Butcher Jacks has been in operation in Glenfield since 1995…read more They have a long relationship with the neighborhood and are well known by the locals of the North Shore. I popped in recently on a trip to the doctors and pharmacy only right next door and decided to buy some delicious NZ Scotch fillet steak for dinner. The set up inside the big red store is similar to that of a supermarket; they have packed meats in fridges and freezers. The difference between Butcher Jacks and say the franchise butcher down the street is that they pride themselves on serving 100% NZ owned meat, and they even produce on site their own bacon, sausages and legs of ham at anytime of the year. I really enjoyed my dinner that evening; the meat was top quality and just a perfect few cuts. Weekly specials change every week so check out what they have to offer, and you will walk off with a freezer full of meat and a great bargain! They are moving to a new location just down the road in a few weeks, so be sure not to miss them next time your near Wairau Road.

About a month ago I decided to experiment by bypassing the supermarkets, and returning to do my…read moreshopping at specialist stores. This included buying my fruit and veggies at the vegetable store, meat at the butcher and salt at the spice trader. Okay, I made up the last one, but you get the drift. I was amazed what you can get if you buy your meat from the butchery; the local butcher was able to cut my chops to man sized chunks and my steak to include a generous helping of fat. I know, heart attack city, but damn it's good. Sam's Butchery is also a good place to try out new cuts and sausages, so the experiment worked well in the process of trying new foods, unfortunately it failed miserably in the attempt to save money.

I was unfortunate enough to purchase a Sams butchery ham couple of days before Christmas. I glazed…read moreand cooked it on Christmas Day, it tasted simply awful. I've cooked hams using the same glaze and cooking method before and they always come out delicious and so I'm pretty sure it wasn't my cooking. The ham had an odd smell when it came out of the packet, it is dry and tastes terrible. I wouldn't buy another one, $70 totally wasted!

Good customer service and so many options available to choose fruit, vegetables, meats and…read moregroceries.

I regret that this store does not pay its suppliers. We have been owed $43.75 for one carton of…read moreproduct since 31st October last year, despite several phone calls.

If you're after gourmet bangers for the barbie - look no further! Greek lamb & feta, wild boar,…read moreToulouse pork....the list goes on! I'm already a loyal customer of another, equally as good Milford butcher but even I've got to admit when it comes to snarlers these guys pretty hard to beat. Of course, they also have all the other cuts and specialize in free range. They even stock Bostocks Organic Chicken - BIG tick!

My young one loves Spaghetti Bolognese and the mince you get at Pinehill Butchery is awesome. Not…read morefull of filler or soy. They also make the burgers out of the mince. Also, better prices than the supermarkets. The staff are friendly and awesome too. Great choice of meat on the shelf, place is always immaculately clean.

If you're like me and you've been watching one too many cooking show on TV, then you would have…read morenoticed that the contestants or chefs always purchase their meat from specialist butcheries or delicatessens. One place where I always get my specialist beef and marinades is the Pinehill Butchery on the North Shore of Auckland. The staff members are young and informed. They can provide preparation advice, cooking tips and inspiration for dishes. But more importantly, they can provide you with the best cut. Don't be fooled by the small façade of the store, it is what's happening behind the scenes that allow you to get the best meat on your plate. They are yet to disappoint, and they are conveniently located on East Coast Road.

As a local it's the best,until Dave arrived it was super market for meat but with this opening it…read morewas the best for getting just the amount you required so no waste,so if you want 2 sausage you can and not have to buy a pack of 6 plus there house made.

Every time I come to the Torbay Butcher I can't help but get a massive smile on my face. They guys…read morewho work there are always so cherry, it really is like being in a sitcom where everyone knows everyone. I've only just moved to Torbay but already I feel like I can call this butcher 'my local' as they have that vibe going on. They aren't just nice people but they also stock amazing cuts of meat. There's corn fed chicken, beautiful lamb roasts, steak, great saussies and loads more. I usually go in after work and it's packed with people buying their dinner. I love that it's right next to the fruit and vege shop so I can really have the whole fresh and local thing going on with my food. These kinds of places make me want to support local businesses because they are so good at what they do. And for me, a smile and some good banter wins me over every time.

The Whenuapai Meat Centre is known by most West Auckland locals as the best place to go for fresh…read morecuts of meat. Incredibly well priced, you can't find anything else like it! Having grown up in central Auckland, I only recently discovered the Whenuapai Meat Centre. As an enthusiastic chef, my boyfriend's dad swears by it. He refuses to buy his meat anywhere else, and insisted I accompany him on a trip to the butchery. Whenuapai is a pretty small place, and the atmosphere of the Meat Centre was really friendly and community oriented. The two guys working there both knew my boyfriend's dad by name, and he in turn knew them and every other customer in the store. It was really nice - despite being in the biggest city in New Zealand it felt like we were in a tiny town. The lamb chops we bought were some of the biggest I have ever seen and this butchery had a great selection of meats and cuts. Though I'm not an expert, I could tell it was all great quality and that the butchers were really experienced. They also seemed to genuinely enjoy their job - both men wore big smiles and even gave us a discount for being regulars. If you're ever out in West Auckland, don't settle for the shitty overpriced meat you find in the local Pak N Save or Countdown. Head out to Whenuapai and give these guys a go. It's a real Kiwi experience - real meat from real Kiwi blokes, and you can't beat the prices!

I have just recenty started shopping here regularly. Their blackboard specials are SO MUCH CHEAPER…read morethan the supermarkets!! They had beef steak mince on special the other day for $6.99/kg & have had pork spare ribs for $9.99/kg for the last three weeks!!! They sell french cheeses, biltong and frozen game meats too. Awesome!!!

It is no secret that I'm a lover of biltong, the South African delicacy made from drying spiced…read moremeat, I love it so much, but it is soooo expensive. I normally buy my quota of biltong at Fred's Fine Foods, but their crazy high prices have driven me away, so much so that I'm now looking for alternative butchers. I recently purchased some biltong from the Browns Bay Butcher, and I was impressed with the quality of biltong they sold. It was nice and dry, with ample fat on the side, the perfect mix for the perfect snack. I don't think it is as good as the biltong you get at Fred's, but at almost half the price, it does feel lighter on the wallet.

Yes, Farro is expensive but their array of artisanal products is second to none (ok, so perhaps…read moretheir on par with Sabato). I particularly love their charcuterie and cheese sections complete with tastings and fabulous staff to help you nudge you in the right direction. They also have a wonderful range of cookbooks - our latest purchase was Ottolenghi's vegetable cookbook, 'Plenty' - as well as cooking and baking utensils. Don't miss their fabulous chocolate selection (new Wellington producer, The Wellington Company's salted caramel chocolate is out of this world) and of course the, Harney & Sons teas.

Before you shop here, take 5 minutes to go online and register for their "Friends of Farro" loyalty…read moreprogram. You'll need to register an email address and also the bank card you use regularly (or will use to shop here - unfortunately you can't collect points on cash transactions). If you spend $400 in one calendar month (which is easy enough to do if this is youre regular grocery stop) you will receive a $10 voucher to use. They also give you 50pts for signing up, and 100 bonus pts if you fill in your profile details (name, contact phone number etc.). Any way - enough about the freebies - more about the store. This is one of 3 Farro's I regularly visit. Farro is fantastic for fresh, organic and usually local produce - they have a wide range of fish and meat - with many free range options, and also a huge selection of specialty products that can be hard to find in regular supermarkets. The seasonal produce is usually well priced and can be on par with market place rates. People with food intolerance's will love the ease you can find products - the staff are all very knowledgeable and helpful, and will quickly find anything you can't see on the shelves. They had alot of imported products, but will usually have a local alternative offered as well for the food mile conscious. Farro is a beautiful place that any foodie or kitchen lover will enjoy - I regularly visit just to peruse the shelves of interesting new items to add to my pantry. My latest picks have been some local vanilla bean paste (a stronger flavour than the usual vanilla essence or pods), some kelp noodles (seaweed/raw vege noodles) and spelt flour (I had to buy a rather oversized bag for $14, so will be looking for more recipes to use it up as the dish I bought it for only used 1 tablespoon #facepalm).