The youngest winner of a Michelin Star, Tom Kitchin has worked alongside such chefs as Pierre Koffmann and Alain Ducasse, and is well known for his combining of French cuisine with seasonal Scottish ingredients.
Method
Method for grouse
Take the grouse out of the fridge so that they can come to room
temperature before you start cooking.
Preheat the oven to 200°C/ 400°F/ Gas 6.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed roasting tin.
Season the grouse well, inside and out, then sear them in the pan
until golden brown all over.
Add the diced vegetables, baby onions and thyme sprigs to the
pan.
Place the grouse on one breast and roast in the hot oven for
3-4 minutes.
Flip the birds onto the other breast and roast for another 3
minutes.
Next pour brandy into both birds and place them on their back
to finish roasting - another 5 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and leave the grouse to rest for
10 minutes breast upwards so the juices are evenly distributed.
Keep all the pan juices and vegetables.
Put the roasting tin back on the heat on top of the stove and
begin to reduce the cooking juices.
Add the chicken stock, bring to the boil and let the sauce
reduce and thicken.
Take off the heat and pass through a fine sieve - keep warm
until ready to serve.
Method for roasted pumpkin
Heat the oven to 180°C/ Gas4. Peel the beetroot, wearing
plastic gloves to avoid staining your hands red.
Cut into quarters, place in a saucepan and pour on enough water
to cover. Add salt and bring to the boil.
Simmer for 30minutes or until the beetroot is about
three-quarters cooked. Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, peel the Jerusalem artichokes, cut them in half and
immerse in a bowl of cold water with the lemon juice added to stop
them discolouring.
Peel away the skin from the pumpkin and remove the skins. Cut
into thick moon-shaped slices.
Heat a large non-stick ovenproof frying pan (or a cast-iron
roasting pan) over a medium-high heat and add a drizzle of olive
oil.
Place the pumpkin and Jerusalem artichokes into the pan, season
with salt and cook for 3-4 minutes, turning to colour.
Transfer to the oven and roast for 15 minutes.
Cut the beetroot into wedges, add to the pan and cook in the
oven for a further 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the dressing. Combine the chopped hazelnuts,
shallots, chives and hazelnut oil in a bowl. Add a splash of sherry
vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste.
To serve
Once the grouse has rested, remove the legs and breast meat and
serve with pan juices.
Spoon the dressing over the roasted vegetables and scatter over
the watercress to serve.