This City Chic has always been a meat eater and knew exactly where the meat comes from, but now I see the cows before then end up on my plate so it’s getting harder and harder. My mental distance from the cows and the pigs allows me to continue to enjoy flavorful meals. Believe it or not all animals have personalities so if I connected with any of them that would be the end of this carnivore.
With all that said I’m now brought to why this isn’t your everyday gratitude story. In order to keep enjoying meat I can’t see the process of how it gets from the live animal to my plate, which is why I’m so thankful for butchers. They do the dirty work and when they’re done the cuts of beef are packaged up exactly the way I want them, and then I have a freezer full of meat to choose from when it’s dinnertime. The cuts of beef that they so uniquely provide are:
- ground beef
- pre-made hamburger patties
- steaks (t-bones, ribeyes, sirloins, etc)
- roasts (round, chuck, sirloin, etc.)
- oh and liver, tongue, etc. that I don’t fix or eat ~ yuck!
A cow provides 2 sides of beef or 4 quarters of beef depending on how much a customer wants, and the butchers that we use work very well with us as well as our customers. They package everything with the date it was packaged and the name of the customer. For example: 1 cow can create two sides of beef and each side is cut to the customers request such as:
- how much is in a ground beef package (1 lb, 1 1/2 lbs, or 2 lbs)
- small pre-made burgers, big-pre-made burgers or both
- how many burgers are packaged together (2, 3, 4 . . . )
- the size of your roast (2 or 3 lbs)
- thickness of your steaks
- and the list goes on . . .
Those are just a few examples of how amazing a butcher is, and they help me continue to be a City Chic On A Farm! Thank you butchers!!
Please remember that turkey you’re eating this Thanksgiving was raised by a farmer and prepared by a butcher. So in your prayers don’t forget to thank them too! 
You don’t have to live on a farm to have a freezer full of meat and be thankful for a butcher. If you live in the Cincinnati, Dayton, or Columbus OH or even Indianapolis, IN areas we would be happy to sell you a side of beef or pork. If you live anywhere else just find the closest butcher and they can hook you up with a farmer for your needs.
What type of unique gratitude story to you have to share? I’d love to hear it!!
Loved reading your blog for the first time. I look forward to reading it again in the future. Interesting post about the beef!!
This post would have pleased my hubby’s grandfather, as he owned a butcher shop in northern Ohio for 50 or more years. As you mentioned, they are full of knowledge and know how when it comes to meat. I highly suggest getting to know your local butcher as they can help you pick out the best quality meat for your family. Don’t forget, your local grocery store has an experienced butcher on staff as well.