Oliver Butcher Beloved By Locals, A Treasure for Visitors
Black Sage Butcher is a culinary Camelot for foodies and meat shoppers alike. Chances are if you live in the South Okanagan, Black Sage Butcher is on your grocery radar for its selection and quality of meat-centric products as it celebrates its third year at 6234 Main Street, Oliver, BC.
Owner/operator husband-and-wife team of chef Matt Leyes and Ravina Johal intentionally created a throwback to the friendly butcher shops of the past. That welcoming impression hits you the minute you walk through the door by the décor, friendly greeting and helpfulness of the team. Its small-town charm matches the allure of the stunning region.
“Premium Meats, Uncompromised Quality…from hand-crafted cuts to sourcing from trusted suppliers, we ensure that every piece of meat we sell meets the highest standards of freshness, flavor, and ethical sourcing,” is the promise Black Sage Butcher has made from its beginning in 2019. Oliver had gone some 20 years without an independent butcher shop.
Word travelled of Its triumphant debut and soon customers were drawn from the Similkameen, throughout the Okanagan to Kelowna and beyond. Developing a loyal following, they purchased their own building and renovated it thoroughly for a year before moving Black Sage Butcher to the purpose-designed space.
The new location has echoes of the past, once home to an Overwaitea food store with the former Don Coy’s Meat Chop next door. Vestiges of the trade are displayed such as meat hooks. The grandson of Don gave them some of his grandfather’s old knives and other related items to honour the history.
More Than Meat
Sourcing it as locally as possible from Fraser Valley, Okanagan, Vancouver, and Peace Region small to medium farms, their all-BC meat includes beef, bison, lamb, pork, chicken, and duck, free of hormones or antibiotics and ethically raised. For about six years Matt was vegan and is motivated to let no part of the animal go to waste.
Ravina and Matt met in a butcher shop in the Lower Mainland where he worked, she shopped, and eventually they dated. They fell in love with Oliver, its agricultural community and stunning region while vacationing together. Both were keen to leave Vancouver’s hectic city scene. He had worked in kitchens and shops with long hours, low pay and little opportunity to move ahead, while Ravina had over 20 years in marketing/communications in office jobs. With his practical skills as a real butcher, Ravina’s marketing acumen, and the lack of a butcher shop in Oliver, they decided to launch one.
To complement their meat products, his chef’s skills are exercised to create in-house specialties such as sausages, jerky, pates, rillettes, bone broths, and take-home meals. You will find sumptuous house -made meals such as Grill-Ready Ribs or Brisket, Wine Beef Stew Provencal, Hungarian Beef Goulash, Turkey Pot Pie, Shepherd’s Pie, Tingo de Pollo, Lamb Tagine, Duck Confit, Carrot Ginger Soup, and more depending on the day and chef’s inspiration.
Plus, Black Sage Butcher carries a few products from prized artisans, primarily from BC including mustards, sauces, spreads, dressings, salts, spices, pastas, and other accompaniments.
My husband and I loved their rich pate and rillette as just a couple of their items perfect for our charcuterie boards. We found them incredibly accommodating in sourcing quail for us when no other supplier in the Penticton region could. Thanks to Black Sage Butcher, I was able to dust off our beloved recipes for Vietnamese-style quail and wild-rice stuffed roasted quail!
As folks visit the Okanagan, many plan to prepare a few meals themselves and/or procure picnic items or snacks rather than spending all their time in restaurants. Finding a great butcher may not be their top priority. However, Black Sage Butcher will truly be a treasured resource when they discover it.
Sign Up To Be A BSB VIP
Sign up for the Black Sage Butcher email list for exclusive weekly savings on in-person shopping and to stay up to date on latest store news, specials, and events. Subscribers access exclusive offers sent directly to their inbox weekly and can enjoy savings of up to 50 per cent on featured items during the promotion period and get first dibs to try new products over non-members.
It is worth considering opting into the BSB VIP Program for the best offers if you travel to the Okanagan regularly or have a long-term stay booked.
Seasonal Specialties and Value Packs
As we approach Thanksgiving, it is a reminder to check out Black Sage Butcher for its seasonal offerings. Currently, you can access fresh specialty whole turkey and roast options, smoked bone-in ham, heat & serve turkey dinner options, and heat & serve holiday sides.
Consider freezer packs if you have a large family or entertain often. Black Sage Butcher offers savings for whole animal and sides purchases for beef, pork, and lamb.
Value Packs, specially curated packages of meat items at a flat rate, are another cost saving measure you can opt into by shopping online.
In addition to accessing such savings programs online, the website (blacksagebutcher.ca) is a resource for what’s current including the shop’s hours, which fluctuate throughout the year in rhythm with the seasons.
The website and emails provide other valuable information such as Steak Cut Features, How to Cook a Steak, recipes, and any special presentations such as butchery classes sometimes available in the off-season.
Whether you are an Okanagan local or visitor, Black Sage Butcher is the place to find the finest ingredients for your meals. Elevate your cuisine, rock your grill, or relax to relish their in-house creations by shopping at the Black Sage Butcher soon.
