Okay, I left the post name a little sexually ambiguous because that is how I am so send your "I like meat" comments right away. For being one of the meat capitals of the world we have a woeful number of choices when it come to buying great quality beef to prepare at home. One of my regular readers inspired me to put together my list of places I like to buy high quality steaks for grilling at home.
If you read last week's post on steakhouses in Johnson County you'll know my feelings on choice versus prime. Most of what you'll find at area grocery stores is choice and select and while I've seen some nice options on the fly at Hen House over at 135th and Metcalf you are still talking about USDA Choice. Even Costco and Sam's who some say they really prefer for beef sells Choice grade. If that is good enough for you then by all means go for it and call me when you find your dream home in Wyandotte County.
I'm not sure if it is lack of class, education, or taste but most Johnson Countians for all their wealth, mcmansions, fancy cars and clothes will normally put any kind of crappy quality beef down their gullets.
I suppose it is not be the time in this economy to be talking about buying things that are more expensive and more, er, luxury but in these times, I'm thinking more about less but better. Oh screw it.....it is Johnson County.....the rules don't apply to us anyway do they???
There are surprisingly not that many awesome retail butchers in Johnson County proper so I had to expand the list to places close to JOCO. When I lived in Chicago we had a favorite place called the Paulina Meat Market. It was more like a museum of meat. It was awesome. We bought some absolutely incredible meat, center cut filets, at Straub's over in St. Louis one evening with friends. I haven't found that place in SOJOCO yet that is just around the corner.
This is list has nothing to do with value. This is about the best steaks you can get in these parts but not in any particular order.
1. Bichelmeyer's: In KCK but certainly an institution in these parts.
2. Steve's Meat Market: In Desoto and many people's favorite.
3. Rancher's Gourmet: Not an onsite butcher but they sell Prime Grade and is near the 119th and Metcalf corridor.
4. Dean and Deluca: You can always fall back on these guys if you are in a pinch for a dinner party. The have Prime grade and you will pay dearly for it. Always great quality.
5. McGonigles: Actually in Missouri but very close to the state line. I had a bad customer service experience there once that kind of soured me on them but I've bought fresh turkeys there for probably the last 8 years.
6. Omaha Steaks: Of course they have a retail store (119th and Roe) in the area from the folks who made selling mail order steaks famous. I've had some really nice steaks from them. Much like Rancher's Gourmet.
7. Kansas City Steaks: From local guy Ed Scavuzzo this is an internet shipping operation but they offer Prime grade and if you were to order from the internet this is guy I'd do it from. I wish they had a retail operation. http://www.kansascitysteaks.com/.
Now, the new trend is the 100 mile diet or the slow food movement where you try to source things close to where you live. Where we live it makes total sense since we practically live in the country. The best of these are also organic or free range. We try to buy local when we can. We've found local eggs and we buy produce from a local co-op during the growing season.
I haven't bought my meat yet this way but I'm seriously thinking of trying it......I'm suspicious though because most of it is grass fed but I like the fact they aren't using hormones and antibiotics.
If you are interested the closest thing seems to be the Merriam Organic Market on Tuesdays. Their web address is http://www.merriamorganicmarket.org/ and they feature a couple meat producers and everything else. They also have lots of links and information.
Big addition thanks to a reader!!!
Amy's Meats. I remember reading about her in the paper some time ago and I thought at the time I should try them. They look like a family business that is doing it right in Lawrence. Rock Chalk. I like that they are establishing some distribution. Best of luck to them. You can find their site at www.amysmeats.com.
It isn't always the steak....it is the sizzle!! Enjoy.
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