Flavour Report with Derek Goforth: Taste testing Batavia Coast Butchery in Rangeway Shopping Centre

This week’s Flavour Report returns to its new segment, The Butcher’s Block, which took my family and I to Batavia Coast Butchery in the Rangeway Shopping Centre. First off, there’s plenty of parking. The shopping centre is rarely super busy, and with a chemist, small convenience shop and a barber, you can run a few errands while shopping for your chops and parmis. The shop itself is very traditional. By that, I mean it reminds me of the old-fashioned butchers my nan used to take me to when I was a nipper in Yorkshire. While I was there, a few customers were popping in and out, and without fail, the friendly butchers knew who they were and struck up a conversation immediately. As usual, we asked the butcher for recommendations. We went with a few suggestions, and trusted our gut instinct about what my family might like to try. This week, we opted for chicken Kievs and mignons, crumbed lamb cutlets, and some lovely-looking marinated pork chops and ribs. All up, it came to just over $100, and considering the weight of the bag as we carried it out and that it was going to feed a couple of families over two days, we felt it was good value for money. Each family member had their own favourite. The Kievs were served with a simple mash and packed with a garlicky hit, with the moist chicken complemented well by the crispy crumb. Each of the marinated pork dishes were simply barbecued, with very little done to them, and eaten for lunch with some crusty bread. I could have done with a bit more heat, but the marinades gave the pork a nice flavor profile. The highlights were the crumbed lamb cutlet and chicken mignon. The cutlets were delicious and tender. We had them with a potato salad, and the meat just fell off the bone, even after a short cook. The mignons though — just marvellous. The butter basted the chicken, and everyone agreed the moist wrapped chicken was a big hit. Served as the centrepiece of the family dinner, they did not disappoint. Would I recommend Batavia Coast Butchery? 100 per cent yes. As one of the longest-serving businesses in the area, they have been serving customers from all walks of life and doing it with cheer and a big smile.