FOR EX-PATS LIVING IN THE STATES, the joy of finding an elusive bar of Cadbury’s Flake or pungent packet of cheese and onion Tayto crisps is possibly equivalent to that of the gold-diggers who struck lucky in the mountains of California back in 1848. Americans, for all their many attributes, just don’t know how to make good chocolate and a cup of Liptons tea will never wash down a plate of bacon, egg and sausage on a Sunday morning quite as well as a steaming hot, slightly sweetened mug of Barry’s.
Residents of Sunnyside have it lucky as The Butcher’s Block, owned by Michael Roche and Noel Gaynor, and located just off Queen’s Boulevard on 41st Street, has it all, well within walking distance. The original shop burned down back in 2003 and while a catastrophic event for all Irish food-lovers at the time (who also had to come to terms with the demise of the beautiful bar and restaurant, Blooms), it proved to be a blessing in disguise. The new place, which opened in early 2004, is about four times bigger and offers aisle upon aisle of Irish and British imports guaranteed to make any shopper feel like they have just stepped off the plane and arrived back home. From those little jars of Marmite, Fruitfield coarse cut bitter orange marmalade, HP sauce, Heinz tomato soup, Pot Noodles, Cup-A-Soups, Coleman’s Mustard, Jaffa Cakes, Brennan’s bread right through to that staple of my student days, McVitie's Chocolate Hob-Nobs, its easy to get whipped into an unintentional frenzy of comfort shopping and, happily, to drop a small fortune in the process. On many occasions, I’ve struggled along the Boulevard, battered by snow, driving rain or the heavy humidity of an August afternoon, weighed down by three or four blue bags of tasty treasures, when I’d only stopped in to pick up a bottle of water. Nevertheless, there is something eminently satisfying about crowding a New York cupboard with all those familiar tins, packets and boxes I grew up with in Ireland.
In addition to its fully stocked grocery department, as may be implied
from its name, The Butcher’s Block’s main specialty is quality, great
value meats that would put any self-respecting branch of Superquinn to
shame. As a ferocious dinner party hostess, who notoriously leaves
everything to the last minute, the kindly butchers behind the meat
counter have saved my bacon on countless occasions. On offer you’ll
find stuffed loin of pork, Irish style rashers, fresh Bell & Evans
chicken fillets, sausages, every which way of steak you could dream
about, and plump, bright mince begging to be transformed into a richly
bubbling spaghetti sauce. It makes me feel oddly grown up as I
negotiate my choices, basket hooked over an arm, list in hand. The
image of the calm and collected culinary artist is slightly diminished
though, when I have to ask the butcher how exactly one cooks a 4 lb
round of ham or a rack of lamb and does he think it’ll be ready by the
time my guests arrive in less than two hours. If he is worried about
their wellbeing, he doesn’t show it and patiently provides me with oven
temperatures, cooking times and serving suggestions. Thankfully,
despite haphazard methods, I haven’t killed anyone yet.
For
those who can’t be bothered or don’t have time to cook themselves, the
shop also features a wide selection of home made soups, brick-sized
sandwiches and hot roast dinners to go. And on the way out, you can
pick up copies of local county newspapers to catch up on what is
happening across the pond. As well as a couple of Cadbury’s Flakes and
several packets of Hula Hoops for good measure.
The Butcher’s Block
43-46 41st Street (40th Street Stop on the 7 train) Sunnyside, NY 11104 Tel: (718) 784-1078
