Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Is he open Wednesday for usual business?

Joe Soap wrote:Is he open Wednesday for usual business?

Contact him via his Facebook site,

Just in case you are not on face book.........his FB page says he is open today.

05338703974 just in case you want to check.

I think it’s closed at 1pm on Wednesday

Thank you Puppy lover. I will do that, not being on Facebook.

Closes at 1 on a Wednesday

Any idea why pork sausages and other pork products are not now available?

Apparently the licence rules have changed for processing foods and they are not permitted to sell any processed or seasoned items unless they are Cypriot style (they are still selling kofte and burgers). They have to get a new licence to sell sausages, which I believe they have applied for.

Sure it won't be long before the sausages return.

puppylover wrote:Apparently the licence rules have changed for processing foods and they are not permitted to sell any processed or seasoned items unless they are Cypriot style (they are still selling kofte and burgers). They have to get a new licence to sell sausages, which I believe they have applied for.

Sure it won't be long before the sausages return.

They do not make it easy do they.

Went there today, got to be "The Best Butcher" as their name says. Perhaps they should pay their attention to some of the so-called butchers in the supermarkets.

Or do the backhanders keep them away?

I wondered how long it would take the butcher mafia of supermarkets to try to shut down their biggest competition. Looks like it has started with a vengeance and aimed directly at Yusef because he will be taking most of their trade away. I won't buy meat (apart from chicken) from any other butcher now as the quality is not good enough.

Keep going Yusef, people travel many miles to buy the best and that is what you sell.

waddo wrote:... I won't buy meat (apart from chicken) from any other butcher now as the quality is not good enough.

Keep going Yusef, people travel many miles to buy the best and that is what you sell.

Seconded - I and several others (some swallows, some residents) on our site travel to Yusef, and we're 14 miles away, on the other side of Girne!

That has got to be the most ridiculous rule I have ever heard off - clearly just made up to serve a purpose !

Let’s hope Yusef gets this sorted......

I wonder if the new rule also applies to frozen products? That would make life interesting for the supermarkets with all their freezers full of frozen sausages and pies from the UK markets along with curries and all manner of (Black Puddings) other processed and seasoned items! But I bet it don't apply to supermarkets at all. Cyprus, the land of opportunity and cousins.

puppylover wrote:Apparently the licence rules have changed for processing foods and they are not permitted to sell any processed or seasoned items unless they are Cypriot style (they are still selling kofte and burgers). They have to get a new licence to sell sausages, which I believe they have applied for.

Sure it won't be long before the sausages return.

A sausage licence

I hope they are still selling pease pudding. It’s the best I’ve ever tasted.

A sausage shortage just in time for Christmas..... Oh very dear.

I think we should organise a protest march, with placards....... 'Hands off Yusuf's Sausage'...... lol...... but seriously, hope it all gets back to normal soon, he really is the best, Never buy meat anywhere else.

As good as the Ozankoy butcher is I would give the sausage award to the Pork Shop in Alsancak

I would not mind betting that the association of Turkish Cypriot Butchers (if there is such an organisation) who don't sell these products and are losing trade to Best Butcher, have had a word with someone and the result is this ban on sales.

It’s not specifically aimed at Best Butchers as also Food Lodge has fallen foul of the same laws

Just a question - are there any other businesses on the West side suffering these sudden closures or appliance of law? I ask as having noticed a steadily growing theme on the East side! Starting with Panto (Given two weeks to close and get out), Happy Valley (Drinks license revoked), Food Lodge (H&S rules) & Best Butcher (Sausage License - lol). Just seems strange!

Are you sure it was H and S reasons that food lodge closed??!

Please don't start all that speculation nonsense again about why Food Lodge closed. Let's just hope that these local businesses that we use are open and back to normal soon and be happy with that.

waddo wrote:Just a question - are there any other businesses on the West side suffering these sudden closures or appliance of law? I ask as having noticed a steadily growing theme on the East side! Starting with Panto (Given two weeks to close and get out), Happy Valley (Drinks license revoked), Food Lodge (H&S rules) & Best Butcher (Sausage License - lol). Just seems strange!

The bakery at Lapta does not seem to have his selection of cold meats, but i thought it was because the season was getting quiet.
Tempo in Catalkoy do not seem to have the selection at their pork shop either but again i thought maybe if people are not buying they can not afford to carry the stock so I may have 4 slices of honey roast ham.

snd1966 wrote:

waddo wrote:Just a question - are there any other businesses on the West side suffering these sudden closures or appliance of law? I ask as having noticed a steadily growing theme on the East side! Starting with Panto (Given two weeks to close and get out), Happy Valley (Drinks license revoked), Food Lodge (H&S rules) & Best Butcher (Sausage License - lol). Just seems strange!

Waddo do you mean Panta ? at their new place under the gym

So no pigs n blankets this Christmas?

When I enquired at Gul Bakery re shortage of cooked Ham, Beef and Pork he said it was because it was just too expensive to buy from down South at the moment. This was a little while ago and perhaps he'll stock up for Christmas?

Sorry, too much Christmas spirit I think, mind on the Panto - It should have read Panta!

Is the pork shop next to starling still open?

Chriswright03 wrote:Please don't start all that speculation nonsense again about why Food Lodge closed. Let's just hope that these local businesses that we use are open and back to normal soon and be happy with that.

Does seem odd that both Food Lodge and the Ozankoy Butcher , both of which strongly supported by expats, are picked upon. its a pity that other bakers and butchers were not closed, but they of course are Turkish cyp owned I guess, or am I being cynical.

Waddo thanks for that information
Sad nice people and nice Thia curry

Wanderer, don't lose heart - he was forced out but has opened again! He is now in a much smaller place in the same row of places where Capital Bank is housed - on the RHS of the road on the way from Ozankoy to Catalkoy and past Erdener! If you remember where Bollywoods used to be, he is just before there on the same side of the road but easy to miss!

waddo thanks for that appreciated just about to go to the match its not warm here

Does anyone know if this license rule affects their sale of sliced ham (as well as sausages)? All seems very odd to me given that grocery shops are selling frozen sausages? Is it because he isn’t licensed to actually make them on premises?

I was in there this morning. NO PIG BASED products on sale whether bacon, sausage, ham, pork joints/chops, belly pork etc.

Yusef is hopeful he will get his licence soon but bureaucracy seems to be leading the way. I would think he will post here once things are resolved.

Let's hope it's soon. We are getting pork withdrawal symptoms as he has ruined us from using the local supermarkets.
He is a great guy to boot and has put Ozankoy on the map, probably gets as many visitors as Bellapais LOL
We really loved the remark by Mrsgee "Hands off Yusef's sausage" This say it all.

Just read the article in Cyprus Today, don't know how true it all is, but truly hope it does not affect Yusuf's business, and we can all get back to normal soon. He has worked hard to build up a cracking business, yes will miss the pork based products, but his beef and lamb are fabulous too.

"...a threat to health."
Rubbish! I've been ill in two instances after buying meat from (different) supermarkets; NEVER from Yusuf. You walk in the shop, premises, stock, presentation and preparation are spotless. As previously suggested, I suspect the only "threat" is to inferior competitors, resulting in "tip offs" (false?) to the authorities.....

Spotlessly clean, Not one slab used for all meats like in the supermarkets!Yuk! Someone understanding what the individual customer likes.
Beef casserole tonight enjoyed by myself and BBB with meat from Yusuf. Everything we have bought from him has been spot on!
Marks out of 10- Yusuf you have got ours! BBB's other half and him indoors who is a happy chappy with a full stomach X

We drive from Kucuk Erenkoy for Ozankoy Butcher products and have never been disappointed. I have never heard or seen any detrimental comments regarding his products, cleanliness, customer manner or helpfulness save for that written in the 'rag' Cyprus Today (CT) last Saturday. My opinion of CT is it is a mouthpiece for the owner and his/her cliche telling the expats only what this power-base want us to know. Where is the investigative journalism into the property scams, the high cost of Esentepe H2O infrastructure, multi high-rise buildings et al. Did the CT give Yusef an opportunity to give his account of what happened, because I never saw that written. Rant over!

I drive over 35 miles to get to Best Butchers, and there is a reason why I do so. As everyone said, cleanliness, fresh and nicely cut meats as well as great friendly service. Something is not quite right in what is going on.

I have just been to the shop. Yusef is in good spirits the only produce he is not selling is pork. He hopes to be back to normal soon.

Thank you for the update on Yusuf Mollie the Cat. It is good to hear he is in good spirits, and as I said before, the rest of his produce is fantastic anyway..... looks like roast beef for xmas dinner....... yum, he does the best beef I have ever had over here. Stewing beef melts in your mouth..... unlike some offerings from other places...... you can cook it to death and it still is inedible. Keep up the good work Yusuf, we are all behind you.

HI with regards to the oszankoy butcher i think i am qualified enough to make a comment regarding health and hygiene .i am a qualified health and hygiene advisor working with local authorities in the uk. The uk standards are possible the highest in the world when it comes to foods and especially meat sales/production .I have bought and visited Yusef shop in the village and can confirm if he were to be assessed in the uk he would reach the highest marks both for cleanliness hygiene and presentation.His storage and cold room are set at the correct temperatures his cold meats are displayed correctly and separated.My personal view on this matter is that due to his success and quality of meats has upset both other butchers and supermarkets that they have possibly told lies and even bribed some official to close or impede his business .One other point i remember a few years ago another venue playing music the sound engineer from the authorities came and done a decibel reading i had to tell that person he was reading and carrying out the task completly wrong he was within 6m of the guitar being played and the equipment was upside down .DIRTY TACTICS COMES TO MIND.

It’s vital that people realise that the Ozanköy butcher, Yusuf, is NOT CLOSED.

As I understand it he has been stopped from selling pork products and that is all. He has applied for a new licence for pork and hopes to get it soon, inshallah.

All his other delicious meat is still available. And he’s taking orders for Christmas turkeys (ours was ordered yesterday for collection on 24th December.)

Please continue to give Yusuf all the support he needs, and bear with him until he gets over this temporary setback.

Again as I understand it it has nothing to do with hygiene: as others more qualified than I have commented on you could not ask for more in this area than Yusuf already provides.

Does religion come into the equation at all do you think? Stranger things have happened here and the guy in the Alsancak Pork shop had one hell of a job some years back I understand.

He is simply the best x

Hutch wrote:He is simply the best x

<breaks into song>

♫"Better than all the rest"♬....

We second those comments!
As like last year Yusuf has kindly donated a fresh Christmas Turkey with trimmings as a prize at our charity Christmas Market which is on Sunday the 2nd December at the Kaya Palazzo Hotel and will start at 12.00 NOON until 4.00pm.
He and his family are such good and kind people and we send heartfelt thanks to them for their generosity.
We know our guests will be buying our Christmas Raffle tickets to try and win this incredible prize.X