Justice Stephen Estcourt and jeweller Shauna Pickin will cook at Koonya Garlic Festival
He’s a Supreme Court judge and she’s an award-winning jeweller. Read how they cook up a storm.
Tasmania
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A judge and jeweller may seem an odd culinary couple.
But Justice Stephen Estcourt and award-winning Burnie jeweller Shauna Pickin both love cooking and eating rabbits and will show how it is done at next Saturday’s Koonya Garlic Festival.
The pair’s friendship began 10 years ago when they commented on each other’s social media posts and soon led to them working together in the kitchen making award-winning salamis.
“We both loved cooking and eating rabbits – in Shauna’s case catching them as well, shooting them and utililising ferrets,” Mr Estcourt said.
“Shauna started dropping fresh rabbits in to me and eventually we started cooking together with her husband Adrian – making salamis.
“Our blood orange gin and our Hungarian style venison salamis won silver and bronze medals at the Bothwell Bushfest game salami contest last October and our yula (mutton bird) and native pepperberry salami received an honourable mention for its flavour profile.”
A talented and passionate cook, Mr Estcourt has been attending the popular garlic festival since it began in 2014 but has never displayed his culinary skills there.
“I have been cooking most of my life — initially because of my love of Tasmanian natural wild ingredients such as abalone and crayfish, rabbits and venison.
“It certainly transports me and I relax in the kitchen.
“My kitchen is my haven.
“Our intention is to let our audience know that you can make that, always convenient, sausage from rabbit and that garlic scapes are a part of the garlic plant that you cherish for its unique flavour and not something you throw away when you harvest your bulbs.
“Garlic is the heart and soul of cooking for most of the world – but just remember it does not go in an authentic Bolognaise sauce.”
Ms Pickin has been a jeweller for 20 years, winning numerous awards including the recent Women’s Art Prize people’s choice.
“I have cooked ever since I was a child,” she said.
“I love how creative it is – I also love eating good food.
“As a great chief said, it’s the holy trinity, salt, pepper and garlic.
“Funny enough my husband is allergic to garlic, so I can’t cook with garlic most of the time, but when he is away everything is doused in it.”
Ms Pickin is delighted to be sharing the stage with Mr Estcourt at the festival.
“Stephen is a wonderful man and foody extraordinaire, his passion for fine wine and food is contagious. We love our salami making days.”
Originally published as Justice Stephen Estcourt and jeweller Shauna Pickin will cook at Koonya Garlic Festival
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