NEEDED: A Good Butcher Shop
I know we have plenty of grocery stores with good meat counters. Snyder’s is one of the best, and it’s more affordable than Whole Foods (though WF has some good stuff of their own). But that’s just not cutting it any more. I want a guy who I can always rely on to be behind the counter. Someone who knows me by name and always has my favorite stuff behind the counter. Someone who I can call for half a pig and pick it up the next day. Someone who will take these charts and bring it down to a level I can easily understand and afford.
In short, I want a real butcher. A one-stop shop that has meat. And only meat. As much as I’m into barbecue, I’d fire up the grill even more if I had a resource like this. And if I could easily get my hands on a whole pig, I would buy one of these in a heartbeat. I would think an area this big – with such diverse, meat-eating cultures – would have enough people to support a dedicated butcher shop, and I’m sort of shocked we don’t have one.
If I’m missing something, please do tell. And while I know there are good halal and kosher butchers around, that’s not what I’m talking about (i.e., PORK). If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would quit my job and take an apprenticeship at a butcher in New York or something and do it myself. If there are any aspiring butchers out there thinking about taking the plunge, I can gather a small horde of carnivores to support you.
In other news…
Unfortunately it’s in Germantown, but it looks like Montgomery County is finally on tap to get a Wegmans grocery store. And while I continue to push for a Harris Teeter in the (will-it-ever-happen) Falkland Chase Development, a Wegmans a little closer to home would surpass (and perhaps eliminate) the Giant. And the crappy Thayer Avenue Safeway.
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What this town really needs is a good bakery.
And someone that makes candlesticks.
What, no prime rib, Springvale? (yes – I do remember your aversion to meat and thought about you as I posted this) I like the bakery up at Four Corners, but I agree. We need more of a French model – a boulangerie and a boucher on the same block.
Just stay away from the sweet potatoes at Wegmans for a while.
It’s a bit of a drive, but “My Butcher and More” on the outskirts of Annapolis is the best. It’s where I get my local-raised pork belly for home-cured bacon and pancetta. They can generally get anything I need with a few days notice. It’s also in the same shopping center with a great wine store that does tastings every Saturday and a gourmet shop with a terrific, obscure cheese supply, as well as nice balsamic vinegars, olive oils, etc.
This doesn’t solve all of your meat-related needs, but there is a new charcuterie just down Georgia Avenue in Brightwood you might be interested in.
http://threelittlepigsdc.com/
Yeah, meat ain’t my thing. But I’ve been whining for a good local bakery since we moved in 12 years ago. The Four Corners bakery is fine, but they’re not big on bread, and that’s really what I’m looking for.
My sister-in-law in Tucson lives near a bakery run by French people. As you can imagine, the bread is out of this world. With all the international types around here, you’d think we could get something similar. Incidentally, Tucson supermarkets sell beer, wine, and hard liquor. Now that is something to really feel envious about.
Time to move to Tuscon.
I moved here from Canada three years ago and I have yet to find a decent baguette. First World problems, I know, but even the ones at Cowgirl Creamery, which I was told were good, are really not. Ace is a Toronto-based bakery that makes an awesome baguette and I keep telling them to expand southward.
As for meat, yes, a real butcher in SS would be great.
http://theorganicbutcher.com/ bit of a haul, but fits what you’re looking for perfectly… Would kill for this to be in the Silver Spring area
I have a Caja China. My wife and I have decided to roast a lechon en la caja china (as my Miami-Cuban friends would call it) for Thanksgiving – I am not a big fan of turkey. Right now, I get the pigs from Union Meat Company (out of Eastern Market in DC). It would be great to support a local butcher in buying our pigs! A good butcher in SS would be great!
why don’t you eat half of yourself and die already. The world doesn’t need a selfish glutton with no empathy for living beings.
A bit harsh, but that’s fine. I respect vegans and vegetarians and the choices they make, but your attitude doesn’t serve you or your cause very well.
It’s not as convenient as a brick-and-mortar butcher, but the meat vendors at the SS farmer’s market on Saturday are great. I am a big fan of Many Rocks Farms’ delicious goat products (seriously, try the bangers or the chorizo). She also has pastured pork. In general, if you ask the vendors ahead of time they can bring specific products.
I’ll have Missy’s liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.