The Glorious Twelfth Tradition

Posted by Maddalena Delli Aug 13, 2008

On 12 August the grouse hunting season begins in the UK, and gourmet food suppliers compete to get the first game shot from Scotland to the tables of London restaurants.

I'm just back from a short vacation on the Italian Riviera (more about that soon), and find my inbox flooded with press releases from various UK sources, all mentioning the Glorious 12th. Intrigued and puzzled, I rush to check the meaning of the phrase.

I'm not sure how this may have escaped me till now (especialy since I've spent in the British Isles most Augusts over the past two decades!) but it refers to the date -- 12th August of course -- when the grouse shooting season begins.

Apparently, there is always substantial competition among gourmet food suppliers -- including Harrods' legendary Food Halls -- to get the first birds shot in the Scottish estates to the tables of restaurants in London and other major cities throughout the United Kingdom.

So, your humble foodie reporter is now one piece of information wiser, and just wanted to share the titbit.

Sorry I'm 24 hours late alerting you for this year's big event... but at least anyone who cares for the taste of feathered game (not me, I'm afraid) now has 364 days to look forward to the next Glorious Twelfth!