Ottomanelli & Sons: A True Old School Butcher's Shop

Last week, I ventured into the West Village in search of pork belly. My boyfriend and I had talked about making pork belly, but that's not a common cut of meat that you generally find at the grocery store, so I went to a butcher's shop. I did my research to find a reputable butcher's shop and all of my searching came back to "Ottomanelli's and Sons Meat Market."
"Ottomanelli's and Sons Meat Market" on 285 Bleecker Street

From the moment I walked into this butcher's shop, I fell in love. The store is not very large, but it exudes personality and history. It is covered with photographs and news clippings, chronicling the store's history. It was very clear to me that Ottomanelli's is a Manhattan icon and a respected establishment. I knew I had come to the right place for my meat purchase. 
Although I came to Ottomanelli's with the intention of buying pork belly, I was so enchanted by the huge selection of meat, I ended up browsing for a while. Should I also buy steak? pork? sausages? Tyranny of choice is a terrible thing! Remembering a previous conversation I had with my boyfriend, in addition to the pork belly, I ended up buying a beautiful rack of lamb.
Besides the gorgeous selection of meat and the homey vibe, I found the service top notch. Everyone was really friendly and happy to help. I had a sweet older gentleman help me out and he really took his time. He answered all of my questions about how to prepare the meat, different style of cutting, etc… He also did a really wonderful job of trimming and prepping my lamb. I had such a blast chatting with him and learning about the different meats on display.
Preparing my rack of lamb

I really had a fabulous time at Ottomanelli and Sons. I recall texting my boyfriend, telling him that I had died and gone to meat heaven. Sure, buying meat from the grocery store may be more convenient, but nothing beats going to an old-school butcher's shop. There is something about this environment that is just magical, as cliche as that sounds. I can't wait for my next trip to Ottomanelli's! If you haven't been, I highly recommend that you all visit this butcher's shop!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shalom Japan: It's Me, on a Plate!

Image
Last month, my best friend (E) and I ventured out into the outskirts of Willamsburg to try a new restaurant called "Shalom Japan." We are always looking for new places to try and this establishment peaked our interest. Why? Because it is Jewish-Japanese fusion…basically, me on a plate! I've heard of all sorts of cuisine fusions, but this was certainly a first. I'll admit, Shalom Japan is not necessarily in the nicest of neighborhoods and it's not not a busy street. E and I were a bit nervous that we'd gone the wrong way, but eventually, we found the place. The restaurant is quite small, but homey. It's got wood tables/chairs and the building is brick. The atmosphere is very laid back and nice. So far, so good.  I was really intrigued by the menu. I was familiar with all of the ingredients, but was truly impressed by how they were incorporated into Jewish dishes. For example, the sake kasu challah.  I LOOOOOOVE challah. If I had no self contr
Read more

Gordon Ramsay's Cheesy Potato Dauphinoise

Image
I am fairly impressionable --- at least when it comes to cooking. When I see a recipe or a dish that intrigues me, I become obsessed and determine to give it a go. I have been obsessively watching Come Dine With Me  for at least one month and a dish that keeps popping up is: Potato Dauphionoise. I've eaten this side dish a couple times in my life, but not recently. It looked so delicious and easy to make, and I was determined to try my hand at this posh looking side. As per usual, I consulted the internet to look for recipes. As most of you know, I am obsessed with Gordon Ramsay. He is always my go to. If he doesn't have a recipe for something I want to make, I'm always feel a little lost, but luckily, that wasn't the case this time. I was delighted to have stumbled upon Gordon Ramsay's "Gratin Dauphonoise." He has yet to let me down and you know what, this dish was a winner! Something that I am adding to my repertoire.  This dish was incredibly e
Read more

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Where Greek Mythology Comes to Life

Image
Last week, I finally made it to the movie theater to see Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. I don’t care what anyone says, I LOVED IT. I loved the film, I love the Percy Jackson franchise, I love the Rick Riordan books, and I cannot wait for the next book ( The Titan’s Curse), to be made into a film! For those who may be unfamiliar with Percy Jackson, allow me to briefly explain. Percy Jackson is essentially Harry Potter , but the magic has been swapped for ancient Greek mythology. The protagonist of the series, Percy Jackson, is a demi-god and son of Poseidon --- god of the Seas. Percy lives at Camp Half Blood and is often accompanied by his best friends, Grover (a satyr) and Annabeth Chase (daughter of Athena). These three, along with a variety of other characters, go on quests and do everything in their power to stop the return of the evil Titan, Kronos, who is trying to resurrect himself and overthrow Olympus. (He’s got a bit of a grudge against his sons --- Zeu
Read more