Quality foods in Belfast City Centre (excluding ST George's market)

GlynD

Dannyboyni wrote: »

Ok this is not looking good . Can someone please name me the best quality butcher in the whole of Belfast? I am willing to travel quite far in order to find one that suits my needs.

If you don't mind a little sensible travel then go to McCartney in Moira. He's a world champion butcher and also has a deli. Don't be surprised when you turn up to find you have to queue in the street because the queues to this super clean and multi award winning shop are often quite long.

snowmen

Willyk wrote: »

Sorry to detract from the Radicchio lettuce search but does anyone know where I can buy popping corn in Belfast. Not the microwave bag stuff, but the normal corn. Thanks.

Edit: Just found it online on Tesco's website.

Sainsburys sell it - it is normally displayed next to the dried lentils in the normal grocery aisles.

Dannyboyni

Ok guys I finally managed to get the Radicchio. I bought it in St George's market - variety fair which is on Saturdays. The damn thing was expensive though at £2.50. And its Tiny!

Also I find St Georges market very expensive, even compared to the rip off that is tescos. Does anyone know where I can buy nuts and seeds cheaply? For example for 250g of hazelnuts the guy in St Georges charges £3.30 for 250g, tescos is £3 for the same amount!

tommie

@ dannyboyni

you`re sorta hard to please aren`t you??

St Georges market - not good enough\expensive\ inconvenient
Sawyers - a dear place
Tescos - total rip off!!!

.. how do people here exist in this third world country?? :undecided

Mr_Bun

Have to agree with tommie,if you want specific quality foodstuffs you have to be prepared to pay for them...;)

Dannyboyni

Well ASDA aint too bad on price, at least compared to tescos. And its an absolute disgrace there is no mega store ASDAS in Belfast. The closest one being in Antrim. Theres way too many Tescos in Belfast not enough ASDAS.

kidshorsesdogs

If you are after nuts and seeds then look on line, goodness direct have a wide variety. http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/193506_Goodness_Raw_Hazelnuts__Turkey__250g.html I prefer to support local shops, but sometimes I shop online or if there are offers in the bigger supermarkets, The Nutmeg in Lombard St in Belfast do a range of vegan foods, lots of nuts and seeds there. You really don't want to be buying large quantities of them anyway as they do go off, I keep mine in the fridge.

Holland & Barrett sell nuts & seeds, but prices will be similar to Tesco and in some cases dearer but they do have offers on. I think Asda deliver so you may be able to order from them if it's cheaper for you. Having travelling around US & Canada and experienced farmers's markets and even the produce in supermarkets we in NI don't really cater much for those of us who love our veggies.

Dannyboyni

Thanks for the help kidshorsesdogs. Its a shame about the postage being so high on goodnessdirect. These nuts are only for me and I wouldn't want to be buying large quantities at a time.

Actually it would be great if there was some sort of service in Northern Ireland where groups of people could band together and buy large quantities from sites like that then walk/cycle to who ever gets it delivered to pick it up. We would all save a fortune on postage and get much cheaper goods as a result.

I always keep my nuts in the cupboard as there is no room in my fridge for them.

kidshorsesdogs

Yes postage is high enough but if buying a few items that are hard to source here it's worth it. Many years ago I used to go to a place on Ormeau Road, it was a bit like a organic co-op, veg, flour, pulses and nuts but I stopped going as the range was quite small and I had to drive 15 or so miles. I'd be very interested to know if there is anything like that now in Belfast.

If buying other nuts, cashew, peanuts, pinenuts then the Asian supermarkets are a better price than Tesco etc, although I've never seen hazelnuts. The ethnic section in Tesco can be cheaper than the ingredients aisle, rice, flour, nuts are all cheaper, not brands you'd recognise but I've tried most and they are fine.

almillar

Dannyboy - Antrim has the closest Asda to Belfast? What's a mega Asda? Have you not heard of the Asdas at Kennedy Way, Shore Road, and Newtownards Road (Dundonald)?
Anyway, stuff costs more in the city centre. Rates are higher, and nothing grows in the city centre, so transport costs are higher...