Passion for meat drives apprentice

Centre City New World butchery apprentice Ben Henry says he has a passion for meat. Photo by...
Centre City New World butchery apprentice Ben Henry says he has a passion for meat. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.

Two years ago, Ben Henry swapped a stack of textbooks for a floor covered in blood and guts.

Mr Henry (25) said he was coming towards the end of a chemistry degree when he decided study wasn't for him.

"I found that I was enjoying work more than I was studying.''

He approached Centre City New World butchery manager Paul Mason and quickly began a retail butchery apprenticeship.

In August, the Mr Henry will compete in the National Young Butcher of the year competition for the third time.

Last Saturday Mr Henry created 27 products in two hours.

At the nationals, he will perform a similar cutting test, but there will be an additional interview and written exam stages.

He will also be tested on overall yield, knife skills, personal hygiene and safety, saleability, cookability and creativity.

Despite being able to bone out a chicken in 45 seconds and a lamb shoulder in a minute, the prospect of the nationals was still nerve-wracking, he said.

"I do want to win it this year.

"That's a goal.''

"I just want to get up there and show them what I can do.

"But I'll be nervous.''

Until the nationals Mr Henry says he will keep his eyes firmly on being innovative with meat.

"I'm not a big fan of offal. I'm not going to have an intestine on my plate.

"But I like being creative and I'm not going to sell something I won't eat, so it is about thinking out of the box a bit.''

Mr Henry will also compete in the best display section of the World Butcher's Challenge in Australia in September.

margot.taylor@odt.co.nz

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