Henrik Hubschmann is a man with a vision. A vision of lots and lots and lots of meat.

“When people walk upstairs to the deli, I want them to say ‘wow!’” says Henrik. He is talking about the deli case at his new Yasmine’s Steakhouse and Butcher Shop in Jinqiao, which hosts an extraordinary display, the likes of which Shanghai has never seen.

Yasmine’s is a meat extravaganza of epic proportions, a temple to meat, a carnivore’s pilgrimage destination. At the deli (steakhouse downstairs, deli upstairs), there is a jaw-dropping line of glass cases bursting with European-style nose-to-tail meat products. There are pates, terrines (PLENTY of head cheese at 500g for ¥50), sausages (half a dozen house-made varieties), steaks both foreign and domestic, salami, organic chicken, veal ribs, ham salad, shrimp salad, potato salad, bacon, meat pies, meatloaf, freshly deep-fried pork rinds, and whole pigs, yes, several young whole pigs on display. Pheasants and quail are here too, (pheasants are ¥99 for 2 and Kenneth can help with suggestions on how to cook them). Rabbits are coming soon.

The man in charge of all this meat is Kenneth the Butcher, who only recently got off a plane from Copenhagen, where he had spent most of his life (now he spends most of his life in the deli kitchen). He used to work in hospital meal services, overseeing the production of 27,000 meals a day, so this volume of food is but a molehill to him.

Kenneth is a taskmaster for quality: the same amount of meat as you see in the cases was rejected and sent back to suppliers because it was not up to par, according to Henrik. Kenneth is an “educated butcher” he tells me, who did four years of butcher training. From the way he wields a knife, as he did when slicing up a massive hunk of Brazilian beef in front of me as though it were a butter sculpture, it appears he is not someone you want to cross swords with, so to speak.

Kenneth will make custom cuts for you, he will design barbecue packages for you, he will roast whole animals for you, just ask, and all your meaty desires will be met. Best of all, Yasmine’s prices are unbelievably low. How is this possible? Volume. Henrik bought a ton of meat last week. Literally, one ton.

The deli launched last Sunday. The first floor steakhouse is launching next weekend, and will be one of the most affordable places in town to have a quality steak. Think under ¥300 for TWO people. They will also be offering a 3-pound burger for ¥129. Finish that in one sitting and Henrik will give you a ride in his car (or any other fantastical request, based on the fact that you will not finish it).

On weekends, they plan to roast various whole animals, like little lambs and little pigs shellacked in beer and brown sugar. Besides the beer basting the pig, a selection of ales will be on tap for drinking, including Guinness at ¥48 per pint.

Meatlovers, make your way here. The journey is long, (for those of us in Puxi), but you can replenish on calories when you arrive.

Yasmine’s Steakhouse and Butcher Shop

178 Biyun Lu, near Heisong Lu (not far from Jinqiao Carrefour)

Contact Henrik at 1376 190-9744

Cooking at home and want a little green salad with your meat mountain? Try my popular camelia oil dressing recipe.

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