Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Why does some venison taste gamey, and what can hunters do to prevent it?
Ascend host Adrian Jessen sits down with wild-game chef Cate Meade, a former Top 4 MasterChef finalist and Chopped: Castaways competitor, to talk about cooking, hunting, foraging, and building a deeper connection with the food on your plate.
Cate explains why overcooking and under-seasoning are two of the biggest mistakes people make with venison. She also explains when a salted milk soak helps, why she prefers dry brining, how ingredients like mustard, garlic, and herbs complement wild game, and why the right finishing temperature matters.
The conversation goes beyond venison. Cate discusses growing up in Chicago, discovering hunting with her father, competing on reality television, foraging for morels and wild plants, safely identifying mushrooms, and turning her connection with the outdoors into a culinary career.
In this episode:
• Why venison can develop a strong or “gamey” flavor
• How milk, salt, and dry brining affect wild game
• The danger of overcooking venison
• Cate’s favorite venison dish
• A simple wild-game recipe for reluctant cooks
• Safe and responsible foraging
• What reality cooking competitions are really like
• Learning to judge doneness by touch
• Respecting and using what you harvest
Learn more about Cate and find her recipes:
https://www.wildwoodschef.com/
Follow @wildwoodchef on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Follow along for more real conversations, outdoor stories, and insights from women shaping the future of hunting and conservation.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.
Ascend host Adrian Jessen sits down with wild-game chef Cate Meade, a former Top 4 MasterChef finalist and Chopped: Castaways competitor, to talk about cooking, hunting, foraging, and building a deeper connection with the food on your plate.
Cate explains why overcooking and under-seasoning are two of the biggest mistakes people make with venison. She also explains when a salted milk soak helps, why she prefers dry brining, how ingredients like mustard, garlic, and herbs complement wild game, and why the right finishing temperature matters.
The conversation goes beyond venison. Cate discusses growing up in Chicago, discovering hunting with her father, competing on reality television, foraging for morels and wild plants, safely identifying mushrooms, and turning her connection with the outdoors into a culinary career.
In this episode:
• Why venison can develop a strong or “gamey” flavor
• How milk, salt, and dry brining affect wild game
• The danger of overcooking venison
• Cate’s favorite venison dish
• A simple wild-game recipe for reluctant cooks
• Safe and responsible foraging
• What reality cooking competitions are really like
• Learning to judge doneness by touch
• Respecting and using what you harvest
Learn more about Cate and find her recipes:
https://www.wildwoodschef.com/
Follow @wildwoodchef on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Follow along for more real conversations, outdoor stories, and insights from women shaping the future of hunting and conservation.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.
- (00:00) - Tempo: 120.0
The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:
Dry Pocket.
Visit drypocket.com and use promo code "ASCEND" for 25% off.
Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly!
Dry Pocket.
Visit drypocket.com and use promo code "ASCEND" for 25% off.
Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly!
Creators and Guests
Host
Adrian Jessen
Adrian Jessen is a reviewer, writer, and adult-onset hunter best known as co-founder and on-camera host of the YouTube channel Review This Thing. Since 2020, she and her husband Robbie have published thorough, real‑world reviews and tutorials on optics, firearms, archery, and outdoor gear—built around a promise to be complete, honest, and unbiased. Adrian also contributes to titles such as North American Deer Hunter and Crossbow Magazine. When she isn’t testing new kit, she’s likely chasing spring gobblers or helping new hunters choose reliable gear and build safe, ethical skills.
What is ASCEND by Ducks Unlimited?
Ascend is a multimedia platform that spotlights the millions of outdoorswomen across our country who go hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, biking, running, and perform important conservation work every day.
Our web series and podcast feature guests who share their experiences with a focus on entertainment, education, and authenticity. Our viewers and listeners will get to know them and learn all about their passion for the outdoors. Whether you've been in outdoor communities all your life or are just getting started, Ascend is the place for you to follow your story!
Brought to you by Ducks Unlimited.