Meat Report

Everyone knows that in the United States, there's the West Coast and the East Coast. West coast kicks it California style, big waves, big skiing. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre represent its essential rap game. For the East Coast, its all about Snow in the winter, politics, big business and Notorious BIG, Sugar Hill Gang and RUN DMC.

White Castle

When it comes to Burgers, the East Coast is White Castle territory. Claiming a feature film and the title of World's Oldest Burger Chain, White Castle was founded in 1921 in Wichita Kansas.

The Burger: Read more

Scientists recently announced limited success in creating "in vitro meat," known also as IVM.  This vat grown meat is being hailed as one of the greatest accomplishments of modern society, an end to animal suffering, an answer to our carbon footprint woes, and a boon for the boutique meat market all in one.  But is it really?

The claim: IVM is more humane than factory farming.  

On this count, the IVM fans are absolutely correct.  Vat grown meat does not have nerve cells, and therefore cannot feel pain.  And being simply a collection of muscle cells, it has nothing that even approaches consciousness.  Factory farming is one of the greatest atrocities of the western world today, and anything that hastens its demise is a benefit to the world as a whole.
Read more

Michael Pollan speaking at BioneersBioneers is going on this weekend in California and green inventors, entrepreneurs, activists and enthusiasts from around the world are now gathered together talking about all that’s new and trendy and amazing in the green world. One of the keynote speakers was Michael Pollan, and I watched his speech this afternoon, after spending a hour or two roaming the Alemany Farmer’s Market in San Francisco and marveling at how much more beautiful the food was with its dirt-crusted glean in the afternoon sunshine, rather than the neon bulbs that distort the colors of the rotten spots from sitting for too long on the garlic I end up buying down the street in a pinch…

Photo Credit: Henkimaa

Pollan gave a great speech about the state of food production and what needs to change. It was great. Read more

The New York Times is carrying a high-profile article about a woman who was paralyzed from an e. coli infection.  Stephanie Smith is a 22 year old woman who follows a "mostly vegetarian diet," but ate a fateful hamburger at Sunday dinner with her family.  Within a week, "The convulsions grew so relentless that doctors had to put her in a coma for nine weeks." She awoke from her induced coma to find that the infection had left her paralyzed.
Read more

I recently ran across an article online that mentioned "mad cow disease" tangentially, and it got me wondering.  Weren't we in the United States supposed to have a massive outbreak of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) by now?

The prion disease which is called Bovine Spongiform Epilepsy (BSE) in cattle and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in people was a media darling in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but it has largely faded from view.  (Not least because a more lethal form of e. coli has developed in cattle, which presents a far more pressing medical issue. If you're a journalist looking to scare people, e. coli is where it's at these days.)
Read more

Since September is Prime Rib Month, why not expand your cooking skills and learn more about this roast?

A full prime rib (also known as a standing rib roast) consists of seven cow ribs, from shoulder to loin, which is about 15 pounds of beef. It’s considered enough to feed a group of 14 or more people—a serving of about two people per rib. If it has less than three ribs, it’s not considered a roast, but a steak instead.

Popular during the holidays, prime rib is considered a pricey, impressive meal. It’s also good for birthdays—particularly for male family members—retirement parties, and anniversaries. It’s also often a choice during hall reservations made for large gatherings (remember The Wedding Singer? “Always the prime rib… make them eat the fish!”). Read more

salamiOther than being Labor Day, did you know that Monday is Salami Day? (What food doesn’t have its own day?) Though salami is a preserved meat—like bacon, which is getting a really bad rap these days—which means it’s high in salt, fats and nitrates that can cause cancer, indulging for this one day won’t put you on your death bed.

Sure, you can just order your own “Hide the Salami” or other theme t-shirt, get a felt salami sandwich to play with or even make your own weird plush salami, but eating some salami would probably be the most enjoyable way to celebrate. Read more

Start with 100% beef jerky, and have your contact seared into it with a laser.

Think about it. Want to be memorable? Want to make sure you're never without a quick bite? Want to make a statement about recycling, being green and avoiding the munchies?

Like it says on the Web site:

Unlike other business cards, MEAT CARDS will retain value after the econopocalypse. Hoard and barter your calorie-rich, life-sustaining cards. Read more

In commemoration of yet another redundant meat holiday dedicated to another favorite American food, let’s salute the hotdog (and vegan dog!) together. Since July is National Hotdog Month, why not eat one just the way you like it—sauerkraut? mustard? beans and franks? cut up with little legs like an octopus, the way my husband makes it?—while you read over these facts about everyone’s favorite ballpark food. (Well… most people’s favorite. I like the cheese pretzels, myself.)

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that over 7 billion hotdogs will be consumed by Americans between Memorial Day and Labor Day this year—with 155 million eaten alone during July 4th weekend.

Do you think these record numbers are because everybody’s really digging hotdogs this year, or because so many people are broke? Read more

Today’s meat can run on the expensive side, and if you live in a house full of carnivores (as many of us do), feeding them on a budget can run your bank account pretty dry. Here are some meat-buying tips that can help you save money while keeping your family satiated and sane.

Buy whole meats. Instead of paying extra for chopped or diced meat, you can easily break it apart yourself and save a few dollars. The same goes for pre-made hamburger patties; you can always pat out your own.

Stock up during sales. You can freeze what you won’t eat right away. That said, sometimes meat that’s about to expire goes on sale, too, so just keep your eyes open for that while you shop.

Look out for markdown days. Many stores have a markdown on the same day each week. Read more