Poultry & Game

The quality of chicken has improved dramatically over the last 15 years. We can now buy humanely raised, free-range birds, the best in my opinion being those from Barossa Farm Produce and Kangaroo Island. These birds are slaughtered at between 35 and 42 days, to produce an average 1.8kg dressed chicken. Corn-fed chickens are also quite delicious, but lack the rich barnyard flavour of their free-range cousins.

Young chickens, sold as ‘spatchcocks’ in Australia, are grown to 300-500g over 3½ weeks and have a delicate yet distinctive flavour. Split along the backbone and gently flattened, they are easily grilled with a little olive oil or butter and may be served with a wedge of lemon. A few slices of Anchovy Butter placed on the spatchcock just before it is ready makes a delicious alternative. If a more formal dish is called for, grilled spatchcock also marries really well with A Quick Red Wine Sauce.