TV Cook Rachel Allen Gets Hate Mail For Shooting Pheasants

TV cook Rachel Allen has received hate mail after posting a picture of herself at a shoot with dead birds draped over the bonnet of her Chelsea Tractor.

The Irish celebrity chef, dressed in a wax jacket, flat cap, and holding a shotgun, smiles as she poses with four shot pheasants on her Audi four-wheel drive.

She posted the photo on her Facebook account with the message: “Enjoyed a great day's shooting in North Cork recently where I managed to get a few birds for our St Stephen's Day lunch.

“I'm going to make game terrine, the recipe for which is below. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and happy New Year!”

But it seems the festive goodwill was in short supply with a number of readers posting furious comments on the 39-year-old's page.

“I hope you have a shooting accident, and the gun is turned on you,” wrote one internet user, who logged in as Caroline Fitzgerald.

Another, Christina Swan-Doyle, blasted: “Hey Rachel, just wondering what’s on the menu tonight? Fox? Or maybe hound? You are a disgrace, absolutely disgusting behaviour. I hope the new year brings you all the karma that your due (sic).”

Annemarie Lucas added: “Ur a disgrace u horrible person..killing animals in that manner stick 2 your cooking im sure that needs improvement..shame on you (sic).”

Some of the comments were far worse, and made hate-filled, defamatory references to her family. But most fans were either indifferent or supported her actions, with 70 people ‘liking’ her photo.

“Well done Rachel Allen...great shooting! Had one bird myself today!” said fan David O’Leary.

Rory Allen, from Ballymaloe House in Shanagarry, Co Cork, Ireland, where Rachel teaches cooking courses, defended her actions, saying it was not unusual for a chef to kill their own food and many people ate game birds.

The row came as a hunt at Ballymaloe was slammed by anti-hunting campaigners, who accused the cooking school of breaking a commitment not to use hounds at their annual New Year's Day event. Mr Allen said that hounds were brought along to the fox hunt without permission, even though an agreement had been made.

"We're very embarrassed about the situation," he told the Irish Independent, adding that foxes were viewed as vermin, and he had lost a number of baby pigs and hens to foxes last year.

MORE: Gastropub chef gets hate mail for putting rook on the menu

My new book on training to be a chef, including stints at Rick Stein's and the Fat Duck, is available to buy on Amazon for Kindle, iPad, iPhone etc. CLICK HERE to buy for just £2.05, about the price of half a lager.

"It's a bargain and an easy read, I didn't want to put it down." @Mcmoop

"Should be required reading for anyone who has ever dreamed of leaving the monotony of the 9 to 5 rat race to open their own restaurant." Breil Bistro

"A great read and should be a set text if you're considering a change of career, or God forbid, applying to Masterchef." richard

Keith Floyd's 'Last Ever' Interview For Sale On eBay

An unbroadcast video recording said to be the last ever interview with Keith Floyd has gone on sale on eBay.

The 15-minute tape is said to have been taken shortly before the TV chef’s death in September 2009, while he was visiting his friend Jean-Christophe Novelli at his £250 a day cooking academy at Crouchmoor Farm in Hertfordshire.

The seller Tony Eddison says he has the only copy in existence, and the footage has never been broadcast.

He told Chef Sandwich: "I filmed the interview as a favour to JC Novelli whom I was working with at the time. Floyd was due to collaborate in a cooking 'theatre' at JC's academy, but due to ill health this didn't come off. It was a huge buzz to meet my 'hero' in the flesh and chat with him like this."

So far, there have been 14 bids, with the current bid standing at £27. But with four days left until the auction closes, and Eddison claiming he had to relist the item on eBay following interest from overseas bidders, it’s likely the price will go much higher.

The scripted interview is said to contain Floyd’s views on British food, his thoughts on what it takes to be a chef, as well as some trademark anecdotes from the skewed bow tie-wearing roué.

“Floyd although visibly more tired than in his heyday keeps the twinkle in his eye and his zest for life is clear. The tape contains interview and out-takes and lead-ins and is the only master copy in existence, no other copies on any media exist. This interview was not broadcast,” the seller wrote on the item description.

Floyd’s former manager Stan Green, who has been appointed to look after the celebrity chef’s media and licensing rights for his two children Patrick and Poppy, was unavailable for comment.

(Pic: Stan Green Management)

But he may well be interested in the tape and its contents, especially as he’s producing a TV tribute to Floyd with Poppy (above) and her brother Patrick, himself a chef, later this year.

Poppy, an architect who lives in Hong Kong and a wannabe TV presenter, plans to visit the places visited by her late dad, recalling his adventures.

The tribute - provisionally titled Floyd On Floyd (what else?) - is said to have interest from a number of broadcasters. And, if all goes to plan, Poppy, 27, will follow in his footsteps and relive some of the best-known moments from the shows.

Anything to distract from that appalling, car crash TV documentary broadcast by Channel 4 on the night Floyd died.

My new book on training to be a chef, including stints at Rick Stein's and the Fat Duck, is available to buy on Amazon for Kindle, iPad, iPhone etc. CLICK HERE to buy for just £2.05, about the price of half a lager.

"It's a bargain and an easy read, I didn't want to put it down." @Mcmoop

"Should be required reading for anyone who has ever dreamed of leaving the monotony of the 9 to 5 rat race to open their own restaurant." Breil Bistro

"A great read and should be a set text if you're considering a change of career, or God forbid, applying to Masterchef." richard