Being able to have a barbecue at any time of year in Singapore is probably up there in the top seven things about being an expat. Just after having a pool and before having most of your pals half a mile away. It’s important, therefore, to be able to nip to a high quality butcher in the neighbourhood for the Sunday afternoon ‘meat run’. Whether you’ve nabbed the condo BBQ pit, are hosting a roast or simply planning your meals for the week ahead, it’s really worth spending a bit more on a trustworthy slab – generally freshly shipped over from overseas.
Huber’s Butchery
More than just a stop for grabbing some slabs of meat, Huber’s Butchery (22 Dempsey Road) is, in fact, an all encompassing foodie experience. The selection of mostly growth-hormone-free meats is vast – everything from grass-fed US Angus beef, Australian wagyu and bestselling Stockyard beef from Australia to always-popular handmade sausages, lamb chops, cold cuts and poultry, sourced from trusted farms to guarantee quality and ethical treatment of animals.
This family-run, one-stop shop also carries more than 100 types of cheese from around the world, along with air-flown fruits and vegetables, freshly baked breads, imported sweets, pastas and spices, as well as a selection of wine, craft beer and liquor; there’s even a “BBQ corner” with all the essentials, from charcoal and tongs to all kinds of salts and rubs. In addition to answering any questions, discussing recipes and offering cooking tips as they portion meat à la minute, the Huber’s butchers offer free marinating services, and the option of having meat dry-aged in the special dry-ageing chiller.
Though you can order groceries and meat online (pick up from the store or opt for home delivery), visiting in person means you can grab a pre- or post-shop bite and beer at Huber’s Bistro while the kids have a play at the onsite outdoor playground.
Huber’s Butchery
6737 1588 | hubers.com.sg
The Butcher
From beef, veal, pork and lamb to poultry and seafood sourced primarily from its trusted partners in Australia, this contemporary Australian butcher shop has something for everybody, including certified-organic, hormone- and antibiotic-free options, plus GMO free grain and grass-fed selections (watch for weekly promotions!). Top sellers here include 150-day grain fed shorthorn beef selections, antibiotic-free chicken with no added hormones and hand-made speciality sausages. Look out for the sausage of the month, with new flavours introduced for a limited time only.
Along with an extensive selection of fresh meat products and “ready-to-go” meals, The Butcher carries an assortment of sauces, chutneys and dressings, Aussie pies, sausage rolls and barbecue favourites, as well as cheeses from the UK, France and Australia, French wines and craft beer from Little Creatures. In addition to cutting and preparing meats to customer specifications, providing advice on the best cuts, and offering cooking instructions and recipe ideas, the in-house butchers are also experts in sourcing hard-to-find cuts.
With locations in Holland Village, Parkway Parade (East Coast), UE Square (River Valley) and Suntec City, it’s super convenient to get fresh meat and other gourmet goodies in this one-stop-shop. But, if you can’t make it to one of the stores, just order online; home delivery service is available daily (delivery is free for orders over $100, and $15 on orders under $100).
Sasha’s Fine Foods
Previously known as The Barbie Girls, this one-stop online grocer is popular for its extensive range of quality meats, ethically-sourced seafood and artisanal snacks since launching in 2011. Throwing a big family feast? Kid-friendly picks include the fresh, skinless Mt. Cook Alpine New Zealand Salmon Portions ($25.50, 300g). All their meat, seafood and products are sourced by founder Sasha Conlan and offer full traceability. New on the shelves are local bakery Simply Breads’ fresh loaves and Chestnut Grove Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Western Australia’s Southern Forests. Other must-tries include the free-range Australian chicken and local sustainable fish.
Orders above $100 get free delivery, while orders above $150 get free same day delivery!
6273 0752 | sashasfinefoods.com
Little Farms
- Four great stores across the island
- Produce is flown in daily from Australia, Europe and beyond, so you’ll always have the freshest food for your family
- Value for money – They cut out the middle man and go straight to the farm and pass the savings on to you
Meat the Butcher
- Handy packages for roasts or barbecues put together daily
- Free home delivery if you spend over $150
- Promotion: Order when it rains and get five per cent off
- We’re not sure exactly how, but they sell extremely popular welsh lamb
- Cheese, cold cuts and condiments also on offer
615 Bukit Timah Road
meatthebutcher.com.sg
Foodie Market Place
- Great quality Australian steak, lamb and pork for a surprisingly awesome price
- Buy in bulk and freeze your goodies for maximum money saving
- Frozen fish and snacks, such as wedges, in bulk for much less than you’ll find in the supermarket
- Get in early on the day, as they sell out of the best stuff quickly
225 Outram Rd
facebook.com/FoodieMarketPlace/
The Butcher’s Dog
- Meat imported from farms in Australia and New Zealand
- An assortment of beef, lamb, chicken and pork
- Free delivery with purchase of over $120 and can be delivered the next day
- Snazzy little recipes for their meats available online to give you a hand
1 Kim Seng Promenade,
Great World City #B2-11/12
thebutchersdog.com.sg
Peter’s Butchery
- First butchers to cater to the Western expats in Singapore, back in the 1970s
- You’ve probably tried ‘em already – they supply meat to a range restaurants and pubs
- Home delivery services available
- Barbeque lists, marinated goodness, Aussie beef sausages, seafood and South Australian wine are among their specialties
32 Siglap Drive
petersbutchery.com
Other spots on the island…
K&J Butchery
- Halal meat
- They stock a selection of Korean and Western food products
- You’ll probably find their prices lower than most gourmet stores
- US meats available
122 Upper Bukit Timah Road
6763 0230
Culina Butchery
- Located in more FairPrice shops, such as Bukit Timah Plaza, Century Square, Marine Parade, and TripleOne Somerset
- Roasts, gourmet burgers, hand-made sausage, plus pre-cooked ready-to-eat items
- Weekly specials list available online
Located within some FairPrice Finest stores
Dean and Deluca
- These guys offer premium meat products
- Cheeses, wines, and herbs available if you’re stocking up for a dinner party
- Small café for snacks and lunch. How pleasant.
Orchard Central Mall, Level 4, Orchard Road
ZAC Butchery and Deli
- All products are certified Halal from their factory in Woodlands
- Chilled, frozen, and marinated options, with meat from Oz
- Produce their own selection of hams, cold cuts and sausages
1B Figaro Street
6636 0939 | facebook.com/ZACButcherySG/
Mmmm! Meat Marinates & Much More
- Chilled and frozen meats available as well as sausage, bacon and sauces
- Aside from online orders, they also have four easily accessible outlets in West Coast Plaza, Anchorpoint and Changi City Point and Novena Square 2.
Recipe: The perfect flank steak
The Butcher’s general manager SHAUN FRANCIS shares his super simple flank steak recipe, which feeds two to three people.
“This is my favourite steak recipe. I’m a big believer of spend versus save with steaks, and this is a good example of a delicious steak for less.”
Ingredients
• 500g flank steak
• Olive oil
• Sea salt
• Pepper
Instructions
1. Remove flank steak from the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes before cooking.
2. Preheat the grill and season your steak with a high-quality olive oil and some sea salt. “My favourite seasoning is just a high-quality sea salt and pepper because when you buy good beef, you don’t want to mask the flavour!” says Shaun. “But, if you do want to marinate the steak, leave it marinating overnight in order to properly flavour the meat.”
3. Lay the steak on the grill (“If you don’t hear a sizzle, then it’s not hot enough!”) and cook for approximately four minutes on each side for medium rare.
4. Remove from the grill and cover in aluminium foil to hold the heat while the steak rests for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Cut the meat and prep for serving. Shaun says, “The most important part to saving money on meat is knowing how to handle the inexpensive cuts, and this is a fantastic example of how to do it. Make sure you cut across the grain and not with it, as this will make all the difference with this cut of meat! Lay your slithers of meat out on the board and sprinkle some salt and pepper over the top. Your steak is now ready to serve with a side of your choice!”
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This article first appeared in the October 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
