SIRLOIN STEAK

Sometimes one forgets how wonderful a sirloin steak tastes. I almost automatically order a rib-eye. It is my go to favorite. We picked up this huge hunk of flavor at Freedom Meat Lockers on our latest 'Meat Adventure". Sirloin cuts need to be watched carefully on the grill. They need to be pulled at the proper temperature to insure tenderness. With a little attention you will be rewarded with steak perfection.

BACON REVUE: THE LOCAL BUTCHER SHOP

Welcome to another addition of the ‘Bacon Revue’. Today’s act is from Berkeley, California; ‘The Local Butcher Shop’. This natty butcher shop has a concept and theme that is a good fit for its location in the ‘Gourmet Ghetto’. We recently purchased some delicious organic grass fed hamburger meat from this shop. Bacon seemed to be the perfect accompaniment to our purchase. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Let the curtain rise.

This was some good looking bacon. It was darkly colored. It had some streaks of white film on its exterior surface. This is from salt that has risen and deposited on the surface. We wanted to know every detail about our purchase. What breed of pig? Cure? Smoke? And of course what is the price. This is when we ran into a brick

wall. The old saying goes; ‘It would be easier to pull teeth’. The clerk was pleasant and nice enough but something was not right. He stumbled on the breed question. “It may be a Duroc/ Berkshire cross” Well is it? He asked a fellow butcher about the smoke. This was my answer. It may be cherry or hickory or apple, it is what ever we have on hand, maybe. The cure is sugar, salt and spice. I left it at that because anymore detail would have been a shock. The last question is price. I did get an answer and it was a premium answer. The perceived notion of paying a premium price will guarantee a superior product is in practice. In spite of lack of information the bacon was purchased. It really does look beautiful.

Once home the black iron was put to use. The meat to fat ratio leans to a meaty cut. The meat had a darker color possibly because of its possible heritage breed. It fried up beautifully. This crisp rasher of beauty had an almost beefy like flavor. All the components of salt, sugar, and smoke were in perfect balance. This was some bacon to seek your teeth into. We enjoyed it with a avocado sandwich. Yummy!

We really liked our bacon. It would have been nice to have known the pedigree of our purchase. The Local Butcher Shop is selling not just meat but a concept. They struck out in the customer service department. This bacon will receive a rating of 3 stars out of 5. I subtracted one point because of pretension, lack of knowledge and good old plain frustration. It was a mighty tasty sandwich.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Where: 1600 Shattuck Av. Berkeley, Ca.
Price: 14.00/pound

1st ANNUAL KINGS OF THE QUE BBQ CHAMPIONSHIP

What a day! It was a beautiful day to have a barbeque competition. It was great to see some old friends and make some new ones. This barbeque extravaganza was held at the fairgrounds in Woodland, California. This venue was scenic and had a old fashioned country charm. It sure beat any arena parking lot. Thirty four teams battled today. We would like to share a few images of the event.

 

Zack Galiste "The Kid" is a new face in the battlefield of competitive barbeque. He is cooking and smoking to achieve "Rookie Team of The Year". He is mentored by father Derrick. I am not clear who is teaching who but this will be a team to be reckoned with. Good Luck team 'Son of Smoke".

Congratulations to 'Hound Dog BBQ' for winning 'Grand Champion'. Also we want to say hurray to 'Smokin Yankees' for winning 'Grand Reserve Champion'. What a day. Thanks for stopping by and sharing some pictures of our friends and extended BBQ family. I would like to leave you with a shot of yours truly and the 'Honorable Mayor of Woodland"  'Marlin H. Skip Davies'. Skip said my key to the city is in the mail.

Thankyou Ed Anhorn for putting on a great event.

KINGS OF THE QUE BBQ CHAMPIONSIP

We are loading up the 'Racing Honda' with our 'Master Judge" badges and accessories and heading to Woodland California for the "Kings of the Que BBQ Championship". Today the competitors will arrive and prepare to cook some award winning bbq. We will arrive tomorrow and have the privilege to sample and score these tasty entries. The winners will compete for cash, trophies and points to achieve ' Team of the Year'. The public is welcome and encouraged to sample bbq and listen to some great music tomorrow. We hope to see you there.

Kings of The Que BBQ Championship

KGWan's

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KGWan's is a organic hot sauce made in Santa Cruz, California. Be prepared for a roller coaster of a review

by clicking this ling here

MY WAY

It is Ms. Goofy's birthday this week and "The President of Cookies" (my sister) took my 'Master Judge' wife out to lunch. I was not invited. This poor meat craving soul needed some protein substance. A quick mini 'Meat Adventure' to Berkeley, California to 'The local Butcher Shop' resulted in some hamburger and bacon. A very special burger would be had for lunch. This is what the 'The Local Butcher Shop' has to say about themselves;

The Local Butcher Shop offers our community sustainably raised, local meat.  We only buy whole caracasses directly from local farmers and ranchers, all located within 150 miles of Berkeley.  All of our product is pasture raised - no antibiotics, no hormones - just pure, clean meat.  Because we buy whole carcasses, we are able to do custom cut butchery – however you want it, we can cut it!   All of our butchers are trained chefs who are happy to help you with cooking suggestions and recipes.  We also make our own sausages, pates, stocks, and sauces as well as a changing Sandwich of the Day!

This burger was a masterpiece. The bacon was a very special addition to this sandwich. A 'Bacon Revue' will follow shortly. I was not invited to lunch but I did it 'My Way'

"THE MEATRAKE"

"The Meatrake' is reviewed on 'Peppers and More" today. The best and tastiest part of this review is we got to enjoy pulled pork sandwiches. We had to test 'The Meatrake" and it worked like a charm. You can read all about it by clicking the link below.

Read all about 'The Meatrake" by clicking this sentence.