Persimmon Provisions, an artisan butcher shop in Barrington, is now open. The store is stocked with turkeys for Thanksgiving, both all-natural and organic varieties. A side of Blackbird Farm beef, from Smithfield, Rhode Island, was brought in and butchered to offer local steaks, roasts and ground meat to customers. Another local farm, Round the Bend Farm from South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, is supplying pork, veal and lamb. The freezer is full of offal, bones, stock and Mangalitsa pork, a highly specialized breed that produces some of the world’s most juicy and flavorful meat and fat products, from Heath Putnam Farms. The shelves are stocked with a number of extra-virgin olive oils, specialty vinegars and salts. There are cheeses and cured meats in the display cases and many more exciting meats to come.
Persimmon Provisions is a full-service butcher shop and the staff looks forward to custom cutting meats for customers, though they will package some of the more popular cuts fresh each day for people on the go. All of the staff at Provisions are trained cooks, so if there’s a cut of meat you’ve been wanting to try but just weren’t sure how to cook it, they can tell you. Wondering what to do with salted capers or Aquidneck honey comb? They’ll have suggestions for you. The display cases are also stocked with foods prepared at sister restaurant Persimmon in Bristol.
From the owners’ web site: “Provisions was borne out of Chef Champe Speidel’s passion for the craft of butchery (he was, in fact, a butcher for ten years before culinary school beckoned) and the desire to bring responsibly raised, carefully sourced animals to the local marketplace. The small shop stocks fresh meats, charcuterie, house-made sausages, sauces, stocks, some cheese, dry goods, and a handful of prepared foods (from the Persimmon kitchen). Special orders, of course, are welcome, too. Want your bird brined? Or your roast trussed? In search of a no-fail way to prep foie gras? We’ve got you covered. Please spread the word!” Persimmon Provisions, 338 County Rd., Barrington, RI (Prince’s Hill Place; next to Prestige Cleaners). 401-337-5885. Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Chef Champe Speidel with a hanging side of Blackbird Farm beef
Persimmon Provisions butchery tools
Persimmon Provisions artwork by T. Dedoto
