Local butcher shops beat supermarkets
I bought a piece of pork belly from the butcher's at the weekend and came to realise that not only is the experience much more engaging than the depersonalized packet buying at supermarkets, but the quality of the meat is so much better. A thick layer of fat combined with a chunky layer of meat made for a fantastic crisp skin with meltingly tender meat underneath. The quality of the meat is just the start of it. I love the gamey smells that emanate from the meat hanging in the window, the local accents of the family owners and the idea of good local produce. I love the rapport you are able to build with the staff and the scope for exploration in choosing different cuts of meat. Why would anyone buy their meat from a supermarket if this kind of food destination is available? Long live the British butcher!
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
6 Comments:
supermarket meat cases are a relatively new phenomenom (past 30 or so years) before that most meats were purchased from "the butcher".... when i was a kid (1960's) my mom would send me to the butcher with a list. it would take time because the butcher would cut each item, or grind the meat fresh.... there was sawdust on the floor. seeing our cutlets cut from the leg and pounded and nicely layered on butcher paper. no plastic ever touched our meat. you had a relationship with the butcher, he was part of your life ... it was a real education, one that propelled me into the food business ... just from watching "nick" the butcher!
pooch at 2:49PM on 02/18/09
I agree...although I do shop at a chain, I have all my meat (beef and deli) and cheese sliced to my standards. It often does come out cheaper and I can get exactly what I want!
dharmon at 2:56PM on 02/18/09
I recently started going to my local butcher too! I always thought it would be miles more expensive, but it is usually competitively-priced and much better quality.
I know some folks on here will be all, DUH, but it is exciting nonetheless!
inothernews at 4:41PM on 02/18/09
In other news, water is wet, the Pope is indeed Catholic, and, our exclusive story at 11, bears do shit in the woods :oP
simon at 5:05PM on 02/18/09
This doesn't surprise me in the least and I'm very envious of cooks who have relationships with different purveyors (a la my mother). However, in this multi-tasking, one-stop-shopping world, you sometimes need a pound of butter AND a basin wrench - and that's how stores like Wal Mart stay in business.
chiff0nade at 5:29PM on 02/18/09
I can't even find a local butcher! The closest thing I have found is resturant supplier, and I just can't see buying 25 lbs of meat at one time, as there are only two of us!
mhurst826 at 8:03PM on 02/19/09