
James Wiles introduces whole animal butchery, explains using the entire animal, and guides how different cuts require specific cooking, long for working muscles and quick sears for tender ones.
discover field dressing and skin-on handling of wild venison, then hang the carcass to set the meat, and explore wet or bag aging to prepare cuts for braises and sausages.
Hang venison in a cool, uncovered room to age and develop flavor. Rinse the cavity with chilled water, wipe with white vinegar, trim damaged parts, and dry.
Choose a single versatile, ultra-sharp knife and keep a sharpener handy; prepare your mise en place, and learn joint locations to pop bones cleanly without a saw.
Learn to debone the forequarters and neck of wild venison, trim damaged meat and cartilage, and set aside bruised or inedible portions for pets.
Begin at the neck, braising the meat, then move to the strip loins and hind legs, with fillets at the back, before removing the rib cage and shaping ribs.
Remove the neck from the wild venison, stuff with minced offcuts and wild herbs, tie, and slow cook with onions and garlic, using gravity to separate meat from vertebrae bones.
Learn to safely identify and trim venison tenderloins, keeping the fillets intact as they detach from the spine, and prepare the chain for tartar, searing, or tataki.
Learn to extract strip loins (backstraps) and saddles from wild venison, following the spine from neck to rib cage, using hanging and gravity to peel meat.
Learn to separate hindquarters by removing hind legs from the pelvic center, trim and break down the pelvic structure with symmetry, and produce primals while keeping bones for stock.
Join celebrated chef, author, and adventurer James Viles in "Whole Animal Butchery: Process Wild Venison." In this comprehensive course, Chef James Viles guides you through the intricate process of butchering wild venison, emphasizing respectful and sustainable practices. Learn how to age, prepare, and utilize every part of the animal, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
James Viles is not only a master butcher but also an active global ambassador for Landrover Australia. He has traveled the country, gathering some of the wildest ingredients from the land, sea, and streams, and cooking them in communities along the way. As the co-founder of OFFGRID PROVISIONS & OFFGRID KITCHEN, James leads culinary adventures in some of Australia's most remote locations. He previously founded "Biota," the most awarded regional restaurant in NSW, Australia, and "Barn by Biota," named one of the top 100 restaurants to visit in the world by Time Magazine New York.
In this course, you will:
Understand the ageing process to enhance flavor and tenderness.
Master preparation techniques from initial cleaning to final presentation.
Learn proper hanging and cleaning methods for optimal meat quality.
Discover the essential knives and tools for butchery.
Follow a step-by-step guide through the entire butchering process.
Learn detailed techniques for processing various cuts, including forequarters, neck, filets, striploins, and hindquarters.
Gain expertise in preparing and cooking backstraps, shoulder, heart, rib cage, and skirt steak.
Develop efficient utilization of the whole animal to minimize waste.
Maintain essential knife skills for safe and effective butchery practices.
Build confidence in processing wild venison with practical, hands-on experience.
Chef James Viles brings his wealth of experience and passion for outdoor cooking to this course, making it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to master whole animal butchery. Whether you're a culinary professional, an avid hunter, or simply passionate about sustainable cooking, this course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to process wild venison like a pro.