Has anyone else never used a real butcher?

[Twiglett]

We have a great new butcher that has just opened (and they seem truly wonderful)

Anyway it got me thinking. Up to this point (and I am now late 30s) I have never bought meat from a butcher .. just supermarkets

How strange and slightly sad is that

(I am slightly daunted by all the cuts of meat without labels .. tell me what I should ask for )

My teenage days? True, but no need to rub it in

Moo

my mum used to send me to the local butchers all the time had to take the dog too and tie him up outside the butcher used to chuck a nice bone in for him.

the good old days

Oi, Twig, where is this fleshly emporium? Does it do right-on organic meat for the formerly vegetarianly inclined?

We also have a really excellent local fishmonger's and I'm too scared to go in there as I have an irrational fear they'll laugh scornfully, go "you know nothing about fish - go back to Tesco for your fish fingers and never darken our doors again!"

Hausfrau, it was immensely cathartic actually. I think I have closure.

Test it, Moo: try asking for breasts, thighs, and plump sausages. Oh, and some meat that's Very Well Hung.

Get through that, and you'll know you've moved on.

Not that much closure...

You could start with the fish counter in the supermarket, make your mistakes there , before moving on to the big boys.

oh never used a fishmongers - althou would like to try that one out. is that the same then as butchurs?

MI .. Lordship Lane .. where the old lingerie shop was .. opposite the fabulous 'Mrs Robinson'. It only opened on Saturday

The old lingerie shop, not the Million Pounds for a Pair of Pants one?

Also, Moo, see if you can ask for oysters at the fishmongers.

ahh yes .. that'll be the one

went in once and picked up a pretty bra and knicker set .. the bra alone was £83 I didn't ask how much the knickers were ..

Do I ask for the oysters to be filleted? So they know I'm not a novice to be trifled with.

Frequently.... i'm married to one!!

ha wombat -- so do you use and abuse him?

at this thread. I am always very intimidated as I have no idea of what to ask for in terms of weight and stuff like that. I always ask for things I can get as numbers (x sausages etc). Ours is nice but the butcher's wife works there sometimes and she's horrible. I asked her how to cook something I was buying (a rolled up beefy thing) and she looked at me witheringly and said "in a stew". Ah.

marthamoo .. no I think you ask that they de-bone the oysters

De-bone. Right. Thanks, twig. Wouldn't want to look a fool.

you're welcome

Twiglett - I haven't read the whole thread but my butchers now used to me. I, like you haven't a clue what to ask for, but I have always gone in and said I want to cook this, what's best.

Now when I walk in, he says what's on the table tonight?

our local butcher closed down as Tesco's expanded