Kingsland Butchers

I have a lot of time on my hands, so instead of going to the supermarket and getting all my groceries in one go, I prefer to support local businesses, potter at leisure around Ridley Road Market and do my shopping old school style; at the butcher, baker and candle stick maker (well, the first two at least).
Butchers can be a little nerve racking to the inexperienced, in this extra packaging, extra sanitary day in age, its sometimes possible to forget that what you’re buying is essentially dead animal. I like to remind myself of this fact and also, I like the variety of ways you can order your carcass at halal butchers, Kingsland Butchers.
The first time I came to buy real chicken (as opposed to rinsed out, bleached white chicken from the supermarket) I was a bit green about the whole thing, I assumed that when I asked for my chicken to be cut up, the butcher would intuitively know what I meant. Not so, it seems there are not only many ways to skin a cat, but also many ways to hack up a chicken. Hacking was his preferred method, bones, skin and all.
Next time, I came prepared, with my sister. She expertly asked the butcher to skin the chicken and separate it into wings, breasts and thighs, the way nature intended it to be. What a revelation: not only did the butcher do it, he seemed to really relish the challenge, it was very enjoyable to watch considering that I need a strong drink before touching wobbly, gross, raw meat. All the stall holders and shop owners at Ridley Road Market are up for a laugh and coming here is much more fun than the weekly Salisbury’s run.