Butchery courses
Butchery and charcuterie courses
The butchery and charcuterie courses at Empire Farm are organised by master butcher David Coldman.
As people want to know more about the food they eat, they are also becoming more interested in the preparation of their food, especially butchery. Many food programmes such as the Great British Menu and MasterChef feature wild foods such as rabbit and venison, and some of the cheaper cuts of meats with which many people are unfamiliar. Hopefully our courses will help people to appreciate a whole new range of meats and produce some great meals.
We offer a wide range of courses to suit differing interests. All are suitable for beginners and even ‘old hands’ seem to learn something new and always provide great feedback for the group. You can read some of our feedback.
Read about specific courses below or, to see all the courses currently planned, check out the latest course dates.
Hands-on pork butchery
Our popular hands-on butchery day with David Coldman
If you are a budding smallholder, self sufficient lifestyle wannabe, want to learn new skills or increase your butchery knowledge, then this course is for you. It also makes a great unusual gift for a family member or friend
This is why the Hands-on Butchery day at Empire Farm is the
most frequent and popular course we offer. With only 4 butchery places
available, plus 4 observer places (i.e. 1 observer per butchery place),
early booking is strongly advised.
Throughout the day
you’ll be butchering your own half pig under guidance from our butchery
tutor. You’ll gain understanding of where the various cuts of pork are
located and useful tips on how to make the best use of every part.
Nothing goes to waste, and you’ll be given the opportunity to create and
make your own sausages, selecting your choice of herbs and spices
available for your use. Questions are encouraged throughout the day, and
photos and videos can also be taken. It’s important to note that this
is one of the few courses available where you get to take home
EVERYTHING you have butchered, which makes it exceptional value.
Administration
Most of the course takes place in the butchery which is not heated so warm clothing, woolly hat and thick socks are needed! We provide protective clothing. Please bring 2 or 3 cool boxes in which to take home your meat.
The course starts at 10 am with arrival from 9.40 am and finishes by 5 pm. The price includes all tuition, course notes, refreshments during the day, together with the meat and bones from half a pig (average weight 25-30 kg). Please bring your own lunch.
From 2023 the course costs £280 and a second person may attend, working on the same side of pork for £60
All bookings are made through Eventbrite
Curing and smoking day
With David Coldman
Ever wanted to know how to cure and smoke your own meat and fish? Then come along to this one day practical hands-on course to find out how.
There’s a growing interest in learning how to become more self-sufficient and gain practical skills and knowledge that can extend the shelf life of food. In this popular and practical course, you’ll be taught how to prepare a wide range of cured meat, fish, and other foods.
It all begins with understanding the basics of salt, preservatives, dry and wet cures and how they can be used to cure salmon, bacon, gammon, ham and other products. The day is a mixture of demonstration and hands-on experience, including the preparation of meat and fish for curing. It incorporates being shown how to use a cold smoker, and you’ll have the opportunity to try out some of the products as well as taking home a range of cured meats and fish. New from autumn 2021, you’ll also get to take home your own personal hot smoking kit, which includes a range of smoking woods, a hot smoking container and a recipe booklet. A comprehensive course hand-out and refreshments are also included.
This is a fascinating day with real-world application, and no previous experience is required.
Administration
Course is limited to 6 participants.
Please note the butchery is not heated so warm clothing is required in cold weather.
Protective aprons, overalls and all equipment are provided.
It is advised that you bring a cool-bag or other suitable container to take home the products you prepare.
Thus course costs £195 per person and includes all tuition, hand-outs, cured products to take home, hot smoking kit, and refreshments. Please bring your own lunch.
The whole hog weekend
Learn how meat can be butchered and turned into a wonderful selection of pork products such as bacon, pancetta, ham, coppa, sausage, chorizo, pate and pies, lard and rillettes. This has become one of our best-sellers so don’t delay in booking your place.
Two days looking at pork butchery and charcuterie. The starting point for this course is two halves of pig and over the duration of the course your tutor will show you how this meat can be butchered and turned into a wonderful selection of pork products such as bacon, pancetta, ham, coppa, sausage, chorizo, pate and pies, lard and rillettes
Day 1 starts with pork butchery, an essential part of charcuterie as you need to know about the different cuts and how they can be used. You will be shown how to bone joints and prepare some of the more unusual cuts. Then we move on to processing, starting with the off-cuts from the butchery which go into the sausages. We will also tackle chorizo. The day ends with making a pate and some faggots that will be eaten for lunch on Sunday.
Day 2 starts with the second half of pig, this time looking at how the butchery for curing is different from that demonstrated on Saturday. We will use both wet and dry cures in this session to make a range of cured products such as bacon, pancetta, coppa, guanciale, and gammon. Nothing goes to waste, so the bones and head are boiled to make stock and the meat used in rillettes. And last on the agenda – the pork pie.
You will get to take home some samples of the products made during the course.
This course is great for pig keepers who want to learn what they can do with their pork, for owners of farm shops who want to add value to their meat and to foodies who want to learn to make some great tasting British charcuterie.
Make a weekend of it: come down on Friday night and stay locally. Enjoy a lovely evening meal and then come along to the course on Saturday morning. What could be better- we have a couple of places to suggest, the Ship Inn, a few miles away in West Stour, Dorset, the Stapleton Arms in Buckhorn Weston or the Kings Arms in Charlton Horethorne
The cost for this 2-day course is £280.
Hands-on lamb butchery
This hands on Lamb Butchery Day is open to all, from complete beginers to smallholders and even chefs looking to add value to their products. This course is very popular and early booking is strongly advised.
Under the guidance of our butchery tutor you’ll learn where the different cuts come from and how to break down the carcass. Using various knife skills you’ll be shown how to bone and roll joints to make showcasing cuts such as guard of honour and lamb cushion. There’ll be opportunity to practice butchers knots to refine presentation and hone your skills. Once the meat is cut up, it is processed into products such as Merguez sausages, lamb ham, and pate.
Administration
The numbers on these days are limited to 4 so that everybody can see what is going on and ask questions.
Most of the day takes place in the butchery which is not heated so warm clothing and thick socks are needed! We provide protective clothing.
The price of £295 includes all the meat from one lamb, all tuition, course notes, light lunch and refreshments during the day. A second person may attend working on the same carcass for £50
Sausage making day
This full-day, fun, information-packed and practical hands on workshop is a popular choice for anyone wishing to learn the craft of sausage making.
Whether you’re a foodie lover or chef looking for gluten-free recipes, a smallholder wanting to get the best from your produce, a group wishing to learn a new skill, or simply seeking an unusual gift for someone, this course is for you!
The focus is on using ethically sourced meat and ingredients to provide you with the know how and confidence to create your own sausages. Throughout the day you’ll have the opportunity to learn:
- Knife skills
- Knowledge and preparation of the various cuts of pork
- How to use spice and seasonings
- Sausage stuffing
- Linking sausages
- Continental sausage recipes
- Designing your own sausage recipe
There’ll be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and test out your own recipe by cooking samples of your own sausages which can be shared during lunch, and you’ll be able to take away all the sausages you’ve made throughout the day.
The cost for this 1 day course is £150.
Farm-to-table Butchery Experience
Locally sourced and ethically reared within a 10 mile radius of the farm, this one day hands-on practical experience with David will give you a thorough insight into how the best animal welfare and high provenance of where meat comes from affects the quality of taste.
Our motto is ‘eat less, but better’.
David will teach you traditional skills that have been handed down through generations of butchers. You’ll be guided through the practicalities of butchering a side of pork with an explanation of the various joints and cuts and how they can be used. The day will also include producing your own sausage recipe and bacon.
The day will finish with participants cooking and enjoying a meal together using some of the meat produced. Additionally, everyone will get to take home all their own meat cuts, joints, sausages and bacon.
There are 4 butchery places available on this course, plus space for up to 4 observers for an additional fee.
The cost for this full day course is £275, with £75 for an observer.
Important information
Office: 01963 371681 Butchery enquires 07837 174106
sally@empirefarm.co.uk