I have a serious newsflash for you one-stop grocery store time savers: one more stop to paradise is all you lack.
Of course, ALL grocery stores are not created equal. High-end groceries like Lunds & Byerly’s, Kowalski’s and the many beautiful co-ops around the metro are exceptions.
But you do pay for the convenience and quality of having every option at your fingertips. I, for one, love L&B’s BOGO deals, but that is for another day.
The fact is that MANY of us just don’t like the grocery store visit so we get all the groceries we need from a single store that has everything we need and more.
Yes, sure, it’s convenient, but there is a real downside to this monostore approach: Lack of variety, inspiration, and often savory, meaty flavors. And let me tell you folks, there is a BIG, BIG difference.
Not to mention that the folks behind the counter are almost always the most friendly, helpful, and smiley around. The customer service alone is worth a drive, and starts with a quick Googling of butcher shops in the Twin Cities.
South Metro
Pekarna Meat Market in Jordan, MN.
Pekarna’s is a family-owned butcher shop since 1893 folks. The bone-in porterhouse can be cut-to-order, they make their own braunschweiger, have a delicious pickled pike, and their bacon is the bomb. Although their website doesn’t work great to do advanced research on what you will buy there, bring a colossal cooler and your cash because your eyes will become as big as a bologna and you’ll likely be plotting your next trip before you check out.
St. Paul
St. Paul Meat Shop, St. Paul, MN.
This is whole animal butcher, so if you don’t really want to know where ‘meat’ comes from, this is not for you. With take-home options like the ham special (ham + cheese whiz + pickles + chips + mustard) or meat shop reuben (beef tongue + raclette + kraut + russian dressing) you get the idea of what these meat maneuvers are capable of creating. They feature local farms who are taking care of the animals and land in a responsible way and offer holiday pre-order for family feasts.
Nordeast
Although Ready Meats was featured in a previous article, their friendly staff and selection merits another mention here as their Porchetta is dynamite in the Crockpot, oven, or on the rotisserie. And their skin-on wieners are my go-to for spiral-cut grilled hotdogs. Other favorites are their thick-cut pork chops, ribeye, and standing rib roast (order ahead for easy pickup) which is basically prime rib with bones that add flavor, flavor, flavor.
The Herbivorous Butcher, Minneapolis, MN.
Founded by a dynamic brother-sister duo, these animal loving siblings take an approach that any cow or pig can truly appreciate. And best of all, you don’t even need to leave your house to try these hand-crafted creations for yourself because you can order online or grab meat-free snacks through BiteSquad. Check their daily menu for what’s available.
