Exceptional butchery service in Moira

GlynD

x12yhp wrote: »

I have recently spent quite a bit more time in Moira and have tried a bunch of butchers both in Moira and Portadown. I was not massively impressed by McCartneys, they have a really nice new shop and they have plenty of choice but I was just left a little cold by the meat I tried. The Meat Centre has become my 'go-to', as detailed above, the guys are extremely friendly and are always happy to have a bit of a chat, advise either what you want or listen to what you want to do. A great example was prime rib which is a family fave. I told the guys what I wanted to do with it, that I wanted a nice layer of fat and I wanted it on the bone. They cut it just how I wanted and spent a bit of time removing some of the more gristley bits. We went to another butcher when with parents and got a similar cut. They removed various bits and stripped down much of the fat (admittedly we were not so specific but they told us that this was the best way to do it). The results were that the Meat Centre cut was by far the tastier.

I definitely second the recommendation to the Meat Centre.

I couldn't agree more about McCartney's. I knew George in passing and when he started to win competitions in the old shop (which was smaller than the Meat Centre) I started to go out of my way to buy from him. When he kept winning competitions and was on TV a lot he extended the shop for the first time and had 12 butchers working flat out behind a large three sided counter with a queue 100 yards long outside the shop. I've never seen anything like that before or since and it went on for years.

In those days it was better to order your meat and deli by telephone and go straight to the till to collect it.

Unfortunately George seems to have retired now and his daughters run the shop more like a posh deli with less emphasis on meat. The sort of overpriced thing you expect to see in Moira. Gone are the queues and crowds but they've extended the shop to three times its size. Ambitious?

The butcher who served us in The Meat Centre yesterday used to work for George McCartney and we had a chinwag about the good old days. He even remembered putting together our orders because they were so big.

I suppose the Meat Centre had to really work hard to turn a pound in those days. The difference being they've held onto their values and McCartney's haven't.

There was one other butcher who rivaled McCartney and that was Kurt Weisner in Ballycastle. I wonder is he still trading and if his meat is still top line? I've also seen an actress with his second name and it's not a very common one - Jayne Weisner: I wonder is she his daughter or grand-daughter?

esson1

GlynD
In answer to your questions re Roland Wysner in Ballycastle he has retired and the shop is closed.
I dont think that the actress from Coleraine is related(definately not a daughter or granddaughter)

GlynD

esson1 wrote: »

GlynD
In answer to your questions re Roland Wysner in Ballycastle he has retired and the shop is closed.
I dont think that the actress from Coleraine is related(definately not a daughter or granddaughter)

Thanks for the info. That's a shame really. No more Black Bush flavoured black pudding with a shamrock running through it.

GlynD

Report from the current Mrs GlynD on the sausage rolls from the Meat Centre. She reckons they are the best she's ever had. Well filled with lovely flaky pastry. I had one last night and thought it was very nice.

GlynD

I've got to add here. We had a fry on Sunday using produce from this shop. Good eating for sure but the vegetable roll was outstanding. We both thought it the best we'd ever eaten. Well worth dropping into Moira to try a pound of this.

Cotta

In other news today "Moira Meat Centre" have just appointed Glynn as their new Chief Executive.

GlynD

Cotta wrote: »

In other news today "Moira Meat Centre" have just appointed Glynn as their new Chief Executive.

It's what the board is for old chap. You find something you like and you tell others about it.

I also recommend Jim Coffey's butchers shop on the Belmont Road.

wayne77

How about hannon meats in Moira, any one use them?

GlynD

wayne77 wrote: »

How about hannon meats in Moira, any one use them?

I've not heard of them. Given that it's Moira I would say any butcher in the place has to be good or their stuff wouldn't sell. Might be worth a wee drop-in to see what they have. Do you know where they are in the village?

x12yhp

GlynD wrote: »

I've not heard of them. Given that it's Moira I would say any butcher in the place has to be good or their stuff wouldn't sell. Might be worth a wee drop-in to see what they have. Do you know where they are in the village?

They are not in the village. They are down the old kilmore road (assuming my learning of road names round here is right), in an industrial estate. I didn't know that they sold direct, I assumed they were a wholesaler.