personal knife making class from Master Bladesmith Murray Carter. This year’s Winning City award was decided by the judges panel, and went to the chefs of Portland.
Overall Winner: Chef Diane Lam, Revelry
People’s Choice Winner: Chef Diane Lam, Revelry
Winning City: Portland
Wild About Game winner Diane Lam, photo credit John Valls
Full lineup of dishes served in the Carter Cutler Game Cooking Competition, and restaurants that won in each game category:
Round 1 Goat: Winner Logan Cox, Restaurant Homer
- BJ Smith, Delores, Goat Ham, Truffled Celeriac Pierogi: Goat Presse, Goat Liver Mousse, Goat Jus
- Logan Cox, Restaurant Homer, Slow Cooked Goat Shoulder: Date Vinegar, Smoked Labneh, Roasted Onion & Pomegranate
Round 2 Quail: Winner AJ Voytko, Terrane
- AJ Voytko, Terrane, Manchester Farms Quail ‘Alla Stemperata’: ‘nduja, Pickled Quince, Garnet Yam
- David Mitchell, Cedarbrook Lodge, Grilled Quail: Halušky, Elderberry Vinegar
Round 3 Elk: Winner Matthew Jarrell, Imperial
- Matthew Jarrell, Imperial, Elk Hot Dog: Huckleberry Ketchup, Foie Gras Dijonaise
- Maximillian Petty, Eden Hill, “Seattle Dog”: Cold Smoked Elk Sirloin Tartare, Caramelized Onion Ash, Salish Sea Salt Aged Cheese Pate, Petite Baguette Roll
Round 4 Rabbit: Winner Diane Lam, Revelry
- Diane Lam, Revelry, The Last “Barbeque” Plate of the Season: Grilled BBQ Rabbit, Fish Sauce Caramel, and Nuoc Cham Alabama White Sauce served with Collard Green Pickles, Kewpie Mayo Potato Salad, Miso Butter Corn, and a Watermelon Jello Shot
- Mitch Mayers, Sawyer, Rabbit Hot Dog Steam Bun: Caramelized Onion Mornay, Pickled Mustard Seeds, Huckleberry, Scallion
Wild About Game’s 2019 winning dish from chef Diane Lam, photo credit John Valls
This year’s Wild About Game El Tesoro Cocktail Competition featured a friendly cocktail making challenge with some of Portland’s best bar talent mixing up meaty cocktails. Competitors included, Camille Cavan (Quaintrelle), Jamal Hassan, (Mediterrenean Exploration Co.), Mindy Kucan (Normandie) and Peter Carpenter (The Richmond Bar). The cocktail competition took place alongside the cooking competition so that everyone had a chance to taste all four cocktails in between the chef’s dishes. There were two winning cocktails:
Overall Cocktail Winner: Jamal Hassan, Mediterranean Exploration Company, “Smoke ‘n Herb”
Smoked Duck Fat Washed El Tesoro Anejo Tequila, Tarragon, Orange-Cinnamon Gomme
Bitters
People’s Choice Cocktail Winner: Camille Cavan, Quaintrelle, “Waking In Echoes”
El Tesoro Reposado, Green Chartreuse, Mahina Coconut Liqueur, Velvet Falernum, Bone Marrow Orgeat, Peach Cordial, Lime, Bone Marrow Foam
Full lineup of cocktails mixed up in the El Tesoro Cocktail Competition:
Jamal Hassan, Mediterranean Exploration Company, “Smoke ‘n Herb”
Smoked Duck Fat Washed El Tesoro Anejo Tequila, Tarragon, Orange-Cinnamon Gomme
Bitters
Mindy Kucan, Normandie, “Halcyon”
El Tesoro Blanco Tequila, Smoked Salmon Honey Syrup, Lime, Celery Bitters, Tonic
Camille Cavan, Quaintrelle, “Waking In Echoes”
El Tesoro Reposado, Green Chartreuse, Mahina Coconut Liqueur, Velvet Falernum, Bone Marrow Orgeat, Peach Cordial, Lime, Bone Marrow Foam
Peter Carpenter, The Richmond Bar, “Muy Boar-acho”
El Tesoro Anejo, New Deal Pear Brandy, Candied Wild Boar, Charred Corn Syrup, Hatch Chile Tincture, Cilantro, Lime oil, Salt
One of the highlights of Nicky USA’s Wild About Game is the San Pellegrino Artisan Marketplace, where the region’s favorite and up-and-coming small batch producers sampled their products, including artisan salts, cheeses, chocolates, ice cream, spirits, wine, beer, Nicky Farms proteins, and samples of premium meat products in the Nicky USA lineup. This year’s selection of local artisans included: Carter Cutlery, Nicky Farms tasting with Chef Eric Gitenstein/MF Tasty, San Pellegrino, Beam Suntory, Mary’s Chicken tasting with Chef Caroline Crawley/Bollywood Theater, Hudson Valley Foie Gras tasting with Chef Simone Savaiano/Mucca Osteria, Carlton Farms tasting with Chef Jeremy Davis Sturm/The Solo Club, Creekstone Farms tasting with Thomas Pisha Duffly/Gado Gado, IncrEdible Spoons, Anderson Ranches, T&T, Nueske’s, Olympia Provisions, OBC/Painted Hills with Chef Philippe Boulot/MAC, Flying Fish, Gilgamesh Brewing, Mt Tabor Brewing, Anne Amie Vineyards, Chateau Ste Michelle, Marshall Haute Sauce, Som Cordials, Red Duck Foods, Del Fuego Ironworks, Misty Mt. Mushrooms, Salt & Straw, Yachats Brewing, Author Mead, Creo Chocolate, Mitchell Wine Group, Barnacle Foods, Ferment Brewing, and more.
About Nicky USA
Founded in 1990, Nicky USA is the Pacific Northwest’s leading butcher and purveyor of high quality meats and specialty game. The Portland-based company has forged relationships with local, national and international ranchers, as well as James Beard Award-winning chefs in an effort to make game a mainstay of specialty markets and fine restaurants. Aside from selling specialty game and high quality meats, Nicky USA hosts Wild About Game on October 6th, 2019, an annual head-to-head cooking competition and the meatiest culinary celebration in the Northwest featuring the best rising star chefs in the region. Nicky USA expanded in 2013 with a second location in Seattle. Orders for either location can be made by calling 1.800.469.4162. For more information, visit www.nickyusa.com. Follow @nickyusa on Twitter and Facebook, and @nicky.usa on Instagram, as well as #NickyFarms on all channels. To learn more about Nicky USA and Nicky Farms, view the 25th anniversary video here.