A Tale of Two Fishes
If you are one of the many people who has been trying to eat better by cutting out red meat and including more fish, you have had to make the decision between purchasing wild vs. farmed fish. It can be a hard decision because there are pros and cons to both.

If you have a fish at your home, you might have nitices that wild caught betta and farm bred betta are different. Especially when it comes to feeding habits, click here and eat What do betta fish eat in the wild and the farm. The only real difference between the two is where they are raised. Wild fish is exactly that, fish caught in the wild. Farmed fish are raised in pens submerged in ponds, lakes or saltwater. Pretty straightforward.

Public perception would tell you that wild-caught fish is better for you because it is caught in its natural environment, the way we have always caught fish. This may or may not be the case, as I will explain.

The stigma attached to farm-raised fish suggests that it is a genetically modified Frankenfish. It is not. It is the same animal you have always eaten that has been raised in a controlled environment.

In an effort to try to demystify your fish shopping experience, we have compiled a list of pros and cons to help make your decision easier.

Wild Caught
Pros
The biggest proponent of buying wild-caught fish is that it doesn’t contain any antibiotics or pesticides, though the later really depends on the waters that are being fished. Buying wild caught is no guarantee that mercury or other toxin levels in your fish will be low, again, it all depends on the environment they are swimming in. Read more…

Bacon — The Other Food Group

Though people have been enjoying the awesomeness that is bacon for centuries, lately it seems that bacon is everywhere. You can find it in chocolate, jerky, and even jam. There is so much bacon available nowadays that it is hard to know which one to buy. Hopefully, we’ll be able to help…

Uncured  vs. Cured
The first question you should be thinking about your bacon Uncured or Cured? The term Uncured, however, is a little misleading. All bacon is preserved by either using smoke or salt, so by definition, bacon is a cured meat. If it were not cured, it would just be pork belly (or loin, or fatback…).

Flavor-wise, the difference between the two is difficult to discern. The real distinction between Cured and Uncured is how it is cured. So that means the only real difference between the two is the manner in which the pork is preserved.

Cured bacon is made by adding artificial nitrates, generally sodium nitrate, to the salt and brine mixture. The added nitrates help prevent the growth of bacteria on the meat so they are an important part of the process but they may have a negative impact on your health.

Because of those health concerns, uncured bacon has become much more popular. Though Uncured bacon does not have any added artificial nitrates, it is not nitrate-free because you are using the naturally occurring nitrates in celery extract or sea salt to cure the bacon. So while you may not be eating artificial nitrates, you are still eating nitrates.

The argument for or against curing basically comes down to preference. Uncured bacon hasn’t been fooled with as much, so it has been left in a much more natural state than cured bacon. And sometimes has a flavor closer to pork belly. It can also be saltier because the meat has to be in the brine longer to get the same preservation result as the cured bacon.

So you may be asking “If the cured vs. uncured doesn’t make that much of a difference in taste, why the explosion of the different bacon products?” The answer my friends is all in the smoke.

Smoking
Once you’ve cured the pork it’s time for the smoke. This is what gives bacon that smokey-good flavor and also makes the bacon easier to slice.

Traditionally smoked bacon is put in a smoker and heated to 130 degrees. Some industrial producers though will skip the smoking and apply liquid smoke to the cured meat before heating it. To avoid this product, look for the label that says Hardwood Smoked or Naturally Smoked as this means it has actually gone into a smoker.

Taking things a step further, you can look for labels that say Applewood Smoked or Mesquite Smoked. Obviously, this means that the product was smoked using the specified wood. The average bacon eater will probably not notice the flavor difference between various smoking woods. But to a bacon connoisseur, the difference is similar to the wine lover who can taster the black cherry notes in his Zinfandel.

The good news in all of this is that you get to try each and every version of bacon to find your favorite. It’s a tough job but someone has to do it…

If there is one cut of beef that just screams holidays or big celebrations, it is the prime rib.

Prime rib makes a dramatic impression when brought to the table, and the flavor and tenderness can’t be beat. As an added bonus? Any leftovers will make fantastic sandwiches, which is good because prime rib is an expensive cut of meat.

Prime rib, also known as a standing rib roast, is a cut of beef from the primal rib, one of the nine primal cuts of beef. This area is made up of ribs 6 thru 12 of the steer. The full rib roast, meaning all 7 ribs, on average can weigh up to 16 pounds or more. That’s a lot of prime rib. Not to mention the financial hit. As a general rule, 1 rib can serve two people so if you have 10 people coming for dinner, you will need a 5 rib roast. A “Ideal” roast is 3 to 5 ribs and will weigh from 6 to 12 pounds.

Most prime ribs are sold in smaller pieces of 2 to 6 ribs. The best portion, according to some, is the section that contains ribs 10-12 and is known as the small end. The meat in this area is tender and flavorful and is more lean than the other side known as the large end.

Prime ribs can be ordered without the bones, however the presentation is not as impressive. If you decide to go with a bone-in roast, remember to ask your butcher to trim off the feather, or chine, bones to make carving easier.

Cooking a prime rib couldn’t be easier. All that is required is your favorite seasoning and a good thermometer, so that you know it is not overcooked. Resting the roast after cooking is also essential.

Though there are plenty of options for seasoning your roast, you can never go wrong with classic salt and pepper. We strongly recommend Butcher’s Salt from the French Farm Collective, or Andy’s Rub that’s available in our Meat Department. And there is always our perennial staff favorite, Oakland Dust

Below is our preferred method of cooking your prime rib. These instructions can be applied to any size roast.

Standing Rib Roast
Adapted from the Complete Meat Cookbook by Bruce Aidells

Read more…

If it’s November, you know we’re going to be talking about how preparing your turkey. Because most people only cook a turkey once a year, it can be a challenge to get things just right. And there are so many ways to prepare a turkey.

We have put together this Thanksgiving Survival Guide to answer the questions that may come as you think about preparing your turkey for the big feast.

How Big a Bird?
The first questions you should be asking are, “How big of a turkey do I need?”, and “What will actually fit in my oven?” As a general rule, you should plan on one pound of turkey per person. This should cover dinner, and leave you with a few leftovers. If you require a lot of leftovers, a pound and a half per person should be sufficient.

If you are planning to have a large number of people for Thanksgiving and are ordering a large turkey, you want to make sure that it will fit in your oven with sufficient room to roast. If it gets too close to the top element it will burn. If you’re uncertain it will work, you can always go with two smaller turkeys. Smaller birds cook quicker, and will ensure there is enough for everyone—including leftovers.

Spatchcock or Splay
Another option for large birds (or any turkey) is to spatchcock or butterfly the turkey. This flattens the turkey, so that it will not only fit in your oven, but your cooking time will be much faster. Spatchcocking also allows for more even cooking so that your light and dark meat are both juicy. The only drawback is you don’t have the drama of bringing a perfectly roasted turkey to the table. You can spatchcock a turkey yourself, or ask our butchers, they will be happy to do it for you. Read more…