– by Barry Mathias –
This is the second in a four-part series on some of the unique and local shops the Saanich Peninsula has to offer.
The word charcuterie refers to the art of preparing various meats, especially pork, in order to present them in attractive ways; the French word for a person who prepares charcuterie is a ‘charcutier’. Geoff Pinch is such a person.
Geoff, closely supported by his wife Sally Hallam, has established the appropriately named Four Quarters Meats at 205-2031 Malaview Avenue, Sidney. “We opened in February of this year,” he says. “The business is mainly wholesale, and is geared towards restaurants, catering companies, and specialty meat shops.”
“I’ve been involved with restaurant cooking and the preparation of meat since I was 15,” he says. Today, with his wife Sally Hallam, who is also a teacher, he runs this newly established meat shop. “We have been very successful during the summer, when restaurants were busy,” says Geoff, “now we are concentrating on individual customers who can order from us in advance. We offer gift baskets with a variety of fine meats, Christmas certificates and platters.”
Geoff completed the Spectrum Cooking program in 1992, and after gaining experience in restaurants in Montreal and Vancouver he began his training in charcuterie in 2004 with JN&Z, an Eastern European, family-operated business in Vancouver. “They operated in the traditional old ways.” He learned everything he could about meat preparation, and moved on to become part-owner and production manager of the Whole Beast Restaurant in Victoria.
While Geoff concentrates on the provision of fresh and smoked meats, it is Sally who operates the packaging and dispatch side of the business. “We use only the finest ingredients for our products,” he says, “and all our pork, beef and chicken are raised without the use of hormones or antibiotics.”
Four Quarters Meats offers smoked products, using a mix of hardwoods in their smokehouse to create authentic flavours, as well as fresh and dry-cured meats. “We use original recipes from around the world, with a West Coast flavour. I take great care to provide the very best” Geoff says, “I don’t want people to be disappointed.” He is constantly experimenting, expanding the range and diversity of his products. In September Geoff won 1st prize for his Italian Salami, 2nd place for his Chicken Liver Pate, and 3rd Place for his Dry Spanish Chorizo at the ‘Great Canadian Sausage Competition.’
Until recently, 95% of their trade was wholesale. “Now we are moving to increase our local trade with Christmas coming.” They offer free delivery in the Sidney or Victoria area for orders of $50 or more.
