Eating 'responsibly-sourced' meat - Who does it? How?
Discussion
MrsC raised a salient point on a long drive over the weekend - we're both big animal lovers, and shouldn't with all good conscience enjoy eating intensively-farmed meat. However, we're also practical and busy people (I work long hours, MrsC travels a lot), meaning that the majority of our shopping is done at the supermarket - we have an amazing local butcher, who opens 9-4 Mon-Fri and 8-12 Sat, which isn't much help.
Being candid, supermarket meat is largely rubbish, and the only "free range" option is generally 'taste the difference' chicken breast. And even if this were the world's best chicken, there's only so much chicken breast one can eat.
We're moving to London/Kent borders temporarily, and have resolved to get better at eating responsibly-sourced meat. We've found a well-reviewed butcher locally, but timings are still likely to be an issue.
To those who do it, do you have any tips?
Being candid, supermarket meat is largely rubbish, and the only "free range" option is generally 'taste the difference' chicken breast. And even if this were the world's best chicken, there's only so much chicken breast one can eat.
We're moving to London/Kent borders temporarily, and have resolved to get better at eating responsibly-sourced meat. We've found a well-reviewed butcher locally, but timings are still likely to be an issue.
To those who do it, do you have any tips?
An overwhelming response - thank you all! I'll try and address the points in order, if that makes sense.
sidekick/olimain - Do you have any details of reliable online butchers? It's something we'd considered, but would prefer a recommendation.
silent/fatbob - The freezer is always an option, and something we'd considered. While it's probably OK for things like mince, I can't help but feel it doesn't do any justice to nice joints or steaks. I'd ideally prefer a weekly delivery, to be honest.
Brad/Turn - A nice idea (I grew up in the countryside), but not practical in London unless you like fox casserole. Thankfully, I'm a long old way from Croydonia.
omniflow - Waitrose is somewhat better than the crowd, but even there I found it difficult to find what I was after. Their 'premium' meats seem to be either "Organic" (no info about welfare) or "21 days aged".
sidekick/olimain - Do you have any details of reliable online butchers? It's something we'd considered, but would prefer a recommendation.
silent/fatbob - The freezer is always an option, and something we'd considered. While it's probably OK for things like mince, I can't help but feel it doesn't do any justice to nice joints or steaks. I'd ideally prefer a weekly delivery, to be honest.
Brad/Turn - A nice idea (I grew up in the countryside), but not practical in London unless you like fox casserole. Thankfully, I'm a long old way from Croydonia.
omniflow - Waitrose is somewhat better than the crowd, but even there I found it difficult to find what I was after. Their 'premium' meats seem to be either "Organic" (no info about welfare) or "21 days aged".
Edited by C70R on Thursday 20th October 10:07
omniflow said:
Not really sure why you need a weekly delivery of meat.
I am definitely a meat eater - roast beef is my absolute favorite meal - but I only buy steak or roasting beef about once every 2 or 3 weeks. A large free range chicken from Waitrose will do 3 meals for 2 people, with many many options for what to make from the leftovers. Pasta with a tomato based sauce covers another meal, then some batch cooking from the freezer covers 2 more meals. Then skinless & boneless free range chicken thighs (again, from Waitrose) can be used to make loads of different dishes - my current favorite is a Thai style stir-fry - 1 pack of chicken thighs makes dinner for 2 for 2 nights.
The only meats I buy from the supermarket are Chicken, Bacon and Sausages. Everything else I will pick up from the butcher on my way home on a Friday evening. I work in London, and the Ginger Pig is open until 6:30 PM on Fridays. As previously stated, I don't do this every week, but when I do, I put the effort in to make sure I'm buying a top quality piece of meat that is going to be appreciated by everyone that eats it.
You might have just inadvertently solved my problem. It appears that Ginger Pig in Waterloo is open until 8pm Mon-Fri, which will mean I can pop in on my way home from my office.I am definitely a meat eater - roast beef is my absolute favorite meal - but I only buy steak or roasting beef about once every 2 or 3 weeks. A large free range chicken from Waitrose will do 3 meals for 2 people, with many many options for what to make from the leftovers. Pasta with a tomato based sauce covers another meal, then some batch cooking from the freezer covers 2 more meals. Then skinless & boneless free range chicken thighs (again, from Waitrose) can be used to make loads of different dishes - my current favorite is a Thai style stir-fry - 1 pack of chicken thighs makes dinner for 2 for 2 nights.
The only meats I buy from the supermarket are Chicken, Bacon and Sausages. Everything else I will pick up from the butcher on my way home on a Friday evening. I work in London, and the Ginger Pig is open until 6:30 PM on Fridays. As previously stated, I don't do this every week, but when I do, I put the effort in to make sure I'm buying a top quality piece of meat that is going to be appreciated by everyone that eats it.
I'll report back when I've test-driven. Thank you!
Nanook said:
omniflow said:
A large free range chicken from Waitrose will do 3 meals for 2 people, with many many options for what to make from the leftovers.
I'm 5'10 and ten and a bit stone.There's no chance I could eek 6 meals with leftovers from one large chicken! Are you sure these aren't turkeys you're buying?!
To be honest, I'm selfish. I just like meat too much to give it up. I have a hugely varied diet (particularly in protein terms), but it's difficult to get away from the fact that I enjoy a wide variety of meat and it's an easy way to make healthy, nutritious, enjoyable meals.
Most of the meals I eat and enjoy can't be easily recreated without meat (although I love tofu in a stir-fry), so I'm trying to make my peace with the idea that the animals I eat have a reasonable standard of living.
Most of the meals I eat and enjoy can't be easily recreated without meat (although I love tofu in a stir-fry), so I'm trying to make my peace with the idea that the animals I eat have a reasonable standard of living.
Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff