Monday, October 3, 2016

Tired of Grocery Store Meats?

We usually buy our meats at the various farmers markets in the Metroplex. Lately, however, we've gotten kind of tired of getting frozen meat and paying more for it. Additionally, meat from the grocery store just isn't worth what they want for it, at least not to us.

Lately, Matt has also been trying to make more stews and other dishes that use more obscure cuts. The best way to find these is at a butcher shop. We haven't been to many butcher shops in the area, but we know a good find when we see one.

Enter Deep Cuts Dallas, a butcher shop that has been open for almost two weeks. We went in there this past Sunday evening just to check them out. We ended up leaving with $50 worth of amazing meat.

The folks over at Deep Cuts are incredibly kind; they're also experts at their craft, as one would expect a butcher to be. They had no problem letting us sample just about anything we wanted.

The first questions we asked were pretty standard: Where do you get your meat? Is it organic? Is it free of hormones, antibiotics, etc.? Here's the run-down.

Deep Cuts sources their meat from local ranchers. While the meat isn't grass fed and finished, it is grass fed most of the animal's life, and then grain finished. Purists would insist that grass fed and finished is the best way to go, but if you're not a fan of the somewhat "gamey" taste that grass fed and finished beef has, you should seriously consider grain finished beef. All of their offerings are free of hormones and antibiotics. We can attest that it is also some of the best beef and pork we've ever had.

In talking with the guys over at Deep Cuts, we began talking a bit about hunting. There's nothing set up yet, but they plan on eventually processing game as well. This was a huge plus for us because Matt likes to hunt. 
In addition to excellent quality meat, Deep Cuts also sells various local products, like Texas olive oil. 

If you're tired of buying frozen meat, grocery store meat, or want more obscure cuts of meat, you should check out Deep Cuts. They're located on Beltline between the tollway and 75. We're huge fans. 

All images from the Deep Cuts Facebook page.

The Best in the Biz: Top Farmers Market Vendors in DFW


Bacon (pepper bacon, to be exact)
Pure Pastures Farm Trenton, TX


Chicken & Duck Eggs
Market Provisions Co is located at the downtown farmers market. Among a great selection of other things such as garlic, seasoning, and great cuts of meat, they carry free range duck and chicken eggs that we buy regularly.


Honey:
Texas Honeybee Guild throughout DFW
This stuff is available everywhere, and thank goodness! Pick some up at the Dallas Farmers Market, the Vickery Meadow Good Local Market, and at various retailers including: Central Market, Natural Grocers, Green Spot, and many more. To see a complete list of selling locations or to buy online, please click here


Produce:
La Esperanza Farms in Nevada, TX
Unfortunately it's hard to find them anywhere online, but they have a HUGE presence at the markets they frequent! Their stands are full of a huge variety of organic fruits and veggies that are sure to please, and the father/son duo has fantastic customer service! Another great thing about them: their prices are SO low and their quality is SO high! We always see them at the Belt Line - Four Seasons Market on Sundays, but I they've talked about starting to go to Four Season's Saturday Campbell market as well. Right now they're limitted by not having enough retail help at the markets, so they keep the operation small with only 1 market day each week.



Bread:
We see them at the Vickery Meadow Good Local Market each Sunday, but they also have a retail store on Lovers Lane. For more information on where to find them, check out their Facebook.

Milk:
Dry Valley Dairy Forestburg, TX
Fine producers of raw dairy products, including milk and cream, located at 100 Dry Valley Rd, Forestburg, TX 76239. They are currently our favorite raw milk producer. It's a bit of a drive, but totally worth it. 

Lavon Farms (AKA Lucky Layla) Plano, TX 
Their raw milk (not pasteurized or homogenized) must be purchased on their farmland located at 3721 North Jupiter Rd in Plano, TX, but they also have many other dairy products under the Lucky Layla Brand which can be purchased at their farm store in addition to various retailers including: Whole Foods, HEB, Central Market, Sprouts, Cupboard Natural Foods, and many more. For a complete, up-to-date list of their farm store hours and selling locations, please click here.

**We do have to note that as of 6/26/16 they have been out of milk for almost 2 months, and we are sadly very close to taking our business elsewhere. Their convenience is amazing, and the milk tastes great when it is there...but we can't be a milk-free family for much longer.**

**Update: While they do have milk back in stock, they frequently run out. Additionally, their milk is very expensive. We are currently part of a co-op getting milk and cream from Dry Valley Dairy. For more info on this co-op, please email blinx64@gmail.com **


Cheese:
Find them at McKinney, Grapevine, and Dallas markets weekly, all year! For a complete, up-to-date list of their selling locations, please follow this link.