As football fans around the world enjoy the biggest competition in the sport, a Gloucester Road butcher is making sure the summer barbecue has a proper match-day line-up.
At Dave Giles Butcher, owner Amy has created a range of football-inspired favourites, including the Kane Kofta – a free-range spring lamb and mint kofta that has become the shop’s star player.
The idea was first cooked up when Amy’s late dad, who owned the shop and was a huge football fan, decided to combine his passion for the game with his love of creating great food.
“My Dad was football mad – he always used to do something,” Amy said. At the 2010 World Cup, he debuted the Rooney Burger, creating a tradition the team is now keeping alive.
“We sell so many we just literally can’t keep on top of it – they’re so popular!” Amy said of the Kane Kofta.
The World Cup-inspired menu has something for supporters from every nation, including the McTominay Sausage, a pork and black pudding sausage, which disappeared from shelves after Scotland’s 1-0 win over Haiti.
England’s opening match against Croatia saw the team at Dave Giles handling big demand for Kane Koftas and Bellingham Burgers. Other treats on offer include the Mbappé Burger, while Amy’s personal favourite is the Messi Burger – a 6oz Somerset free-range beef burger topped with homemade chimichurri. Her son Jack’s pick? The Güler Kofta.
And the football theme is proving to be a winning formula, with Jack saying it’s helping customers branch out and try something different.
“It definitely encourages people to try new things, and to buy a bit more,” he said.
Creating the menu hasn’t always been easy though. The team had hoped to celebrate Wales’ qualification with some special creations.
“We really wanted Wales to qualify because we could think of so many good lamb flavours, like a fiery Welsh sausage, but they didn’t qualify!”
There were also some last-minute team changes to deal with. Carlos Soler didn’t make Spain’s squad, meaning the planned Soler Sausage had to be scrapped.
“That was all a bit awkward!” Amy joked.
The World Cup range will run throughout the tournament, with Amy and Jack hoping some of the creations prove popular enough to earn a permanent place in the shop. Until then, the pair will be keeping the barbecue line-up fresh during a summer of football.
By Ailsa Marshall