Newsletters

As previously broadcast, I was away until the beginning of the month, and France offered a lovely break just at the right time. As many of our regular customers will know, I started my butchery training at Boucherie Lamartine in Paris, a long time ago. So it is only natural that when I do visit France, I like to browse butchery shop windows, to see what’s going on, and maybe pinch an idea or two. For those who have read ‘Meat London - the Book’ (and if you haven’t, you should) I am on record as saying that the improvement in British shops, and the standard of butchery therein, throughout the last twenty years has been fantastic.

He’s only gone and left us! I suppose even Directors deserve a break, from time to time. Whilst Paul enjoys France and its amazing cuisine, no doubt with a bottle of Chablis or 2, we go full steam ahead towards Autumn at Meat London. As I’m writing this edition of the newsletter, the leaves are already falling and there’s a colder chill to the air in the evenings. Luckily, the sun is still shining, so no need to reach for the thermals, or retire the BBQ for the season, just yet.

Of course, as is expected at this time of year, there are a lot of people away, and the shops are quieter than usual, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a lot of great products to think about. As above, I did cook myself a steak recently and I was delighted that it cooked so well and tasted so good. We buy most of our beef from our friend Jim Buchan of Highland Meats, in Scotland. Jim is another of those suppliers who I have known for a long time. Our history goes back more than 30 years. So, Highland Meats became the obvious choice when I was looking to improve our offer a number of years back.

Over the years, our regular customers will know, we have had many 15/16/17 year olds helping out on the weekends, and during the holidays. We have seen our first ever ‘Saturday Girl’, Ella, go on to be a professional singer and a boy from N6 is now in the Police force. We have watched so many youngsters develop into wonderful adults. We even have one young lady who is now a teacher in a Hackney school.

Can you believe I made Paddy blush! If you read our last Newsletter, you will know that we highlighted his work and the wonderful pork that he brings us. Anyway, as expected, Paddy enjoyed the recognition and was typically grateful.
The moment reminded me that we work in an industry where, with no malice or intent, the producers and craftsmen or women, who work the land and produce the product, are often overlooked, and the customer facing employees (chefs and retailers) grab the limelight. Farmers across Britain do amazing work and, while I don’t always buy into the picture of the ‘poor farmer getting out of bed before dawn, to work their fingers to the bone until after dark’, I do think that taking a moment to consider the important, hard work that they do every day, and the service that they give the British public, should be given a little respect.

Well, that was great fun. The Easter painting competition never lets’ us down, or more accurately, the children of North London never let us down. Something like 200 entries adorned the walls, across the shops, and there was enough chocolate given out to spoilmany an appetite. The twelve winners have all collected their prizes, and a huge ‘Thank You’ to everyone who took part.
Sorry mum’s and dad’s for the teas and dinners that likely went uneaten, but it is only once a year.

A quick mention for the judges too. It would be suicide for us to judge our own competitions, so we invite different, local, people every year. We know they enjoy judging, and again, ‘Thank You’ for giving your time

Most of our lamb is sourced in the south and south west of Britain. We are very happy with the lamb that we receive from Paddy at Plantation Pigs, supplemented by George at Rare Breed. I have always favoured slightly smaller animals, as I believe them to be a little more tender, and deeper in flavour. It is true, that I would profess that lamb at the end of the season, just before the New Season lambs arrive on the market, is some of the most tasty lamb of the year. 

Gosh! It is such a long time since I wrote about the going’s on at Meat London.

I should start by welcoming in 2023. It’s getting a bit late for ‘Happy New Year’, and we have passed our first event of the year, Burn’s Night. With St Valentines Day next up, the year is well and truly under way. We hope all of our customers have a good one.

As you read this post, it is quite possible that you will have noticed that the first excitement of the year is that we have upgraded our website. We recognised that our site was looking a bit tired, and much of the information was a little dated. Through 2022 we introduced our online shopping platform. It has been relatively successful and, we know, helped a good many customers who find it more difficult to visit our shops. We are now going to add more products and Gessica is going to make a small selection of our fabulous wines to be added.