The Brace Issue 2: Christmas and Winter 17/18

THE BRACE SEASONAL FOOD SEASONAL FOOD THE BRACE BEN BLACK BUTCHER One of the friendliest faces you’ll come across in the butchery world, seasoned butcher Ben Black tells us all about his love of food. How will you be spending Christmas? and the greeting that customers receive on arrival. I think butchers really are the forgotten heroes of Christmas! This will be my 21st Christmas as a butcher and we work very long hours in the lead up to it. The uniforms are also popular with tourists visiting Poundbury and some want to take a picture with you or try the hat on! I say goodbye to the wife and kids for the five days before Christmas. We have to be well-prepared and won’t let anyone down, but I’d advise customers to get your order in early. It’s a great time of year for local produce and with the temperature dropping we’ll be doing more hearty meals with slow cooks and stews. We also work with local shoots and game dealers. “We have to be well-prepared and won’t let anyone down, but I’d advise customers to get your order in early.” Do customers like a man in uniform? People like to see a well-dressed butcher. We work hard with the shop display and the presentation of our produce, so it’s essential that you reflect that in person too. Uniform is a big thing and something that my colleagues and I take pride in. We also try to bring a bit of theatre to the Brace, from the butchery skills on display, the shop layout Is there a food revolution taking place right now? People really care about what they’re eating again now. There’s been a huge shift away from ready meals and back to cooking at home and knowing where food comes from. We have the trust of our customers, as we have full traceability of our meat. It was also why we decided to put the large glass window in, so the meat is there for everyone to see. ORDER YOUR Fresh crab FOOD NOVEMBER/DECEMBER/JANUARY/FEBRUARY Autumn Winter NOVEMBER FRUIT Apples Blackberries Damsons Elderberries Pears Plums Quince Sloes VEG Beetroot Carrots Celeriac 4 DECEMBER - FEBRUARY Fennel Field Mushrooms Kale Leeks Lettuce Marrows Potatoes Pumpkins Rocket Sorrel Squashes Sweetcorn Tomatoes Watercress FRUIT Apples Pears VEG Jerusalem Artichoke Beetroot Brussels Sprouts Cabbages Cauliflowers Celeriac Chicory Fennel Kale Leeks Parsnips Potatoes Red Cabbages Swedes Turnips Roasted Chestnuts We’re passionate about what we do and would like to grow within the community. £12.50 per crab If you’ve tasted locally caught Portland crab you will understand our excitement! You can now order fresh crab from Sally’s Fish Camp and it will be ready for collection every Friday. Fish Fridays has a new meaning... Seasonal produce in Brace of Butchers - featuring New Forest Chanterelles Seasonal I can confidently answer anything that a customer would like to know about the meat. Game Season Hare August 12 – January 31 Pheasant October 1 – February 1 Partridge September 1 – February 1 Grouse August 12 – December 10 New Fallow - Bucks August 1 - April 30 Fallow - Does November 1 – March 31 Sika - Stags August 1 – April 30 Sika - Hinds November 1 – March 31 Roe - Bucks April 1 – October 31 Roe - Does November 1 – March 31 CHERRY PICKED HAMPERS You can now order a Cherry Picked Hamper (full of delicious Dorset produce) in the shop and have it sent anywhere in the UK. Perfect present! 5

The Brace Issue 2: Christmas and Winter 17/18 | Page 4