Frank Family Butchers have not long been in Thirsk but have certainly made their mark, and not just because the doorway ‘dangles’ makes one feel that you  simply should make an entrance as though about to do a ‘turn’ on stage. The dangles are actually, to keep out flies and all flying beasts. Frankly, a very good idea, Mr Frank.

                             

So sorry for the simply awful joke,  but, you see, I have tested one of their pork pies, which Simon Frank kindly pressed on me to try: crisp melt in the mouth pastry and simply stuffed with locally sourced pork, which has put me in a very good mood. They have a huge range of pies, indeed, a delicatessen of pies, a cornucopia even.

I also oven baked the  tempting Mozzella,Pickle and Beef Truffle. Had I been cooking for someone other than Dick, who I can’t hoodwink, I would have said I’d been slaving for hours in the kitchen, and I did hope he enjoyed it. Dick did enjoy it, knowing full well it was from Frank’s  range of prepared foods. At Christmas we had a rib of beef which  had the flavour that one remembers from long ago; well kept, high quality. The sausages… Well, go and have a look.

So who are Frank Family Butchers and where have they been all this time when they could have been in Thirsk for heavens sake? Seven generations ago John Mallory Frank decided to open a butcher’s shop that placed sustainability and animal welfare at the forefront of the business. With farming in the family this was something they could control. Soon the family were running 2 successful shops in Harrogate.

       

Steadily the succeeding generations continued the thread until thankfully Simon Frank set up in Thirsk. He runs the shop with his business partner Anna, and apprentice Tom. There is a huge choice in pies, sourced from a local baker, the usual cuts one expects at a butcher, but also prepared dishes, which one only needs to cook and pretend they are our own work. Dishes can also be prepared to order if a customer is having a ‘do’ or just wants a meal without effort. The quality of everything is superb, with all  produce obtained locally, including from Anna’s family farm.

Simon’s young sons are already helping in the background where they can, and loving it,  so Thirsk can be assured of a long running relationship. Frankly, (sorry again Simon) aren’t we lucky.

Frankfamilybutchers@outlook.com

Now Frost Magazine’s  Spotlight picks out A M Gardening

Long ago I had the pleasure of meeting a civil engineer whose work entailed designing roads. He maintained that the beauty of a road lies in its curves.  This of course, can be applied to quite a few things, but for me, as a passionate gardener it certainly transfers to flower beds. So I had great plans to extend my flower beds into curves, plant more cottage  garden plants, and Old English Roses, my passion. (Dick’s preserve is in the vegetable garden, which, he declared firmly, gives him more than enough to do with spring well into its stride, and ground to prepare). So, understanding that a nod’s as good as a wink,  I knew I had to remove the turf and then dig the bed extensions myself which was a step too far. What to do, what to do?

I always share my problems willy-nilly, and everyone I inflicted myself on suggested I try A M Gardening, a newbie on the block in Thirsk, but reasonably priced, pleasant and efficient. So along came Adam Maloney to suss out my needs. Apparently none of it was a problem. I explained that it was spring, and I needed it yesterday if I was to be able to get plants in, whinge, whinge, and lots of hand wringing.

Adam Maloney gave up his Bank Holiday Monday. First the turfs were removed, poste haste…  How can people do that back breaking work so quickly?  I just poke the spade at it, and feel my back is breaking, and have to go in for a rest. All turfs were off within 4 hours and taken to the tip, the pavement and paths swept.  Then the digging began, and oh, the roots …  for there had been old old hedges along my straight beds originally. So those had to be dealt with. Not a whinge or complaint from Adam.

Within another four hours it was finished.  Just like that, as Tommy Cooper used to say. All done, all cleaned up, ready for my part – the planting. The bill? Extraordinarily reasonable. For a newbie on the block you can’t beat A M Gardening, really you can’t.

Adam Maloney: 07470 363741