The Sainsbury's that I go to here in the city centre of Edinburgh doesn't even seem to stock economy mince any more. It used to be a really cheap and nicely fatty meal. I suppose it has to be their basic stuff with added dripping.......
On the other hand I do like to patronise my local butcher - they sell good grass fed meat from local farms and I'd rather see my cash in their pockets than those of Sainsbury's/Tesco/Waitrose
They got you! When I was in Ireland (Dublin) I noticed that the pub lunches serve now only bacon (with eggs) with all the fat thoroughly cut off! Abomination! On my next trip there (Cork) I ended up living off Pakistani and Turkish kebabs, Russian delis, Indian creamy lamb stew and Chinese roasted duck (until they introduced special lean mutant ducks with no fat). It's hard to survive.
The problem is that the problem is generic! We only have the "choice" of Tesco or Sainsburys and I dislike Tesco > Sainsburys. My cats won't eat mince from a butchers either... And the parking at Tescos is execrable. Grump grump moan rant (wanders of muttering to himself and grinding teeth, avoided by passers by in the high street).
Mmmmmm Turkish donner kebabs, dripping lamb fat and made up of the ground up bits of lamb no one likes to think about. My favourite. They know me at the kebab shop! Two small donners, no bread, no salad on one (for me) and just a little on the one for my wife.... I don't have to order any more!
Interesting it's Ireland you noticed the lack of edible food in. The Irish equivalent of the UK head of Food Police (Susan Jebb) is Professor Gibney. Started his career here and still lives in a world where everyone lies to him (well, fat people anyway!).
Oh, just realised I have full access to that Maasai text, must have a read. The abstract alone sums the guy up to me! Humans eating FOOD regulate to around 2000kcal/day. That doesn't seem hungry enough to drop anyone's cholesterol level. Not mine anyway!
So sad for a dairy country like Ireland to get saddled with a career nutritionist like Gibney.
We lived in Ireland (my wife is Irish) from 1987 until 1995. It's sad to see such a nice country deteriorating so rapidly in the 90-ties as the property prices went through the roof while the standard of living nosedived. Gibney is probably exemplyfiyng what is wrong: too much gov power and unintelligent but arrogant elites. What a tripe, seeking genetic explanation despite the fact that Masai do get heart disease - as soon as they move to Nairobi! No brains in those "scentists". Dr. K is right about it. BTW that missing underreported calories in his paper is most likely beer, the real plague. One of the Irish curses...
How about getting your meatand poultry direct from the farm? That way you can have it trimmed (or not) to your specification and know a bit more about it at the same time. Sure, it would be a bit more trouble at first and more expensive, but it seems to me would be worth it (a separate freezer, ordering in advance, and bulk buying make this kind of purchase more practical).
My impression (correct me if I'm wrong) is that there are still small traditional (on pasture) producers in the UK (especially compared to California and some parts of the US, they aren't too far away). I have the River Cottage Meat cook book (Hugh Fearnsley-Whittingsall?) and it makes me drool to read it. I wish I had resources like that in Southern California. We do have great produce here though, but it's tough to find pastured meat & dairy.
Yes, I think that's the way we will have to go, it is quite feasible in the UK, even in Berkshire. There's a certain amount of logistics involved and cost is also a significant factor for us, so not immediately... Cheap high fat meat has become a mainstay. Luckily dripping has not been banned (yet). Eventually there will be a quota on the amount of butter you are allowed to purchase in one go, as there is currently for paracetamol!
I know.... :-(
ReplyDeleteThe Sainsbury's that I go to here in the city centre of Edinburgh doesn't even seem to stock economy mince any more. It used to be a really cheap and nicely fatty meal. I suppose it has to be their basic stuff with added dripping.......
On the other hand I do like to patronise my local butcher - they sell good grass fed meat from local farms and I'd rather see my cash in their pockets than those of Sainsbury's/Tesco/Waitrose
Chris
www.conditioningresearch.com
Added dripping it is, my local butcher only does high class mince. Lower fat than the supermarkets, for whom I share no affection either...
ReplyDeletePeter
Now with at least one less consumer?
ReplyDeleteThey got you! When I was in Ireland (Dublin) I noticed that the pub lunches serve now only bacon (with eggs) with all the fat thoroughly cut off! Abomination! On my next trip there (Cork) I ended up living off Pakistani and Turkish kebabs, Russian delis, Indian creamy lamb stew and Chinese roasted duck (until they introduced special lean mutant ducks with no fat). It's hard to survive.
ReplyDeleteStan (Heretic)
Hi Anne,
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that the problem is generic! We only have the "choice" of Tesco or Sainsburys and I dislike Tesco > Sainsburys. My cats won't eat mince from a butchers either... And the parking at Tescos is execrable. Grump grump moan rant (wanders of muttering to himself and grinding teeth, avoided by passers by in the high street).
Peter
Hi Stan,
ReplyDeleteMmmmmm Turkish donner kebabs, dripping lamb fat and made up of the ground up bits of lamb no one likes to think about. My favourite. They know me at the kebab shop! Two small donners, no bread, no salad on one (for me) and just a little on the one for my wife.... I don't have to order any more!
Interesting it's Ireland you noticed the lack of edible food in. The Irish equivalent of the UK head of Food Police (Susan Jebb) is Professor Gibney. Started his career here and still lives in a world where everyone lies to him (well, fat people anyway!).
Oh, just realised I have full access to that Maasai text, must have a read. The abstract alone sums the guy up to me! Humans eating FOOD regulate to around 2000kcal/day. That doesn't seem hungry enough to drop anyone's cholesterol level. Not mine anyway!
So sad for a dairy country like Ireland to get saddled with a career nutritionist like Gibney.
Peter
Oh, no I don't. Thought I could get all Elsevier texts, but nope, apparently not this one. Ah well.
ReplyDeletePeter
We lived in Ireland (my wife is Irish) from 1987 until 1995. It's sad to see such a nice country deteriorating so rapidly in the 90-ties as the property prices went through the roof while the standard of living nosedived. Gibney is probably exemplyfiyng what is wrong: too much gov power and unintelligent but arrogant elites. What a tripe, seeking genetic explanation despite the fact that Masai do get heart disease - as soon as they move to Nairobi! No brains in those "scentists". Dr. K is right about it. BTW that missing underreported calories in his paper is most likely beer, the real plague. One of the Irish curses...
ReplyDeleteStan (Heretic)
How about getting your meatand poultry direct from the farm? That way you can have it trimmed (or not) to your specification and know a bit more about it at the same time. Sure, it would be a bit more trouble at first and more expensive, but it seems to me would be worth it (a separate freezer, ordering in advance, and bulk buying make this kind of purchase more practical).
ReplyDeleteMy impression (correct me if I'm wrong) is that there are still small traditional (on pasture) producers in the UK (especially compared to California and some parts of the US, they aren't too far away). I have the River Cottage Meat cook book (Hugh Fearnsley-Whittingsall?) and it makes me drool to read it. I wish I had resources like that in Southern California. We do have great produce here though, but it's tough to find pastured meat & dairy.
Hi Anna,
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that's the way we will have to go, it is quite feasible in the UK, even in Berkshire. There's a certain amount of logistics involved and cost is also a significant factor for us, so not immediately... Cheap high fat meat has become a mainstay. Luckily dripping has not been banned (yet). Eventually there will be a quota on the amount of butter you are allowed to purchase in one go, as there is currently for paracetamol!
Peter