Chris O.
Yelp
The Ginger Pig: butchers and farmers of rare breeds reared on the Yorkshire moors. If that description of this veritable British institution doesn't give you goose bumps and make your mouth water, move along quietly. However, if the idea of quality meat reared, slaughtered, butchered, prepared and served with skill and integrity sounds like the most winning of combinations then by all means read on!
A true carnivore's delight, the Ginger Pig's Central London shop on Moxon Street in Marylebone is the epitome of what a butcher shop should be. Although it has the feel of having been there for centuries, the Ginger Pig's Marylebone location has only been in operation since 2003. In fact, the whole Ginger Pig concept simply raising the best animals, in the happiest of circumstances, on the finest stretch of Yorkshire Moors just dates to 1998, when founder Tim Wilson began vending at London's foodie haven, Borough Market. The rest is history; today, the Ginger Pig is comprised of three Yorkshire farms and five shops (four of which are in London).
In many ways, the Ginger Pig's Borough Market shop is its spiritual home. Still, there's something about the Moxon Street spot that appeals to me more. Nestled in Marylebone Village, one of London's most desirable locations, the shop oozes with tradition and is about as austerely British a setting as ever you'll find. The meat on display is positively gorgeous, with some of the most scrumptious cuts of beef, pork, lamb (game and poultry too) you may ever lay your eyes on. The Ginger Pig also sells a wide selection of freshly baked pies, sausage rolls, quiches and pates. And by the way they've got more than twenty varieties of sausages to choose from as well as some of the best bacon on the planet. Rounding out this most savoury of shopping experiences, the Ginger Pig's butchers and all the staff are incredibly helpful and more than happy to offer their expert advice.
On my last visit, I snatched up a couple of onglets, which at £6.41 for 14.5kg seemed like good value for money to me. They certainly tasted more expensive! I loved watching the butcher prepare my steaks with the concentrated precision of a surgeon. It's heartening to know such care still goes into the food I eat.