CHEF Tony Larkin, of the family-owned Larkins restaurant, has sent out his Injun scouts (well, anyway, friends and business associates) to see if they can rustle up some tasty buffalo meat!

For Tony, whose award-winning establishment is located in North Road, St Helens, is an enthusiastic promoter of themed nights - Larkins having staged Italian, French, German, Midsummer, new wine and flamb evenings, among other specialities. And now he'd love to stage a Bison Banquet with a truly Wild West touch to it, which would represent his most ambitious project to date.

Bison, of course, is the correct name for the American buffalo, and Tony and his family were inspired to consider a bison-night after visiting an American-run Buffalo Grill while on a short holiday trip to France.

So they do know that there is bison meat out there somewhere. The problem lies in tracking it down from St Helens. None of his local suppliers has so far succeeded in tracing any, but a determined Tony is prepared to cast further afield. And he'd be delighted if any customer of this column could help him round up some buffalo steaks.

Tony had heard that the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody, fur-trapper, gold miner, Pony Express rider, showman and slaughterer of bison by the thousand, had St Helens family connections. This, of course, is extremely unlikely - but at least there's a tenuous link. Bill later in life became a showman, reported to have once brought his famous Wild West Show to St Helens.

He was then on a nationwide tour, beginning in 1887 when he came over with his cast of hundreds, including native Red Indians together with live buffalo, elk and cattle, as main US contributor to Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The famous old-timer with the distinctive silver moustache and goatee beard - a contemporary of Wild Bill Hickok and dead-eyed sharpshooter Annie Oakley - died in 1917, aged 70.

H CAN anyone confirm when that Wild West Show was staged in St Helens (it would have required a huge venue for all those trick riders, sharpshooters and animals). And, perhaps more to the point, can they direct Tony Larkin towards some prime buffalo meat?