Time to toss out the cliché image of the neighbourhood butcher as a balding, blood-soaked hulk. The National Post is reporting a “renewed interest in butchery,” thanks in part to such publications as GQ and the New York Times fetishizing the men who wield the cleavers. Calling the butcher “the new rock star of the culinary world,” the Post says that the local butcher shop is a thriving business, recession or not.
Toronto offers a few cases in point: Stephen Alexander at Cumbrae’s and Ryan Donovan at Cowbell. And now there’s Peter Sanagan of Kensington Market’s Sanagan’s Meat Locker. Fresh faced and 33 years old, Sanagan attributes the success of his specialty meat shop not to his looks, but to a younger demographic of foodies who are looking for meat that is high quality and local. “People appreciate the way I buy meat. It’s not all organic—that’s just not feasible from a cost standpoint—but it’s ethically sourced.”
No release date yet for the Butchers of Toronto 2011 calendar.
• Good, better, butcher: Neighbourhood meat pros are making a comeback [National Post]
Toronto offers other cases in point – Butcher by Nature at Runnymede and Annette – very very good and such a pleasure to have in the neighbourhood! At least you know where your meat comes from and what it ate….
February 2, 2010 at 11:48 am | by AnneThere is a really hot tattooed butcher at Healthy Butcher on Queen Street….and he really knows his cuts
April 5, 2010 at 2:27 am | by Sarah Jenkinsi certainly miss Ryan at the HB on Queen, those were the days when i really enjoyed eating meat everyday…. (sight)
June 9, 2010 at 9:28 pm | by bobaI know it’s not Toronto but what about the brothers at The Cottage Butcher in Bala Muskoka! They know their meat and have the best quality in Muskoka! I hear that they even deliver by boat on Lake Muskoka.
August 3, 2010 at 2:54 pm | by AI recently visited mcewan the new gourmet food store, and at their meat department was just a gorgeous young butcher who was not only charming but knowledgeable. Something about those knives i guess :)
September 28, 2010 at 12:04 pm | by Sweetz