Does anyone have or know of a good butcher here in Houston? I live on the NW side of town, but location is really not THAT important. Ideally I'm looking for a small place with a knowledgeable staff (so I can ask questions) and nice selection of fresh meats. I would really rather avoid "specialty" or "upscale" meat markets like Omaha Steaks, because I feel the prices are too high for what amounts to pre-cut frozen meats. Some of the Mexican-style meat markets are good, but I don't speak enough Spanish to converse effectively.... Any ideas?
I can't help you with your location, but down in Santa Fe there is a place called Doreck and Sons Meat Market that can handle all your requests. Family owned and operated for over 30 years. Best cuts and choices of meats anywhere. I buy all my barbecue meats from them. As far as best butcher....my dad, hands down. He worked 41 years as a meat cutter and knows everything there is to know about meat!
Thanks, Behad. I probably can't make it to SF more than once a year, though. But that's EXACTLY the type of place I'm looking for; a place that could take a steer apart and put it back together and it would walk away.... Surely somebody on this BBS still eats meat... x34
x34: This is going to sound really wierd considering I'm a vegetarian and all, but I know that my family, who are big meat eaters, have always used B&W Meat Market on North Shepherd when they want really fresh stuff or off-the-wall stuff.
You're right- I think you were the last person here I expected an answer from on this one. Thanks for the tip, though. I'll check it out. x34
You know you can get a good look at a butcher's ass by shoving your head up it, but wouldn't you rather take his word for it?
Omaha Steaks is the biggest rip-off there is. I mean dont get me wrong. They do have really good cuts of meat, but its really no different then the USDA meat at Randalls.
Try Pete's Fine Meats. It's in a strip center on the south side of Richmond, just east of Chimney Rock. Nothing too exotic, but the staff is very friendly.
Pipe took the words out of my mouth. Pete's is a pretty damn good meat market, and the staff is very friendly and can answer all of your questions. Another good place to buy meat is HEB Central Market at Westheimer and Weslayan. Really nice meat counter with a huge selection there, but you will be paying top dollar (you'll be paying top dollar at Pete's as well).
I was going to mention Central Market; they're one of the few places you'll ever find USDA Prime cuts of beef. Another great meat market is Perry's, but it's closer to Clear Lake, so I don't think you'll want to drive out there. They are the same Perry's that has the steakhouse in Clear Lake that absolutely rocks! I was a chef at a restaurant back in college, and we used to cut our own steaks. It was kind of a game with me and the other chefs to pull the best steaks out of whatever cut of beef we were working with (which of course, we usually ate ourselves). We all got pretty good at it, so naturally, I came away thinking I was pretty good at picking out meat. I've learned one thing though recently. I'm not as good as the guys who rank beef for the USDA. No matter how good a USDA Select steak might look, invariably, a USDA Choice steak will be better. For that reason, I really recommend people getting their steaks at Sam's Warehouse. ALL of their beef is USDA Choice. I've had some unreal Porterhouses that I've bought from Sam's, and the prices are very reasonable--especially if you go in with someone and get a case. They don't have USDA Prime, but hell, very few places do. And IF you can find Prime, the prices are enough to make you piss your pants. The bottom line: good meat is expensive. You can find sales, but you still have to be willing to pay for a good steak.
Man, does it ever! I haven't been there in a while, but Pole, you just planted the seed in my head. I feel a trip to Clear Lake coming on!!
pikes place market is excellent...went yesterday and got me some fresh veggies and some chicken rosemary sausage...mmmmmmm boy how do i love payed vacations...
A long time ago, Brian Cook ran the meat counter in Jamails. (anyone else remember the free cheese slices wrapped in butcher paper-- those were so cool)... He had his own shop on Kirby for a while. Now he's at Central Market... that's my recommendation.
