Craft Butchers?

It essential means they can lash on an extra few euros for everything they sell

My go to O'Connor's in Limerick is on that craft list. Better quality and often cheaper than the supermarkets. Food definitely not coming from some "pre packaged" wholesalers.

O'Connell's next door is quality too and also a "craft butcher".

I think some people just hate them because they are a little ashamed of the fact they buy the supermarket crap. Trying to feel better about themselves by putting others down.

You always need to watch out for them crafty butchers....they sneak their meat in the back door 😉

But seriously they generally have better quality than your average supermarket butchers. They need to if they are going to attract in customers who have to go out of their way to pick up their meat after doing their shopping in a supermarket. They might be a little more expensive as they can't put on offers as a loss leader etc like a supermarket can. However I don't mind spending a little more to get better quality.

I’d imagine anyone calling themselves a craft butcher is a time served butcher, meaning they served an apprentice and actually learned about their trade.

Or else it’s someone possibly posing as a butcher and they think that by calling themselves a “Craft Butcher” makes them sound superior to a normal butcher which will attract consumers into their shops.

It happens in all trades.

I suggest you try one, unless you are looking for the cheapest piece of meat in the supermarket fridges you'll find better value and quality in a butchers. I used to be cynical but, once you've done the butcher a few times you'll not go back to supermarket meat - occasionally in a squeeze I'll still pick up meat at the supermarket but, it honestly is not on the same level.

Fresh meat is not cheap now wherever you pick it up.

Anyone buying their meat from a supermarket deserves to reap what they sow.

There's a reason you have to empty all that grey/brown slop out of the frying pan when you get mince in a supermarket that's been sitting on a styrofoam tray. Find yourself a good, proper butcher. If they're not willing to do the basics for you, then take your money elsewhere. My local fella will happily mince a piece of steak in front of you, if he has sold out of it already. No problem dicing a piece of meat or separating chicken wings etc. He'll gladly cut you a new steak if the ones on display aren't to your liking…………again, basic stuff that was considered standard until very recently.

I visited the DMC in Artane last year after recommendations from a friend. Never again. 95% of the produce was prepacked, including a mountain of 'fit foods'……feckin microwaveable ready meals and the three 'butchers' were busy stocking shelves while kitted out in white coats and a belt full of knives. Asked the lad behind the counter to debone a few chicken thighs and he said they 'don't do that here'……….I called the others over, believing he was mistaken and one of them laughed in my face and said "do you want us to cook the fcukin dinner for you and all, or what?"

Absolute shams.

The vast majority of what those "research and development" teams are doing is trying to find ways to get as much money as possible off you. Quality is not in their remit.

I know my butcher is buying local. I have literally see him do it at times and I know by eating it that it tastes better than what Tesco sell. I can see it in the cooking too.

Lol.

I.do get what you are saying , but is asking for chicken thighs to be deboned a bit precious and OTT...

Never heard of anyone asking to do that...

Balbriggan man Paddy Curtis shut his doors in East Wall recently. Another proper butcher that butchered sides of livestock that hung in the back instead of selling meat from a vacpack. Like yourself I'm a huge advocate for the local butcher. I use about four from Dubin city centre butchers, my local one and a few specialised ones (or farms) for the likes of Dexter beef.

Any butcher can call themselves a craft butcher. It's not a protected term, nor is it an advanced qualification for butchers. A craft butcher is not a better butcher and not necessarily a more experienced butcher. It's mainly a term that independent butchers have adopted to differentiate themselves from the large supermarkets. However, several supermarkets, such as SuperValu, have their own in-house 'craft' butchers, while other independent butchers have branches located within large supermarkets.

The Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland is a lobby group for independent butchers. Membership of the group means that you've paid your subscription fee, and nothing more.