There is nothing quite as refreshing as walking into a butcher and not being able to smell anything. You know? Possibly not because who goes to a butcher these days? Most of you will be purchasing your meat in the meat department at one of the big supermarkets, but let me tell you - there really is something special about the old school variety of butcher where they store the whole source in their cool room out back and cut it off as required.
This is the case at Corinthian Meats up the road from where I live, and the difference is really something. The meat is less wet, the freshness is very clear and obvious and the scent is not at all like that old smell you get when you peel the plastic back off of the small back tray of meat you bought in the supermarket. I'm just saying.
The other really cool thing is you can discuss the meat and what to do with it. You can have it cut in a particular way to suit a special recipe. You can even hire a spit to have a big home backyard roasted critter, such as a pig or a baby cow... I know it doesn't suit everyone, but for some this is just brilliant. For under $200.00 you can hire the spit, purchase the coal and get the whole lot delivered. The meat costs more obviously...
I just think you can not go past a really clean and fresh butcher on the local level. Try it out and smell, see and taste the difference.
Have Peter Marinis show you around if it's not too busy, he's a really nice bloke and takes great pride in his work. read more