This article is in review of Organic Meat Specialists TOMS butchers in Melbourne. Now that winter is here in Melbourne and I have resigned to walking around looking like a cardboard cut out with my shoulders brushing my earlobes (good excuse to book in a regular massage!!) I have been looking for ways to keep warm!! Exercise is a great one to heat up internally, also taking a bath, hot drinks and my trusty hot water bottle (classy and hip I know!!) Another great idea to stoke the internal fire is food!! I love love love food, and it really does help keep you warm. Especially adding some nice chilli and spices to dishes. Recently my partner and I have been making use of the slow cooker (which had until the last couple of weeks been tucked away in a cupboard forgotten about). WELL!!! I have discovered that slow cooking is not only pretty effortless (browing onions and meat is all there is to it) and great for organisation (you can cook enough for 6-8 and freeze some) it's also delicious!!!
I am largely a fish and veggie consumer as I really love veggies. However, I think some tasty meat dishes now and again is all good. As I care about where my food is sourced (to be kind to the animals, planet and because the quality is just better amongst many other benefits to checking where your food is sourced!!) I have found a fantastic Butchers in South Melbourne market called T.O.M.S.
A few weeks ago I purchased my meat at T.O.M.S. I have bought meat there before and as always the staff are friendly and knowledgeable about their product. The good old days of a profession in retail have been somewhat lost and I think that a sales assistant who knows their stuff and is passionate about the product is a delight to be doing business with. I asked for Beef Chuck and they went to check if they had any out back (nothing was too much trouble). Although they had run out of chuck they were very helpful regarding suggestions and alternatives and I came away with a nice couple of Beef Cheeks for the dish!!! The 2kg in the recipe was probably a little over zealous, however with the South African partner of mine....it's probably about right!! :)
Now with most organic products yes they are more expensive. However, on face value, choosing a cheaper alternative is a false economy (nutrition, environmental costs, value for money etc..). The website has information on why choosing organic and grass fed meat is better. In summary from my perspective, it's healthier, it's tastier, kinder to animals and the planet and a smaller amount of better quality meat is better than a lot of poor quality equivalent!! So for $30 we will make enough for 6 portions, that's two dinners and one lot in the freezer!!! Beautiful.
Try T.O.M.S.....bring back that relationship with the butcher!!! :) Or if you are not in Melbourne in the Port Philip area look for your own Butcher!!
http://www.toms.net.au/
People seem to eat more animals than they need to consume. I like the idea of buying organic meat. I will make more of an effort to buying organic meat now. It would be good if there were more places to buy it, like options to have organic meat in take away joints.
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