Smoked, you say? Count me in!
When asked if I could review these pâtés I simply couldn’t resist, since I’m a lover of all things smoked, for example salmon and chicken. Here are my thoughts on Rannoch‘s new range…
Both pâtés have distinct liver colouring and I was surprised when I read the ingredient lists that smoked venison and duck breast respectively, are the biggest components.
Smoked Duck Pâté with Curacao
The spread is quite dense, yet smooth with chewy bits of meat. Flavour-wise the tang of the orange juice comes through first and at the end the tongue is prickled by coriander and pepper. On the whole, this pâté is “serious” tasting and best served with something sweet, e.g. jam or even marmalade, to brighten it up a bit. Unfortunately, the spices overwhelm the pâté and it’s difficult to discern the duck in it and the fact that it is smoked. People who prefer savoury to sweet will like this.
Smoked Venison Pâté with Cassis and Pistachios
This will be a favourite among sweet tooths since no jelly or jam is needed to enjoy this sweet pâté. Like the duck pâté, this one is also very smooth but with little tidbits of smoked venison and crunchy pistachios. The latter is an unusual touch but makes the pâté unforgettably good. Not as spicy but unmistakeably gamey in flavour and with a thinner consistency than the duck, this one is definitely a winner.