A few days ago I was trying to explain to the Chefettes about the olden days, when bacon could be placed in a lightly greased (if at all)pan and the bacon would yield fat to fry eggs, bread, and Force in.

Even taking bacon out of the packet and leaving it in greaseproof paper to dry out a bit doesn't stop the vile white jizz leaching out. I usually par cook it take the rashers out clean the pan and finish off with butter, or grill it, Don't even get me started on shrinkage!

We have a local organic butcher, but his stuff is much the same.

Has anybody here tried one of the mail order type businesses, and if so can you recommend any in particular?

Any info gratfully received, thanks.
Chef.

Originally Posted by Chef

A few days ago I was trying to explain to the Chefettes about the olden days, when bacon could be placed in a lightly greased (if at all)pan and the bacon would yield fat to fry eggs, bread, and Force in.

Even taking bacon out of the packet and leaving it in greaseproof paper to dry out a bit doesn't stop the vile white jizz leaching out. I usually par cook it take the rashers out clean the pan and finish off with butter, or grill it, Don't even get me started on shrinkage!

We have a local organic butcher, but his stuff is much the same.

Has anybody here tried one of the mail order type businesses, and if so can you recommend any in particular?

Any info gratfully received, thanks.
Chef.

John Robinson Butchers
Marsh Meadow
High Street
Stockbridge SO20 6HF
01264 810609

Give them a ring, I'm sure they'll post it to you at cost. Ask them to cut the slices a bit thicker than normal. The smoked streaky is stunning.

Our local butcher sells a 5lb pack of bacon that has thick rashers, is jizz-free and doesn't shrink much. It's not on display - you just have to know that he has them. He also throws in a dozen or so layer sheets for freezing in convenient lumps. The displayed bacon isn't as good, but is better than the supermarket crap. I don't know if he doctors the contents of the pack prior to display or if the display bacon comes from a different source.

As for internet ordering, along with the pallet load of sausages in lard and processed cheese I ordered from ROSSPA just before Xmas, I also ordered a 5lb pack of bacon. It's just the same as the pack bought from the butcher. (The Brussels sprouts looked grotty but once peeled seemed OK and had a sprout flavour that I can't remember tasting since childhood, supermarket sprouts are just bland).

You could try these guys as well. Tori and Bens Farm - Home

Tori (victoria) and Ben are passionate about their product and I buy all my beef, lamb and Pork and pork product off of them.

If anyone around the east mids knows of a decent poultry provider I'd be grateful.

I made a decision a while back only to buy from people I could meet. I want to know that the animal I'm eating was treated well before it got the chop.

You could make your own. All you need is some pork belly, a plastic bag, salt, herbs and spices.

That bloke with all the hair who makes TV programmes and lives in Dorset did a couple of books on that sort of thing, they're probably in the local library.

Originally Posted by Pigshyt_Freeman

You could make your own. All you need is some pork belly, a plastic bag, salt, herbs and spices.

That bloke with all the hair who makes TV programmes and lives in Dorset did a couple of books on that sort of thing, they're probably in the local library.

Ken Hom?

Woodwards Farm : 01832 293490 :

Their beef is awesome. Will butchers it himself so you can get cuts which are not normally available (Jacob's Ladder for example).

We have a standing order for 2 thick rib-eye steaks each week and have never been disappointed.

They do bacon which does not leach jizz and tastes lovely (and REAL eggs as well). Pork and lamb are both top notch as well.

They visit several farmers markets (shown on the website).

The's a place in Enniskillen, O'Dohertys Fine Meats, that sells Black Bacon that featured on The Hairy Bikers.

Black Bacon™

The's some good recipies as well;

Black Bacon™

Wherever you go, you need to make sure you ask for dry cure bacon. The stuff that spunks out of most modern bacon is mainly salt water, with the odd other preservative and a bit of fat. Dry cure bacon looks more expensive, but once you work out that half the weight on a pack of supermatket bacon is water, the price difference isn't that great.

If you can't find a good local supplier, it is worth giving Sainsburys Organic Dry cure a try - not in the same league as farm cured stuff from a real butcher, but a million times better than "Danishhhhhit"

The smokehouse, wilmslow way does Black Bacon, which is mint, they do postal i think.