Mail order steaks (again)

[Guyon]

Some things do not travel well. Meat being primary among them. Find a good local source & develop a good customer relationship.

Peter Luger's only does next day air on dry ice.

Of course, shipping is like $40.

 

[Rugger]

I would rather apply the $40 to a plane ticket & enjoy the meal in the restaurant.
Lugers is the place!

 

[Mick R.]

Unless I just missed it, I couldn't find a thing on the Omaha Steaks site that says what grade of beef they sell. (prime, choice, select, etc) They say things like premium beef, well marbled, elegant - which sounds great but really means absolutey nothing as far as the grade of beef. (kinda like some knife companies make up snazzy sounding names to disguise the ordinary steel they use ) If their steaks were prime or choice they would definitely advertise them as such. Just a hunch, but I suspect they are selling select grade beef injected with salt solution at close to prime prices.

After looking at those prices on Allen Bros I just about had a freakin' seizure! $50 bucks a lb. for prime Sirloin Strips, Holy Guacomole!!! I just realized how extreeeemly lucky I am to I have a father-in-law that raises cattle and keeps our freezer stocked with fresh dry aged beef.

 

[KnifeAddictAK]

Got some omaha steaks for a birthday present earlier this year... AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS!!! I say this because my brother and I, who have eaten many ah' steaks, tried theirs and well, we had to frequent the "office" Tried other times to finish off that box, but my brother avoided it like the plague.

I would suggest a local butcher as well. You're getting it fresh and should be able to request special cuts, etc.

 

[bigbcustom]

Consumer reports did an article earlier this year (don't ask me to remember which month) that reviewed all the mail order steak places' "prime" grade beef. I don't remember which came in on the top of the heap (it wasn't omaha), but they said the best bang for the buck, and the second best tasting was the "prime" steaks ordered through the Costco program. I will see if I can find the magazine around somewhere, and post all the info.

 

[macdo]

This thread makes me feel lucky. These guys..
www.meatontory.co.nz
have an outlet within walking distance of my house.
Top quality steak (aged appropriately and all that stuff) for around US$15/lb.
And if they sell me some meat I think is below par (they haven't) I can go and talk to them about. And they tell me about the meat I am buying.
Had some wonderful veal loin from them yesterday.

 

[Sid Post]

Macdo,

It looks like you have found the butcher we all want to find locally. From everything I have read and heard in my travels, New Zealand has some of the best meat in the world. It's too bad air freight is cost prohibitive to a place like Arizona in the USA.

Best Regards,
Sid

 

[GibsonFan]

Find an honest to goodness real deal butcher where you live!

If at all possible, do this. In my town there are two locally-owned butcher shops that have been around for decades; the prices are only pennies higher than Pick'n'Save etc and the quality is much better. I bet it's actually cheaper when you consider you don't have to trim 4 oz of gristle off your steak, like someone else mentioned. Plus it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to know my money is going to people who live nearby, and literally in the case of one butcher, have sat at the corner tavern and watched football with me. Avoid giving your $$$ to Wally World or Pick'n'Puke whenever possible.

When you find the place that stocks fresh geese and ducks and wild game, they should be able to hook you up with the best possible steak.

That's a point I hadn't even thought of, because I'm just used to it being that way. The two places here also process game for customers, and you actually get the meat you killed back, not a generic sample of everyone's. Laws on selling game vary and may be pretty restrictive so if you can't find one that sells goose or whatever, that might be just a legal thing.

I haven't tried any mail-order meats, guess I'm spoiled by living in a small town.

 

[macdo]

Macdo,

It looks like you have found the butcher we all want to find locally. Best Regards,
Sid

Of course, that could be something to do with me weighing 240 pounds

 

[beefangusbeef]

www.cabprogram.com If it's certified angus beef it's probably as good as you'll find locally. I used to get coleman ranch beef back home, but they red dyed way too much. If you can find fresh reindeer or buffalo even better. Buffalo ribeye is one of my favorites.