Potts Point’s very own Artisan Butcher.

The Perfect Cut.

This morning I spent an hour chatting with our new local Artisan Butcher, Marcus Padadopoulo, and I’ve returned to the office very inspired and hungry for the culinary possibilities that await right around the corner.

Whole Beast Butchery is located in the heart of Potts Point at 5-15 Orwell Street – this follows the recent move from Marcus’s original store in Waterloo, and I have to say his concept is a very welcome addition indeed. During my time chatting with Marcus at least half a dozen people stopped by excited about the opening and the concept that takes Artisan butchery to a whole new level.

As a chef by trade, I’ve driven butchers crazy over the years with demands that range from simple requests like flattening out chicken and veal, through to more complex requests like the partial deboning of the all important Christmas ham. I’ve also had some unusual responses from butchers concerning my requests for freshly ground mince using a particular cut of beef and grinder plate size – high maintenance perhaps but if you like your beef burgers like those on offer on the Boulevards of Paris then this is an important consideration.

I would often get very nervous when making these requests, as many butchers are not always this accomodating. The silverlining to this dilemma is that I have visited most butchers in the east and the inner west. I love many of them for different reasons, whether it’s the traditional Italian butchers in Leichhardt, the local family run butcher in Darlinghurst, Hudson Meats in Rose Bay or the fabulous Victor Churchill in Woollahra, they all have something unique in their offering just like our newest addition to Potts Point, Whole Beast Butchery.

Whole Beast Butchery specialise in the tradition of Artisan Butchery, and all the meat is cut to order from whole beasts as the name suggests. What is clear from the produce and the presentation is the high quality and the time that has gone into creating everything from the Pork and Fennel Sausages, through to a Boneless Lamb Breast that is stuffed with seasoned Italian style mince, also used in Marcus’s Lamb Meatballs. Marcus is also offering locals a range of house made sausages, liver pates, terrines, black pudding and a limited range of fine food products such as oils, vinegars, pasta and mustards.

Marcus is more than an Artisan Butcher, he is an educator and an absolute professional who has a great respect for the meat industry and the entire paddock to plate process. He is also well-versed on meat traditions around the world, in particular Marcus and I talked about the way in which the French prepare their meat and the different techniques and cuts produced from essentially the same carcasses.

Not only does Whole Beast Butchery cut meat to order from traditionally aged carcasses and dry aged beef that is their speciality, they also create pates, terrines and other specialities like brined chickens and mince that is ground to your liking while you wait. You can probably understand now why I mentioned at the top of this article that I was inspired and hungry by the culinary possibilities.

It’s safe to say all of my butcher dreams have finally come true and are within short walking distance. I need not worry about my high maintenance demands as nothing is a problem at Whole Beast Butchery. Marcus is all about community and understanding the unique and individual needs of his customers and I can’t wait for him to design a terrine for my next dinner party and brine a chicken ready for my next roast.

Follow Potts Point’s newest butcher on Instagram and Facebook for updates or phone 0420 710 505. Stop by and say hi to Marcus and ask him about his food philosophy – you’ll leave with a greater appreciation for Artisan Butchery and like me, I’m sure you will leave a little inspired about your next dinner party possibilities.

I would love to hear from you – please leave a comment below with any questions you may have and I’ll get back to you very soon. 

As always, Bon Appétit, Mike X