Jonathan Livingston Turkey

Screw the other turkeys. I wanna fly.

Friday Belts: The Famous Grouse & Not So Famous Quail

I love British advertising. The Famous Grouse (TFG) commercials are by far some of the most charming and sophisticated adverts around. And the Scotch ain't so bad either. I once spent about four hours with a Scottish risk manager in a pub in Bath and I couldn't understand a word he said...and he was speaking English. I was able to pick up key points. He wanted a program with one large deductible for all lines of commercial insurance via a captive in Bermuda. That's not probably what you would have picked up on but he also drank The Grouse and like most Scots preferred it over Single Malts because, "...hew ken affooord Talisker. New one where em froom, mate."

TFG has always been the Scotch of choice in the U.K. and after trying it nine years ago I left the fold of Johnnie Walker Red and Black. It's nice in the Winter with a little water or soda and a twist of a lemon peel rubbed on the rim of the glass. If you're a Walker fan give it a try. If you're a Ushers fan get another job. TFG is worth it.

This quail belt was brought to my attention by Stewart from the blog, A La Brouche. Amazing recipes, amazing writing and a unique voice all his own. I gotta try his Terrine de Porc. Stew wasn't the first to turn me on to Stafford's but I owe him for reminding me. This outfit flies below most folks radar and so it's not well known. But if you're from GA and you hunt quail...you know it.

I'm not much of a hunter. The last time I went hunting (on a full stomach) was for pheasant on the Illinois - Wisconsin border in early December. For once there was no wind and a soft snow came straight down instead of the 45 degree angle I had grown accustomed to in Chicago. Three of us warmed up with some clays and I did pretty well with a borrowed Italian automatic 12 gauge. But I couldn't hit anything with real wings. And to be honest - my heart wasn't in it.

That is, not until we broke for lunch and I had smoked pheasant for the first time. Then I knew...in my heart...I wanted to kill and eat every pheasant I could find. God, they're good. I'd like to find a pheasant belt like this quail number from Staffords just to remind me of that eye opening moment. Find a good butcher and order a brace. They're perfect for this time of year and have a pre-dinner Grouse on the rocks. I can just see you sitting by the fire place in Duck Head khakis, a pair of Gokey chukkas and this Orvis flannel shirt as you stir your drink with your pinkie while Winter rages on the other side of your front door.