Well how funny is that? Regular ‘Meat the Gossip’ readers will remember back to October and November last year, when I first introduced the Meat London, own label Champagne.
If you haven’t tasted it, you’re missing a treat. It is a very good wine, and we have had great feedback from our customers, and if that is not convincing enough, our Champagne has won the 2025 ‘Sparkling Wine Trophy’ as voted by The Wine Merchant Top 100, a competition voted for solely by independent wine traders, and only includes wines not available in supermarkets, specialist wine shop chains (Oddbins, Majestic etc) or major on-line retailers. How exciting!
Now, I suppose I must apologise for pulling your leg. If I have told you that we grew the Chardonnay grapes in the Meat N16 Garden, and then sent them to Champagne for processing, I’m sorry. That’s not true. However, for anyone who believed me, there is probably a bigger conversation to be had. So, a huge congratulations to our friends at the Pierre Mignon estate, in the heart of Champagne, for such a wonderful Grand Réserve, Premier Cru, and what an honour for our little butcher’s shops that this is our own label bubbly. 2025 Champions!
Is your daughter getting married this summer? Are you celebrating your golden wedding anniversary now or later in the year, or even if you just have a thirst for great sparkling wine, you deserve the best. Now is the time to pop-in and pick yourself a champion. Remember, we offer case discounts and Johelle, Molly and Tammy will be doing weekend tastings in the shops.
A special mention this month for our Meat NW5 branch. Fortess Road, Tufnell Park is a bit like an open secret. It’s a long, wide road and always buzzing. Lots of traffic, lots of people and lots of good shops. It always seems like the best of London, how a great City should be. We opened there in 2014. Gessica Di Giovanni was leading the Team then and she is still the glue that keeps it all together. I wrote after the last election, of Dianne Abbot becoming the ‘Mother of the House’, well, Gessica is definitely ‘Mother of Meat London’. In nearly eleven years her passion and drive hasn’t waned even a little bit. The walls echo to her booming Italian voice, and the room lights up to her larger than life presence. There have been so many employees come and go over the years and Gessica has carefully nurtured every one of them in the Meat London way. And, by the way; they won’t all sing Gessica’s praises. She’s a hard task master. You cross Gessica at your peril! However, everyone leaves better than they arrive. Gessica is a customer favourite. I couldn’t count the number of people who contact me to tell me how amazing she is.
Older NW5 customers will remember Ryan and Michael on the butchery side. Great guys who both managed many years with the company, but time moves on, and today we have Jonathan and Alan leading a very good Team of butchers. Paul and Denis have years of experience to call on. It’s no matter of chance that Meat NW5 continues to maintain such a high standard.
Jonathan Norris, the fishmonger, is across the road, Fam has a huge and beautiful fruit and veg shop just next door. ‘Authentique-Epicerie&Bar’, is amongst my favourites shops in London and there is a plethora of international cuisine restaurants along the parade, led by the amazing Bekim in Rustique café, right opposite us. And all of this is virtually at the entrance to Tufnell Park tube station, on the Northern Line.
A window full of the finest meats, a cheese selection to challenge the best, deli meats from around Europe, endless jars, bottles and cans, and the finest wine selection that Gessica must take all the credit for. An oasis on a busy street. I never forget that any independent retail shop is only as good as the customer, and Fortess Road attracts a knowledgeable, enthusiastic customer base, and there is the synergy right there.
By the second week of July, we are going to launch our first ever, national mail order boxes. We have been working on packaging, chilling and distribution and we are very close to being able to share our fabulous BBQ selection far and wide.
I can’t write much more at the moment, it’s not quite finalised. I will give all the details in the August edition, but if you are interested, keep an eye on our website, www.meatlondon.co.uk or sign up to our Instagram link. Initial reaction to our trials would suggest that it’s going to be a lot of fun.
The sun is out, and school won’t be far behind. During July, the holiday spirit will arrive and many of you will be taking off for a well earned break. Have fun. For those still around, the shops have fantastic stuff for BBQ’s and outdoor eating. I noticed some delicious Sausage Rolls arrived this week from a new supplier, and there are some very tasty dips from our old friends at Odysea. We have more recently made disposable wine cups available in all of our shops for those who want to indulge in our ‘Park Wine’ offer. Pop into the shop and see which wines we have cooling, ready for an afternoon on the picnic blanket.
Happy July.
