Quality and Convenience at Worrell's Butcher Shop

We like to think of ourselves as knowledgeable and current on a number of food-related topics, including sources for high quality ingredients to cook at home. Imagine our surprise—and embarrassment—when we recently “discovered” the cut-to-order butcher shop stocked with prime meats and wild game run by John Worrell and his family for 47 years in a strip of shops in downtown Malvern.

The senior member of the friendly trio of gentlemen behind the meat counter displaying prime beef, veal, lamb, pork, and Bell and Evans poultry asked if he could help us. We knew that we wanted a Porterhouse steak ($14.95 per pound) for the grill, and asked for one to be cut two inches thick. A pair of “Grillers” ($6.99 per pound)—homemade Italian sausage—looked like a perfect side. We were tempted to try some sirloin steaks that were on sale ($6.99 per pound), but chose instead two lamb chops ($14.95 per pound) for a second dinner. Various cuts of pork—chops ($4.29), St. Louis ribs ($5.99), tenderloin ($7.99)—and fowl—turkey breast ($3.99), whole chickens ($3.49)—filled the rest of the large meat counter.

The Dietz & Watson deli meats and cheeses were displayed in a case to the left of the door. Small aluminum loaf pans of scalloped potatoes ($4.99), macaroni and cheese ($5.99) and pie tins of ham quiche ($11.98 small, $16.95 large) were tucked into the bottom level.

We marveled at the convenience of having packs of various Di Bruno Bros. cheeses, Kissling’s sauerkraut, and half pints of homemade coleslaw ($3.99), chicken salad ($8.95), egg potato salad ($3.99) and red skin potato salad ($4.99) available in a refrigerated unit just inside the door. Bottles of marinades and sauces, fresh potatoes, boxes of pasta and a small selection of commercial frozen vegetables make it a busy cook’s dream.

If there’s no time to cook from scratch, an assortment of homemade soups including Turkey Noodle ($8.95), Ham and Bean ($9.95), Manhattan Clam Chowder ($10.95) or Veal Vegetable ($9.95) are sold frozen in quart containers. Entrees like Beef or Pork Barbecue, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Roast Beef, Vegetable Lasagna, Veal Parmesan and Stuffed Peppers are also prepared by a chef in the shop’s kitchen, then packaged and frozen.

Adventurous types can purchase wild game meats including Ostrich Filet ($34.95), Venison Rib Chops ($24.95) and Alligator ($15.95) in vacuum sealed bags priced by the pound. Frozen fish fillets and seafood round out the amazing assortment.

After speaking with the owner about his supplier of wild game, we packed our meat in a cooler for the ride home.

The Grill Master began preparing a hot charcoal fire for the incredibly thick Porterhouse with tail ($45) and two sausages. After a few minutes of searing the surface and cooking with the grill lid on, our prized meat was medium rare and ready for a taste.

We let the steak sit while we tried the sausage. The sweet version had finely ground meat and mild seasoning that produced a balanced flavor. The Spicy Italian Sausage had small pieces of red pepper and the spicy heat of a mild pepperoni. The Red Skin Potato Salad ($4.99 per half pint) had finely diced onion, celery and green pepper that added a fresh crunch to the firm potato and mayonnaise mixture.

We ate the steak from the bottom up, enjoying the richness of the melt in the mouth marbled meat in the tail. The tenderloin portion was almost too rich and extremely tender. The larger strip loin portion had mild flavor and texture. We did have to save some of the steak for another meal.

The lamb chops produced in the United States were equally wonderful. The meat was pre-cut to a thickness of one and one half inches. The tenderloin was rich and the strip loin tender, with a mellow flavor and no gaminess.

After our stop at Worrell’s Butcher Shop, we understood why his family business was still going strong after 47 years. The question that remained was why we hadn’t “discovered” it sooner.

111 West King Street, Malvern

Telephone: 610-644-9266

Website: mysite.verizon.net/reszuwih/

Hours: Mon – Thurs, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Fri, 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sat, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Closed Sun

Credit cards: VISA, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover

Special Features: Game meat, homemade soups and entrees, Dietz & Watson deli meats and cheeses