Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

i know one supermarket CEO used to read C44 but not sure now

so here is my suggestion for all those in charge in the supermarket world
how difficult would it be to find an English butcher that they could employee full time or even employee just use to train a locals to cut the meat in the UK style, where you can look at the counter and see a cut that you know, today i bought 1kg of chops and not one on them was from the loin they were all cut from right up in the top shoulder and guess what even after a bashing were as tough as my flip flops am not going into the realms of how long to hang the meat am just saying am sure the first to do so would clean up am sure
whats your thoughts ???

I can see that for those living permanently on the island there could be frustration at not having things cut, done etc the same as back here in the UK.

Personally, as I have said before I am not one for turning the place into a mini Spain where Watneys Red Barrell, proper bacon, beans, cuts of meat, vegetables are all easily available - part of the charm is that the TRNC is not like the UK. I much prefer to experiment, try what the locals buy and take it from there. It may well mean eating different cuts of meat or trying a locally produced item.....but for me thats how it should be.

Just my opinion and I am sure others will differ!

ok maybe i was wrong saying UK style i mean cut in any form that anyone in Europe could recognise, i know the reason why it looks like it does its because, here they don't cut against the grain they seem all the meat ie they find a natural sinew line and just follow it hence it all looks the same and means they can sell it as anything

You are right Andrew meat is expensive, and I awoid most supermarkets, and I never 'just buy' what they have ready cut. I ask do you have any good chops today. The butcher, I have, will tell me 'yes' or 'no' and also if they don't have what I want that day, what day to come and there will be a 'whole side of chops' for me to deside from wish end I want him to cut. It also helps to give your butcher a smile and ask 'how are you' and wish him a good day. In Turkish, of cause, if he does not understand English.
And, yes, I am buying meat from a supermarket.
There is, how ever, a very good butcher in Türk Mahale', Girne. Just past the little Mosque, on the corner. Sele restaurant is on the right side. But again, best to know your butcher to be sure you get what you want. But give him a try.
Have you ever noticed what the Cypriot Turks are doing when they are buying meat? Yes they are doing the same, asking before buying.
Oh and one more thing the supermarkets are not paying the staff very well.
Sorry about my school English

I love the good tips on this forum. If the meat is as tough as flip flops I can eat Flip Flops, which are cheaper than meat, and can also save on taking Lipitor pills. I guess they may not fry very well but I could boil them. ....... Now where are my Rennies !

Sorry, I am missing your point. But then again, I am not English, it is hot, and I do not use Flip-flops

PoshinDevon wrote:I can see that for those living permanently on the island there could be frustration at not having things cut, done etc the same as back here in the UK.

Personally, as I have said before I am not one for turning the place into a mini Spain where Watneys Red Barrell, proper bacon, beans, cuts of meat, vegetables are all easily available - part of the charm is that the TRNC is not like the UK. I much prefer to experiment, try what the locals buy and take it from there. It may well mean eating different cuts of meat or trying a locally produced item.....but for me thats how it should be.

Just my opinion and I am sure others will differ!

Well said Buddy , there are a lot of people who are trying to turn the TRNC into a mini Spain, let them go there.

really fail to see how having the meat professionally cut and nicely displayed can make a country into 'mini Spain' i would have thought it was all to do with standards, oh and by the way what's wrong with Spain they produce some great food !

Nothing wrong with Spain....went once!

However, having lived and worked on the island for 10 years in a former life and also holidayed north and south many times for me the draw of the place is because it has not turned into Spain....I am happy to adapt my palate and ways of doing things to fit in with the local culture. That does mean some sacrifices but I am happy to go along with it.

The sensible advice which also applies here in the UK seems to be find yourself a reliable butcher and see if they can help get the cut you want, talking in turkish and generally being friendly seems to also help - I would go along with that - most real butchers I am sure would appreciate customers who asked for their advice on what to buy, how to cook etc .....or just watch and buy what the locals buy.

Keep Spain out of the TRNC I say!


Enjoy the day.....damp, wet and overcast here in Devon, but only 7 weeks to go before we see some real sunshine.

send us some of that weather we need it

What great food??? Full English breakfast? LOL, sorry Andrew4232 you dug a hole now you need to try and get out of it....have fun!
By the way I totally agree with you, would be nice to see some nice cuts of meat on display, makes you want to buy.

nah you can get that here nearly everyone does it

OK decision made......career change for me. I am going to retrain as a butcher. This is the opportunity I have been looking for as it seems to me that there is a gap in the market just ready to be exploited.

Agree with Soner..... Nothing better than seeing nice cuts of meat on display. Saw some in Spain once!!

Andrew - after all the rain we had in June & July it has been a depressing summer.

Come on down to Alsancak and visit my local butcher. He hangs his meat for a decent time (21+ days) and will do any cut you want. Sure, he has meat on display but he has much more in the chiller and if he has it, and he thinks it is ready to sell, then he will cut it for you. Personally I would recommend his rib-eye steaks - more an American cut than English but getting more and more popular in the UK now.

The bay of shops on the left 150 metres after you pass Starling on the right - that's the 2nd Starling just before the Lapta strip.

Why do the British always think that the way they do things is the right way. Turkish Cypriot butchers cut meat for Turkish Cypriot cuisine, not British. It does not mean it's of lower standard or that it's wrong, it's just correct for THEIR cuisine in THEIR country. If the expats and holiday makers here want to eat British food then stay in Britain and have British food, and British standards etc. This is Turkish Cyprus, why can't it remain that way? Why should the local population be taught British ways, surely the Brits should learn Turkish Cypriot ways. When in Rome.........

All I can say that the world is full of good and bad butchers, the trick is to find the good one!!
I'm lucky, we have a good one and with a smile and effortwith my very bad turkish, I get what I want. Always get a whole liver thrown in as well!!

Message 14 - well said.

Well someone must be doing it right I have never had any bad steaks or chops in the restaurants there, they must have good butchers who supply them.

" Why do the British always think that the way they do things is the right way. Turkish Cypriot butchers cut meat for Turkish Cypriot cuisine, not British. It does not mean it's of lower standard or that it's wrong, it's just correct for THEIR cuisine in THEIR country. If the expats and holiday makers here want to eat British food then stay in Britain and have British food, and British standards etc. This is Turkish Cyprus, why can't it remain that way? Why should the local population be taught British ways, surely the Brits should learn Turkish Cypriot ways. When in Rome........."

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well this has opened up a can worms everyone please note this is meant to be light hearted discussion don't take it so serious its not the end of the world

Hi Andrew

Do what I do I take a picture with me to butchers,, it works well, but there again am getting older so it makes it easier for me too, keep smiling matey, if all else fails any meat will always make a fine stew for cooler days.

the pork shop cut there pork how it looks anywhere i've seen it in various countries?? don't realy know how you would cut a pork chop any other way or take the fillet of the bone or, the belly is the belly right

Banjo - There is, how ever, a very good butcher in Türk Mahale', Girne. Just past the little Mosque, on the corner. Sele restaurant is on the right side. But again, best to know your butcher to be sure you get what you want. But give him a try.

Always have had excellent meat from him, he will also hang beef for you if you ask.

Mes 14, well said Zarafet, totally agree,

Msg 14 Well said Buddy

Most of the meat here is tasty! BUT I wish there wasnt so many little bone chips, specially in so called "chops" (which sometimes arent) and often in other cuts too. What do they do? Just bash to make it look bigger? (Mainly supermarkets meat)
I buy from the Butcher as you go out main part of Alsancak village - he's the Fast Food butcher and there is NO meat on show, all in the chillers - ask for a steak and he brings a piece out to show you, then you decide which end and how thick etc. Same with chops. I wanted liver this week and he was sorry, no lambs just beef - so I wasnt just given a chunk of liver not knowing what it was. His english is not perfect, but we make outselves understood!!
I recommend him! But dont take my word for it - go and see!!!

I am with Andrew here except it is not the English Way chops need to be cut they need to be cut it is a professional way they need to be cut!
Plus many a time I have tried to buy a boneless rump of lamb (chump) " butchers "looked at me like I was from another planet,as for a best end rack..............

Msg 14.

Absolutely correct. Don't see Waitrose or Tesco employing Turkish butchers to satisfy the Turkish ex-pats in the UK.

They probably have their own butchers in UK.

You are so right Mel. That butcher is really good.
And, some years ago,the bigger supermarkets had lots of different meat 'on display'. Did it help, yeah it was easy to choose, but you did not always come home with good meat.
You need to know your butcher, then you will feel good with what you are buying, and later making for dinner.