Your Friendly Neighbourhood, ‘Island Butcher’

by Iyath Adam

Fresh meat is a rare commodity in the Maldives, but not anymore, readers!

The first fresh meat shop in Male’, Island Butcher opened its doors earlier on this year and has been bringing with it a whole new way to enjoy meat.

"The idea for this store came about when we realised that there was no place in Male’ where people could get fresh meat," said Fawzaan Barry, founder of Island Butcher. "So, we wanted to bring this to the market, and give people the opportunity to try something new, while also creating an experience around it.”

Island Butcher currently offers cuts of beef and mutton as well as chicken. The store has also recently introduced spring chicken, a not-often-seen delicacy in the Maldives. The meat is not frozen but stored at optimum temperature in refrigerators to ensure freshness.

The staff are happy to help you decide which type of meat to buy, in which quantities and also recommend what dishes you could make with it. Alternatively, you can also simply send a DM to their Instagram with your order request.

The meat is sourced abroad, primarily from small farmers. According to Fawzaan, the goal is to provide the freshest meat from animals who receive excellent care while also empowering small farmers economically.

Eventually, Island Butcher hopes to create a community of chefs and cooks around their products, bringing fresh meat and good food to all.

Island Butcher is located in Alimas Magu, Male’.