Life is a Culinary Adventure at the British Butcher Shoppe
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER - I recently dropped into the British Butcher Shoppe in North Vancouver, to see what was cooking and what new items were on the menu...and there were plenty.
 |
| ROBERT GOODRICK and Gerry Davenport are excited about their new product lines at the British Butcher Shoppe. |
Robert Goodrick is a fully qualified butcher from Blackpool, England and Gerry Davenport, is a fully qualified European chef – their combined talents and expertise in British products is what keeps their customers coming back and asking for more.
Life at the British Butcher Shoppe is a culinary adventure for Robert and Gerry, and they are as excited as schoolboys as they talk about their newest creations and plans for the future.
“What we have found is that a lot of people are looking for comfort food, especially anyone from the old country. They are looking for that special taste of the British Isles,” said Robert. “We became aware of this need or gap at Christmas time when we made our own Christmas cakes and puddings.
“We couldn’t believe the way they flew off the shelves. That was when we decided to start making our own British specialties. Many of these specialties are only available at Christmas time when the shipments arrive for the holidays.”
These new and delicious British specialty items are now made in-house and can be found in the freezer at the British Butcher Shoppe. They include bakewell tarts, battenburg cake, chorley cakes, current squares, Scottish potato cakes, Delia Smith’s sticky gingerbread, Delia Smith’s sticky toffee pudding, Delia Smith’s treacle pudding, and Delia Smith’s spotted dick. And if that’s not enough, plans are underway to add malt loaf, Scottish bread, and Yorkshire puddings.
Many people who attended the reception at the Four Season Hotel last May for Mary McAleese, the President of Ireland, are still talking about the delicious buffet and specialty hors d’oeuvres which were prepared by the British Butcher Shoppe.
Speaking about catering plans, Gerry said, “we’re working on an hors d’oeuvres menu right now. Sort of like mini hors d’oeuvres with a British accent such as mini pasties, mini steak and kidney pies, that type of menu.
“But right now our big emphasis is on our English dessert menu. It’s been difficult to get the items from England and when you do, the quality is outdated. So, we’re encouraged by the reception that our in-house dessert items are having both in our retail and wholesale. We’re currently working on our own fruit pies and the little jam tarts that are so popular in England...they’re sure to bring back some memories.”
*
The British Butcher Shoppe is located at 703 Queensbury Avenue in North Vancouver. Call (604) 985-2444. A list of their products can also be found on their website at: www.thebritishbutchershoppe.com.
|
