Wine'ing Butcher - Meredith

garysanfran · 04-25-2016, 02:10 PM

What's the status of this place now? Last year it was getting a bad rep. I think the original founders sold and have gone elsewhere. I just went to their web site and they seem to have a much expanded offering like ground venison, wild boar, rabbit. There aren't many places in NH that sell exotics. Does anyone have recent experience there?

Now if I can find octopus

Pineedles · 04-25-2016, 02:32 PM

I think the only negative was their prices were higher than you could do it yourself. Not hard to marinade sirloin tips at home for a lesser cost.

jniff101 · 04-25-2016, 02:39 PM

I had steak tips from there last week and they were very yummy. They aren't something I get more then a couple times a year since they were $14.99 per pound.

radioman · 04-25-2016, 02:42 PM

My wife and I both agree that they have the best pizza in the region. This is because they have a wood- fired oven. The prices are not reasonable by any standards but they have been successful over the years because of quality and diversity. Yes, the original owners have sold out and departed south. Whenever you want to treat yourself, spend the money and visit the Wining Butcher.

Airedale1 · 04-25-2016, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jniff101

I had steak tips from there last week and they were very yummy. They aren't something I get more then a couple times a year since they were $14.99 per pound.

$14.99 a lb.

The only way I could ingest those at that price and not get a serious case of agita, would be if someone else had paid for them.

radioman · 04-25-2016, 03:16 PM

Airdale,i agree, but understand that this is a "specialty store"

Slickcraft · 04-25-2016, 03:19 PM

Today Hannaford had tips for $5.99/lb. In the past they have been as good as the WB tips. Will see later about today's buy.

BTW, the octopus escaped.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/wo...rium.html?_r=0

BroadHopper · 04-25-2016, 04:30 PM

I found the Hungry Buffalo a great place to find exotic meat.
Two location: Loudon on 106 and Chichester on Dover Rd.

Miles Smith on 106 has a good selection of local farm raised meat reasonably priced.

bruinsfan · 04-25-2016, 04:41 PM

I wouldn't do my shopping there, however, we sometimes pick up a gourmet burger and fries or a pizza to go...

Always delicious and fresh. It's pricy, but well worth the treat.

Irish mist · 04-25-2016, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

Today Hannaford had tips for $5.99/lb. In the past they have been as good as the WB tips. Will see later about today's buy.

BTW, the octopus escaped.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/wo...rium.html?_r=0

Yup....Hanaford's tips are just as good & look at the price difference ! W&B prices have gone off the rails.

thinkxingu · 04-25-2016, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish mist

Yup....Hanaford's tips are just as good & look at the price difference ! W&B prices have gone off the rails.

If enough people pay the price, they'll keep charging it.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

Pineedles · 04-25-2016, 07:27 PM

See! Only thing negative is that people can do it cheaper themselves.

Phantom · 04-26-2016, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pineedles

See! Only thing negative is that people can do it cheaper themselves.

Pineedles -- I don't think it's that people can do it themselves .... it's the fact that they are no longer simply somewhat premium priced.....they have lost Market pricing altogether ....other places have just as good a product which is continuously 30-40% below their price levels.

I too was a HUGE fan of WB (in fact live within walking distance of the Gilford store) but have totally converted to Hannafords. Given that we usually have friends over when we do tips ... it makes a difference to your wallet when you are buying 4-6 lbs. at a time !

.

SIKSUKR · 04-26-2016, 07:42 AM

The price of $14.99 is actually higher than that because they vacuum marinate their tips which gain weight from the marinade. I don't know exactly what their weight gain ratio is but when our meat processing plant injected hams we would add 20% or more before cooking.

Resident 2B · 04-27-2016, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

The price of $14.99 is actually higher than that because they vacuum marinate their tips which gain weight from the marinade. I don't know exactly what their weight gain ratio is but when our meat processing plant injected hams we would add 20% or more before cooking.

To Siksukr's point, I nave never seen steak tips shrink so much when cooking. I have not weighed them before and after, but they shrink. We usually cook them to medium.

They are very tasty, but we usually had to buy more than usual to cover the shrinkage loss.

R2B

phoenix · 04-27-2016, 06:18 PM

I only went there once but basically you will pay a higher price for the convenience of being able to go there when you want vs a sale at a supermarket. As long as enough people continue to go they will do fine

ishoot308 · 04-27-2016, 06:36 PM

The reason I stopped buying there isn't because of the price, the tips didn't taste marinated and all the different types tasted the same....almost like nothing.

The best ones are the ones I make myself from meat purchased at SAMs Club and vacuum marinated in a tumbler.

If not that, we go to Hannafords and get their black Terriyaki which are really really good!!

Dan

codeman671 · 04-27-2016, 08:11 PM

I do love their firehouse tips. I called one time and begged for the recipe to no avail.

Woody · 05-14-2016, 07:30 PM

I recently came back to the area after about a year and was looking forward to a good meal, and great service from the WB in Meredith.
I walked in, didn't get any greetings like I have in the past, had to ask someone to help me because everyone behind the cases were too busy on their cell phones and not paying attention to the Customer!
I asked where Tom was, the Manager that I always had good conversations with, and was told by the new Manager (Dave?) that he was gone. Once I heard that, I knew why the service was awful. Tom always made it a point to say hello to everyone who walked in the door, and gave great service. The new guy was too busy on his phone just like his employees, guess they learned from him? Too bad, they lost a good customer, I am not going back!

thatguyonline · 05-16-2016, 04:10 AM

I've been here one time but I left smelling like a French fry.

The proprietor should consider installing a proper hood over the deep fryer to suck some of that grease out of the air.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

VitaBene · 05-16-2016, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatguyonline

I've been here one time but I left smelling like a French fry.

The proprietor should consider installing a proper hood over the deep fryer to suck some of that grease out of the air.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I do not believe they have a fryer.

thatguyonline · 05-16-2016, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VitaBene

I do not believe they have a fryer.

Perhaps they are heating oil in a pot.

Woody · 06-26-2016, 11:46 AM

I hear that they promoted the Kitchen manager to be the new GM of the store, I sure hope that helps with the poor attitude of the counter help. Hopefully the new GM will instill good working habits on the employees unlike the other guy, Dave, who in my opinion did a very poor job. With any luck he is gone too!
Now I also hear that the Head Butcher, Kyle is no longer there, what is going on in that place???

Let's see what this summer brings, I'll take bets the service will never be as good as when Tom ran the place. Stay tuned....

Outdoorsman · 06-26-2016, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woody

I hear that they promoted the Kitchen manager to be the new GM of the store, I sure hope that helps with the poor attitude of the counter help. Hopefully the new GM will instill good working habits on the employees unlike the other guy, Dave, who in my opinion did a very poor job. With any luck he is gone too!
Now I also hear that the Head Butcher, Kyle is no longer there, what is going on in that place???

Let's see what this summer brings, I'll take bets the service will never be as good as when Tom ran the place. Stay tuned....

Your only 2 posts on this forum are bitching about the wine'ing butcher. Are they your competition? or is this a vendetta?

tbonies · 06-26-2016, 07:57 PM

Anyone reading these posts whining about the Wining Butcher should take it with a grain of salt. This store caters predominantly to the crowd that desires convenience (along with excellent prepared meat) and are willing to pay a premium for it. These posts lose credibility when they say that all the various types of marinated flavors taste the same, the meat is poor, all the counter help is poor, etc. My experience is that the Wining Butcher is a great option to have (in addition to Hannaford) for such a seasonal area. My guess is Woody has an axe to grind, perhaps he got fired?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woody

I hear that they promoted the Kitchen manager to be the new GM of the store, I sure hope that helps with the poor attitude of the counter help. Hopefully the new GM will instill good working habits on the employees unlike the other guy, Dave, who in my opinion did a very poor job. With any luck he is gone too!
Now I also hear that the Head Butcher, Kyle is no longer there, what is going on in that place???

Let's see what this summer brings, I'll take bets the service will never be as good as when Tom ran the place. Stay tuned....

mhtranger · 06-27-2016, 06:38 AM

And here we go!!

Salty · 06-27-2016, 09:16 PM

I've purchased marinated tips, steak and turkey, from the Gilford store as well as a specialty cheese I like that they carry. We have been very appreciative of their quality. Have also had marinated steak tips from Hannaford. They were good but not at the same level.

VitaBene · 06-27-2016, 11:54 PM

My only issue with the WB is that they vacuum tips too much when marinating, making the tips mushy (and tasting the same regardless of marinade).

SIKSUKR · 06-28-2016, 09:36 AM

That would be all the extra water. Buy your own and marinate them yourself. They are much cheaper especially considering your paying 15$ a lb for their marinade. Yesterday at the new Hannafords in Bedford NH the steak tips were $4.88/lb. Now those are on special but even at the normal $9.99 they are way cheaper even before the marinade.

baastan · 06-30-2016, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioman

My wife and I both agree that they have the best pizza in the region. This is because they have a wood- fired oven. The prices are not reasonable by any standards but they have been successful over the years because of quality and diversity. Yes, the original owners have sold out and departed south. Whenever you want to treat yourself, spend the money and visit the Wining Butcher.

I couldn't agree with you more. I have had it all, this brick over is just consistent time and time again. Everything I have ever had at this place has been of the highest quality. The broccoli salad they have is amazing...

baastan · 06-30-2016, 09:40 AM

Its funny because I wrote a Yelp review (yes I am one of them) years ago about how unfriendly everyone was in there, and how i felt everyone was walking on egg shells. After that, it appeared the management got the message and people were very inviting and helpful when people walked through the door. I am not saying I had anything to do with it, but I found this place fascinating for the prepared foods, at the time eclectic beer selection and markets both meat and fish. I realize there others doing this now, but I was dying for a place like this.. I will absolutely still shop there, but I get Floramo steak tips from way back in Chelsea MA if you haven't had them, you are missing out !!!

p.s. a place called provisions is opening today I think in center harbor, where Bay Gulls use to be, I am looking forward to it.... hope its good!!!

Outdoorsman · 06-30-2016, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baastan

Its funny because I wrote a Yelp review (yes I am one of them) years ago about how unfriendly everyone was in there, and how i felt everyone was walking on egg shells. After that, it appeared the management got the message and people were very inviting and helpful when people walked through the door. I am not saying I had anything to do with it, but I found this place fascinating for the prepared foods, at the time eclectic beer selection and markets both meat and fish. I realize there others doing this now, but I was dying for a place like this.. I will absolutely still shop there, but I get Floramo steak tips from way back in Chelsea MA if you haven't had them, you are missing out !!!

p.s. a place called provisions is opening today I think in center harbor, where Bay Gulls use to be, I am looking forward to it.... hope its good!!!

Have you updated (or written a new) YELP review?

Not sure how YELP works, I would never consider using that site for fear of disgruntled employees or competition being the authors of the reviews.

granitebox · 08-15-2016, 08:33 AM

Very disappointing - walking in at 12:30 P, no one in line, ordered a single sub and was told 5 minutes. I then gathered a couple other things and proceeded to wait 20 minutes before I gave up and left.

I understand they do a solid call in business but during the extended wait I was in front of the deli counter for most of the time and at no time did anyone apologize or attempt to figure out why the delay.

I won't be back this year - the service was below average.

04-25-2016, 02:10 PM	#1
garysanfran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Francisco/Meredith Posts: 1,530 Thanks: 638 Thanked 660 Times in 335 Posts	Wine'ing Butcher - Meredith What's the status of this place now? Last year it was getting a bad rep. I think the original founders sold and have gone elsewhere. I just went to their web site and they seem to have a much expanded offering like ground venison, wild boar, rabbit. There aren't many places in NH that sell exotics. Does anyone have recent experience there? Now if I can find octopus __________________ Gary ~~~~_/) ~~~ ~~~~~~~~

04-25-2016, 02:39 PM	#3
jniff101 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Moultonboro Posts: 113 Thanks: 23 Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts	very good I had steak tips from there last week and they were very yummy. They aren't something I get more then a couple times a year since they were $14.99 per pound.

04-25-2016, 02:42 PM	#4
radioman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 216 Thanks: 6 Thanked 75 Times in 50 Posts	Wining butcher My wife and I both agree that they have the best pizza in the region. This is because they have a wood- fired oven. The prices are not reasonable by any standards but they have been successful over the years because of quality and diversity. Yes, the original owners have sold out and departed south. Whenever you want to treat yourself, spend the money and visit the Wining Butcher.

04-25-2016, 03:16 PM	#6
radioman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 216 Thanks: 6 Thanked 75 Times in 50 Posts	Winning butcher Airdale,i agree, but understand that this is a "specialty store"

04-25-2016, 04:30 PM	#8
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,560 Thanks: 3,178 Thanked 1,097 Times in 790 Posts	Exotic Meat at reasonable price I found the Hungry Buffalo a great place to find exotic meat. Two location: Loudon on 106 and Chichester on Dover Rd. Miles Smith on 106 has a good selection of local farm raised meat reasonably priced. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

04-25-2016, 02:32 PM	#2
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,541 Thanks: 1,071 Thanked 667 Times in 366 Posts	I think the only negative was their prices were higher than you could do it yourself. Not hard to marinade sirloin tips at home for a lesser cost.

The Following User Says Thank You to Airedale1 For This Useful Post:
Reilly (04-26-2016)

04-25-2016, 03:19 PM	#7
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,278 Thanks: 1,213 Thanked 2,051 Times in 941 Posts	Today Hannaford had tips for $5.99/lb. In the past they have been as good as the WB tips. Will see later about today's buy. BTW, the octopus escaped. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/wo...rium.html?_r=0

The Following User Says Thank You to BroadHopper For This Useful Post:
garysanfran (04-25-2016)

04-25-2016, 04:41 PM	#9
bruinsfan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: NH Posts: 146 Thanks: 88 Thanked 73 Times in 34 Posts	I wouldn't do my shopping there, however, we sometimes pick up a gourmet burger and fries or a pizza to go... Always delicious and fresh. It's pricy, but well worth the treat.

04-25-2016, 07:27 PM	#12
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,541 Thanks: 1,071 Thanked 667 Times in 366 Posts	See! Only thing negative is that people can do it cheaper themselves.

04-26-2016, 07:42 AM	#14
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	The price of $14.99 is actually higher than that because they vacuum marinate their tips which gain weight from the marinade. I don't know exactly what their weight gain ratio is but when our meat processing plant injected hams we would add 20% or more before cooking. __________________ SIKSUKR

04-27-2016, 06:18 PM	#16
phoenix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: phoenix and moultonboro Posts: 1,537 Thanks: 60 Thanked 272 Times in 191 Posts	I only went there once but basically you will pay a higher price for the convenience of being able to go there when you want vs a sale at a supermarket. As long as enough people continue to go they will do fine __________________ it's tough to make predictions specially about the future

04-27-2016, 06:36 PM	#17
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,132 Thanks: 2,351 Thanked 5,157 Times in 2,008 Posts	The reason I stopped buying there isn't because of the price, the tips didn't taste marinated and all the different types tasted the same....almost like nothing. The best ones are the ones I make myself from meat purchased at SAMs Club and vacuum marinated in a tumbler. If not that, we go to Hannafords and get their black Terriyaki which are really really good!! Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

04-27-2016, 08:11 PM	#18
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,432 Thanks: 219 Thanked 794 Times in 474 Posts	I do love their firehouse tips. I called one time and begged for the recipe to no avail.

05-14-2016, 07:30 PM	#19
Woody Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	What Happened in Meredith??? I recently came back to the area after about a year and was looking forward to a good meal, and great service from the WB in Meredith. I walked in, didn't get any greetings like I have in the past, had to ask someone to help me because everyone behind the cases were too busy on their cell phones and not paying attention to the Customer! I asked where Tom was, the Manager that I always had good conversations with, and was told by the new Manager (Dave?) that he was gone. Once I heard that, I knew why the service was awful. Tom always made it a point to say hello to everyone who walked in the door, and gave great service. The new guy was too busy on his phone just like his employees, guess they learned from him? Too bad, they lost a good customer, I am not going back!

05-16-2016, 04:10 AM	#20
thatguyonline Junior Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 12 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I've been here one time but I left smelling like a French fry. The proprietor should consider installing a proper hood over the deep fryer to suck some of that grease out of the air. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

06-26-2016, 11:46 AM	#23
Woody Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	New Management (again) I hear that they promoted the Kitchen manager to be the new GM of the store, I sure hope that helps with the poor attitude of the counter help. Hopefully the new GM will instill good working habits on the employees unlike the other guy, Dave, who in my opinion did a very poor job. With any luck he is gone too! Now I also hear that the Head Butcher, Kyle is no longer there, what is going on in that place??? Let's see what this summer brings, I'll take bets the service will never be as good as when Tom ran the place. Stay tuned....

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06-27-2016, 06:38 AM	#26
mhtranger Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 129 Thanks: 317 Thanked 69 Times in 40 Posts	And here we go!!

06-27-2016, 09:16 PM	#27
Salty Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 22 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Great quality and variety I've purchased marinated tips, steak and turkey, from the Gilford store as well as a specialty cheese I like that they carry. We have been very appreciative of their quality. Have also had marinated steak tips from Hannaford. They were good but not at the same level.

06-27-2016, 11:54 PM	#28
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,552 Thanks: 1,583 Thanked 1,617 Times in 830 Posts	My only issue with the WB is that they vacuum tips too much when marinating, making the tips mushy (and tasting the same regardless of marinade).

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06-28-2016, 09:36 AM	#29
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	That would be all the extra water. Buy your own and marinate them yourself. They are much cheaper especially considering your paying 15$ a lb for their marinade. Yesterday at the new Hannafords in Bedford NH the steak tips were $4.88/lb. Now those are on special but even at the normal $9.99 they are way cheaper even before the marinade. __________________ SIKSUKR Last edited by SIKSUKR; 07-05-2016 at 02:18 PM.

06-30-2016, 09:40 AM	#31
baastan Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Meredith Posts: 40 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts	Its funny because I wrote a Yelp review (yes I am one of them) years ago about how unfriendly everyone was in there, and how i felt everyone was walking on egg shells. After that, it appeared the management got the message and people were very inviting and helpful when people walked through the door. I am not saying I had anything to do with it, but I found this place fascinating for the prepared foods, at the time eclectic beer selection and markets both meat and fish. I realize there others doing this now, but I was dying for a place like this.. I will absolutely still shop there, but I get Floramo steak tips from way back in Chelsea MA if you haven't had them, you are missing out !!! p.s. a place called provisions is opening today I think in center harbor, where Bay Gulls use to be, I am looking forward to it.... hope its good!!!

08-15-2016, 08:33 AM	#33
granitebox Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Steamboat Springs - Bear Island Posts: 156 Thanks: 140 Thanked 81 Times in 36 Posts	August 4th Visit Very disappointing - walking in at 12:30 P, no one in line, ordered a single sub and was told 5 minutes. I then gathered a couple other things and proceeded to wait 20 minutes before I gave up and left. I understand they do a solid call in business but during the extended wait I was in front of the deli counter for most of the time and at no time did anyone apologize or attempt to figure out why the delay. I won't be back this year - the service was below average.