Buying from a butcher

myrnahaz

kittie wrote:

Op I agree with thriftlady. Not a good sign not having fresh meat. Have you got an indoor market anywhere near you?

There is a butcher in Swansea market who raises and slaughters his own produce on his farm. He also goes round the villages selling meat from a van.

There's no comparison in taste or quality to supermarket meat. Mind you, I always end up spending a fortune there as it's hard to estimate the size of joint i want when he's cutting it from half a cow - I've always bought meat in a plastic clingfilm cover with a convenient label on it stating the price (and usually a yellow 'reduced' sticker).

couteaux

Update! Thank you suki1964!!!

I went along to the farmers market today and afterwards looked for the butchers you mentioned. It was great!! I was with my mum who was in a bit of a rush, so couldn't look for too long, but asked for the breast of lamb...... and huzzah! They had some It was 2.99 for a nice boned piece, so tomorrow i'll be stuffing that and cooking it nice and slowly. mmmmmmm

Really pleased to find them, thanks so much for the recommendation and thanks to everyone for the advice

Have a great weekend.

M.A.

All this talk of quality meat, does anyone know where any Butchers in London that do a proper steak pie like you get in Scotland?

suki1964

M.A. wrote:

All this talk of quality meat, does anyone know where any Butchers in London that do a proper steak pie like you get in Scotland?

Dont know what steak pie is like in scotland but I know a butcher who makes very good pies and sausages. Once again I dont know the name (hopeless with names) but its in Sheen, on the upper richmond road, just past priory lane, on the left hand side as you head for Richmond. Loads of certificates in the window for the sausages

competitionscafe

Another good way to find recommendations for good butchers (and other food shops) is to contact your local Slow Food group (convivium I think that's the posh word they are called but don't let that put you off). You don't have to join or be a member, they are usually happy to talk to people interested in good local food and to recommend suppliers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/food_matters/slowfood.shtml

http://www.slowfoodludlow.org.uk/contact.html#other

moggins

We have a butcher in town that has received national awards for his sausages. I've only tried the lamb and mint ones but they were gorgeous. He does Venison ones too which I'm very tempted to try even though the price is hellish.

Bexstars

Im hoping someone can give me a little advice on buying meat from a butcher. I have always just bought my meat from our local supermarket, mainly morrisons but after watching the latest river cottage programme where hugh showed us how chickens are kept for cheap meat and also reading through the new Jamie Oliver book - Cook, about buying better meats ect I would like to try and buy better quality meats. I have never bought from a butcher before and have no idea of things like what weights to ask for ect. Also do all butchers provide good quality meat or do they sell the same meats as the supermarkets? I fancy trying shin of beef which I have never seen to buy before. Also do all butchers sell organic meats or do you have to go to certain ones?

Sorry for all the questions

THIRZAH

I buy most of my meat from the butchers. A good butcher should be helpful . Do you have any butchers nearby or can you ask anyone to recommend one?Some even have websites so it's worth looking online .I haven't seen any meat labelled as organic in either of the butchers here but one has his own slaughterhouse so all the meat is local.

Look in the window and see what kind of meat they sell-it should be labelled.
I'd avoid a butcher who sells obviously frozen meat- I have seen some where lumps of meat are defrosting in the window.

I've found that the variety of meat in our local butchers is better than in the supermarket.

Last time I bought stewing beef from Tesco I'm sure it was shin beef so you may well have bought it before.

It's difficult to say what weight you should buy but I allow about 4 oz of mince per person for a shepherds pie-a bit less for pasta sauce and 4-6 oz of stewing beef.

TKP_3

I buy all my meat at my butcher. He is great - helps me decide what cut I need etc. All his meat is British, and always hung (without extra expense!). I found all this out by going and asking him.
I ask for the amount I need for the recipe, but I am always flexable as I know he can't cut the meat exactly to the weight I want - BUT he always cuts the meat in front of me, askes me if I want the fat on or off, what thickness for the meat etc.
So much better quality meat as well.

newlywed

Let us know how you get on... I've been debating plucking up the courage to go into a butchers - hopefully to get better quality meat - too worried about looking like a thick girlie!!!