One of the best. Rembrandt Butchery/Slaghuis, Linden

 

A quote from www.joburg.co.za...

"Rembrandt Butchery — Linden

For all your braaiing needs, stock up on Rembrandt Butchery’s delicious boerewors, sosaties, kebabs and their legendary and moreish biltong! They have a great selection of fresh red meat to choose from and free-range chicken, too".

I went along to find out what makes this butchery one of the most successful independent butcheries in Johannesburg. Rembrandt has been in the capable hands of Ross Schutte for the past 40 years, a rare achievement in today's economic climate.

The owner, affectionately known as Oom Ross.

Even though I have dealt with him for many years, it was only on this visit that I discovered

what his surname was! 

A large and imposing man, he has a heart of gold and was very humble in his responses

to my questions.

It was difficult to conduct an interview as the constant stream of customers

were his focus, and rightly so.

He was unaware that he had been named one of the top butcheries

until he had bee made aware of the article. 

"I do not run my business to get awards, I run my business in a way that brings me rewards".

Breakfast is served. Every day all of the staff enjoy a cooked breakfast,

but don't look too closely for vegetables...as you probably won't find any.

But chicken, when served here is actually seen as a vegetable!

Some traditions die hard. Every year the butchery produces a calendar, and

despite 2020, Rembrandt is hopeful that 2021 will be better.

A kebab...or two? Chicken or beef?

Both are on offer.

Tools of the trade...

Let the day begin.

Currently, it seems that there are no longer training facilities for those wanting to become butchers.

It is better to try and get an internship at a butchery and learn the trade in a hands-on manner.

Given all the meat available, it seems that Oom Ross enjoys mince the most

as it is such a versatile cut and can be cooked in a multitude of different ways.

When asked what his favourite cut of meat was, his response was

 "anything, as long as it is well prepared".

Rembrandt's famous wors

Would you believe that Rembrandt sells almost 3000kg of wors a month!

A view of the shop.

The walls are filled with interesting sports memorabilia.

The team... 

Oom Ross believes that is is as a result of this team that his customers are so loyal.

The butchery has all the proper COVID-19 protocols in place.

Does anyone remember this?

These could be found in many stores 

and if my memory serves me correctly, 

they were used to raise money for polio victimes.

Freezers full of lekker goodies...

Some cuts in this freezer are not instantly recognizable.

Many of them are traditional Afrikaans cuts, like Pofadders.

More easily recognizable.

 Rare, medium or well done? 

With no hesitation, Ross's response was  "Medium".

It is not all about meat.

You can also get delicious dried peaches that can be used to add flavour to your meat purchases.

Personally, when I buy a packet, the majority do not make it back to my car.

On Saturday, the mouth-watering smell of boerewors

 and kebab rolls start from 08h00.

Contact details:

Currently, the shop hours are:

Monday-Friday: 07h00 - 16h00

Saturday: 06h00 - 13h00

Contact phone number: 011 888 4663.

There are many people within our suburb who are struggling

financially due to the current lockdown.

Do you have someone in mind that you would like to help?

 Ask Oom Ross about the packages that he can put together.

You pay and designate a recipient that you wish it to be delivered to.

Support local, support Linden.

All images are the copyright property of

 

and may not be used without permission

Hennie Basson, biokineticist. An honorary Lidenite...

 

"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail,

There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail".

Why this quote by resonated with me as I walked in Hennie Basson's for the first time,

I really have no idea. Perhaps it was the fact that I had started to exercise again,

and that this was just a first step in my 'return -to-fitness' program?

Or perhaps it had another connotation, but that is not really up for discussion currently.

What is more important is the fact that I had made a conscious decision to get rid

of the weight that I had gained during the months of hard lockdown, when eating and a sedentary

lifestyle had taken its toll. I had considered a personal trainer, 

but they seem to have an agenda of their own and at 67 and being trained by a youngster

who can do 100 squats and burpees without breaking a sweat was NOT what I had in mind.

So, it was with this background that I found myself at Hennie's doorstep...

 Meet Hennie Basson, tri-athlete and Biokineticist of note.

 (A Biokineticist is an exercise specialist who increases a person's physical condition

 and the quality of life by means of physical assessment and the prescription of healthy exercise habits).

 Although not strictly situated in Linden, his practice is a 5-minute drive away in Parkhurst. 

Walk this way...my first impression of the practice. Hennie, it turns out,

is a most humble man and although he could fill the walls certificates and

photographs from his time as a National Tri-athlete, he chooses to keep them

devoid of such memorabilia.

To quote a well-known professor, "There are 54 ways to sit on a bicycle saddle,

 all of them are uncomfortable"! 

I believe that I discovered this fact for myself at the beginning of every session.

My biggest fan!

Keeping cool was the name of the game, as the sessions can really get you to sweat.

A weighty problem? Not a problem!

With a combined regime of both diet and exercise, I was able, in less than 3 months,

to see a reduction in both mass and cms. 

The latter being the more important when it comes to overall health assessment.

I was also able to substantially reduce my blood pressure as well as my resting heart rate.

Training here is literally "balls to the wall"

Have you ever tried to exercise while balancing on one of these? 

Not as easy as I thought it would be.

Something that everyone should have at home. especially in these days of COVID-19,

a pulse-oximeter. The top number is my resting heart rate,

while the lower number represents my oxygen saturation level.

Tools of the trade?

A stethoscope, an old school blood pressure cuff and the "dreaded" tape measure.

All very necessary for a variety of reasons.

Not quite what I wanted to look like.

Reading my results...

Both Hennie and I were impressed with the results that I had achieved

in a relatively short space of time.

But the long term goal is to make certain that the short term achievements 

are converted into long term sustainable goals. 

If you, like me, are looking for an excellent practitioner, who has the goals

of his patients at heart, then THIS is where you should be making you next appointment.

Don't delay, contact Hennie today to book your appointment.