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FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 1:45:31 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1560
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online 		After trying several meat markets and supermarkets in Florida, I have to give "not Wine Spectator type" award to Costco.

We can't find better rib eyes than the ones we get at Costco,
pork ribs (forgive me Maker for I have sinned)
New Zealand lamb and yesterday we had the BEST veal ever, total mouth melt!

To add to the perfection were the bottle of
1988 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco
and "Chocolate" DVD afterwards.

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RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 7:16:28 AM   
fingers

 

Posts: 736
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline 		I know several restaurants and culinary schools in the area buy their meats at Costco.  Their reasoning;  quality.  You have not sinned thus far (except for that "Chocolate" movie)

BTW -  Did you go through the chocolate shop in Martinborough, NZ when you were there?  That's the one that provided the chocolate inspiration for the movie and I must say, the candies are awesome.

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 2
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 8:45:44 AM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: online 		Costco is decent, but we get our meat from a local butcher.  They practically slaughter the cows right in front of you at that shop.    Well not quite but they will take out a side of beef and cut whatever you want from it.

(in reply to fingers)
Post #: 3
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 9:51:10 AM   
zippz

 

Posts: 233
Joined: 6/28/2008
From: Chicago IL USA
Status: offline 		we've had our tour of every source in the city
...including costco
but we have consistently found that
any mom and pop polish deli
has the best quality, variety and price

maybe this is due to the fact that meat
is the central ingredient of most polish cuisine
and therefore pols take pride in their selections
and just as well you should factor in
that my wife is polish and a very gifted chef


_____________________________

“See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil... just Drink wine” ~ CT mantra

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Post #: 4
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 10:04:42 AM   
fingers

 

Posts: 736
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline 		Unfair comparison, zippz.  My polish grandmother used to pluck chickens in the downtown market in Chicago.  My italian grandfather owned a restaurant, grocery and butcher shop in Calumet City.  I have never had better prime rib, porterhouse, or strip steak than in the broad-shouldered city - you lucky dog.  So Chicago must be disqualified.  Like putting d'Yquem in a competition with Lupiac's.   Certainly Costco will fall short against good ole midwestern beef.  Costco does pretty good with the poultry, though, according to a couple of local chef's I know here in SoCal. 

< Message edited by fingers -- 8/25/2008 10:05:12 AM >

(in reply to zippz)
Post #: 5
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 10:07:50 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1560
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online 		zipps, there are stores in South Florida with better selections and better prices, but not the better QUALITY as far as beef is concerned.
http://www.penn-dutch.com/
what does your wife think of your 9/11 theories?
(tell the truth, I lived in Belarus on the border with Poland and can understand Polish to check on her direct if what you post is NOT what she thinks! :) )

Rob, you are blessed!

Fingers, I did not visit the store in NZ, I am lacking the sweet tooth!


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Post #: 6
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 10:17:05 AM   
fingers

 

Posts: 736
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Serge Birbrair

Fingers, I did not visit the store in NZ, I am lacking the sweet tooth!



Yeah, I'm not sure how much you visited North Island but I really loved Martinborough.  The chocolate shop is worth the visit just to SEE the works of art created there, even if you don't indulge.  I also think the Pinot Noir in Martinborough thoroughly trumps other NZ pinot's by a wide margin.  Truly Cot D'Or in substance

Probably no better lamb anywhere, either

< Message edited by fingers -- 8/25/2008 10:19:02 AM >

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 7
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 11:44:31 AM   
zippz

 

Posts: 233
Joined: 6/28/2008
From: Chicago IL USA
Status: offline 		fingers - you have a very solid point there...
we were slaughterhouse central... back in the day
considering all the pockets of ethnicity we still have here
the expectation/standard for prime meats could still very well be intact

serge - the wife is from Przemysl (sounds like "shemish" to me)
very close to Ukraine border and near the Czech border
being that the pols history books are filled with the accounts
of being invaded/occupied/swindled by every neighbor
and having watched a couple of the 911 documentaries with me
it hasn't shocked or surprised her that our gov staged the event
what has been disappointing for her is to see that such blatant lies
could fool the majority of americans ...
that so many blindly follow... never questioning such an absurd story
she was under this impression that we weren't so naive and gullible
in part because we pride ourselves in being more
open-minded educated critical-thinking then the rest of the world
... and i can't help but agree with her


_____________________________

“See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil... just Drink wine” ~ CT mantra

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Post #: 8
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 12:13:29 PM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1560
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online 		oh poor dear.....please extend her my condolences.

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(in reply to zippz)
Post #: 9
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 1:07:58 PM   
Blue Shorts

 

Posts: 318
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: online 		What I don't understand is why some people will believe anything on the internet as long as it's anti-government.  Damn sheeple. 



Also hasn't anybody noticed that john McCain is an extraterrestrial, that McDonalds adds chemicals to their burgers that allows the government to track us and that the U.S. Olympic swim team is comprised of androids?

Wake up people.... They're here!

_____________________________

The best wine is the one that you haven't yet tried.

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 10
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 2:51:46 PM   
zippz

 

Posts: 233
Joined: 6/28/2008
From: Chicago IL USA
Status: offline 		with such a shallow and silly effort to discredit...
you obviously haven't watched any of the docs or sites i have recommended

the true shame here is...
to be so willfully ignorant that you advocate to others
to also invest their energy in the same


_____________________________

“See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil... just Drink wine” ~ CT mantra

(in reply to Blue Shorts)
Post #: 11
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 3:06:50 PM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1560
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online 		Zippz, by the powers vested in me I pronounce you the Meat King of Chicago.
You may now kiss the bride.

Blue,
zippz is normal, in general, he only has one button - 9/11 conspiracy.

Let's not mention his disease in public, he is incurable. When him and his wife get an Altzheimer, this will be the end of the conspiracy theory.

< Message edited by Serge Birbrair -- 8/25/2008 3:10:03 PM >

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(in reply to zippz)
Post #: 12
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 6:15:02 PM   
rbazinet

 

Posts: 188
Joined: 4/13/2008
From: Toronto, Ontario
Status: offline 		Interesting.  I live in Canada and although people rave about Costco for a lot of things, I have yet to hear anybody perk up about the quality of the meat.  I will ask around.   Do you think it varies by region or country?

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 13
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 8:01:59 PM   
zippz

 

Posts: 233
Joined: 6/28/2008
From: Chicago IL USA
Status: offline 		good question...
noting the nature of the beast so to speak
costco will draw up exclusive contracts
only with sources that best boost their bottomline
provided canada's food regulating gov body/dept
doesn't limit their options
i know that the majority of our cattle here
are raised on huge corporate factory farms
corn feed and to speed weight gain, feedlot managers administer
growth-stimulating hormones and feed additives...
now how all of this plays out in a quality slab of ribs or steak?
with the high volume streamlining and the cutting of corners...
my guess would be a lack luster end product
which seems to be the case

< Message edited by zippz -- 8/25/2008 8:04:53 PM >

_____________________________

“See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil... just Drink wine” ~ CT mantra

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Post #: 14
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 9:10:43 PM   
Blue Shorts

 

Posts: 318
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: zippz

with such a shallow and silly effort to discredit...
you obviously haven't watched any of the docs or sites i have recommended

the true shame here is...
to be so willfully ignorant that you advocate to others
to also invest their energy in the same



Wow.  You act as if you are the all-knowing, all-seeing sage.  You assume that I didn't read any of the docs or information at the sites that you recommended because....how could anyone disagree with you once they ingest that information?

How condescending of you.  Anyone that disagrees with you is ignorant and shallow.

You perplex me.  Usually someone with your obvious lack of intellect makes up for it with an actual personality.  I was wrong.

_____________________________

The best wine is the one that you haven't yet tried.

(in reply to zippz)
Post #: 15
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 9:16:54 PM   
Blue Shorts

 

Posts: 318
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: Serge Birbrair

Blue,
zippz is normal, in general, he only has one button - 9/11 conspiracy.

Let's not mention his disease in public, he is incurable. When him and his wife get an Altzheimer, this will be the end of the conspiracy theory.


While 9/11 is his biggest button, he's a classical conspiracy theorist.  I'm confident that he has a plethora of conspiracys that he'd be only happy to share with anyone that will listen.

He's an example of exactly what's wrong with politics in America.  Both sides are so sure that they are right, that neither side will listen or learn.  I'll put him back on block now.

Sorry to have stirred things up.

_____________________________

The best wine is the one that you haven't yet tried.

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 16
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 11:40:37 PM   
Thornhaven

 

Posts: 10
Joined: 3/6/2008
From: Napa/Solano Area
Status: offline 		Back to Costco meats.
They have some of the best Tri-tip around. Trimmed or you trim. Bought 10 pounds this weekend for a family scout trip. Marinade I use is normally 50:50 soy sauce and lager beer with a couple of tablespoons of minced garlic for 3 to 6 hours. Forgot to pack the garlic so used Costco's Kirkland Steak Rub. Came off the bar-b-que  perfect. I've been cooking them for years but it wasn't until recently someone pointed out 3 key "secrets": Take the meat out of the refrig and have it at room temp before cooking, sear first then reduce heat, remove from heat early and let it rest and slightly cool before cutting to keep the juice in, and finally, slice cross grain to make it more tender. I wish  I'd known that years earlier. The meat went down to a couple of bottles of Fogdog Pinot ( because of the event served in plastic cups). We're out here in California and they sell these tri-tips in packages of 2,3 or sealed bags of 15#. When I've been back in the mid-west or the east coast and have asked about this cut no one has ever heard of it.

(in reply to Blue Shorts)
Post #: 17
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/25/2008 11:53:28 PM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1560
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online 		Yeah, bringing it to room temperature helps a lot. I usually leave meat on the counter for few hours while it rubbed or marinated.

My wife is not a big fan of marinades, she says marinade takes away the natural taste of beef.
No marinated beef in our family, but we do plenty of lamb marinated in white wine, onions, salt and bay leaf.

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(in reply to Thornhaven)
Post #: 18
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 12:17:37 AM   
grafstrb

 

Posts: 507
Joined: 11/6/2007
From: Los Angeles, via Minnesota
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Thornhaven

Back to Costco meats.
They have some of the best Tri-tip around ... When I've been back in the mid-west or the east coast and have asked about this cut no one has ever heard of it.


Thornhaven,
 
tri-tip has many "other" names...in the midwest (or at least MN) tri-tip is called sirloin bottom butt ... I think I've also heard it called triangle steak...there are probably other names, despite the fact that tri-tip is the proper name.

(in reply to Thornhaven)
Post #: 19
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 3:00:17 AM   
pjaines

 

Posts: 925
Joined: 5/26/2008
From: London
Status: offline 		Dont you guys have butchers in the US?

Maybe costco is different in the US than it is in the UK, but I would never dream of going to costco to buy meat.  Usually in the UK people go to specialist butchers who usually buy their meat locally and age it well.



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Post #: 20
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 5:50:54 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1560
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online 		Paul, in USA Costco sells American Beef and there are no problems sourcing it. I doubt they sell American Meats in UK.

BTW, in USA Costco is the largest retailer of...wine.

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Post #: 21
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 5:56:53 AM   
pjaines

 

Posts: 925
Joined: 5/26/2008
From: London
Status: offline 		When I was saying locally sourced, I was meaning within 30-50 miles - not transported across a continent and half starved.

When I lived in the US I was really disappointed by the quality of the meat I would find on sale.

I'm sure there was some great stuff on sale, but I never saw a local butcher shop anywhere.


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(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 22
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 6:02:40 AM   
cgrimes

 

Posts: 906
Joined: 10/8/2007
From: Massachusetts
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: pjaines

When I was saying locally sourced, I was meaning within 30-50 miles - not transported across a continent and half starved.

When I lived in the US I was really disappointed by the quality of the meat I would find on sale.

I'm sure there was some great stuff on sale, but I never saw a local butcher shop anywhere.



I have 4 butcheries within a short drive and regularly utilize them for my meats and homemade sausages.  That said, I can attest to the quality of Costco meats, especially the ribeye.  I just generally like to give my business to the small guys if possible.

(in reply to pjaines)
Post #: 23
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 6:04:25 AM   
pjaines

 

Posts: 925
Joined: 5/26/2008
From: London
Status: offline 		I lived in San Francisco for over a year and didn't really find that many butchers.  I thought it was strange given SF being a more foody city.  I guess everyone eats mung beans there!!!

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Post #: 24
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 6:27:16 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1560
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online 		Paul, there are lots of "meat" in SF!
;)



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Post #: 25
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 6:33:08 AM   
pjaines

 

Posts: 925
Joined: 5/26/2008
From: London
Status: offline 		I wondered how long it would be before you picked up on that one.



_____________________________

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Post #: 26
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 6:38:10 AM   
zippz

 

Posts: 233
Joined: 6/28/2008
From: Chicago IL USA
Status: offline 		lol ...
i'm sure SF is known for a whole other type of Meat Market
i know here in the windy city...
if you asked someone on halsted street in boy's town
where the local meat market is
9 out of 10 would point to the nearest bar/disco

pj... i really think that's the key...
going with a smaller distributor such as a butcher
from what i understand their meat sources are
from small local ranches and farms
where the raising of cattle is not artificially pushed/rushed
and their diet is well balanced and get more exercise
all of these basic elements factor into a quality end product
as well a better quality of life for the herd

but i have to hand it to costco
they are consistently on top of their game
across the board... they really have a knack
for picking high quality products
and i think their kirkland brand
across the board reaches their policy
for a higher standard as well
though when it comes to meat
i think the volume in which they deal
possess some inherent limitations

for an inside view of costco's chopping block
i found this article particularly insightful and reconfirming
http://beefmagazine.com/mag/beef_beef_chat_inside/

and BS...
you have me completely "shock and awed"
i am lost for words to describe such a reaction...
you are in a state of mind/heart
so far beyond my ability to comprehend
you consistently provide thoughtful rational feedback
on just about every subject under the sun
with the exception to this one...
you just completely drop the ball and run crying wolf

< Message edited by zippz -- 8/26/2008 6:44:26 AM >

_____________________________

“See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil... just Drink wine” ~ CT mantra

(in reply to pjaines)
Post #: 27
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 7:01:40 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1560
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: pjaines

I wondered how long it would be before you picked up on that one.




Wonder no more...23 minutes is the answer
;)

Zippz, give up, you can not bait me, Mr Master Baiter.

< Message edited by Serge Birbrair -- 8/26/2008 7:02:32 AM >

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Post #: 28
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 8:32:04 AM   
fingers

 

Posts: 736
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Serge Birbrair

BTW, in USA Costco is the largest retailer of...wine.


And yet, the #1 selling wine doesn't come from Costco.  That would be 2-buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. 

I've given up buying wine from either of those outlets despite shopping there every week.  Costco carries good wine but their provenence sucks and only a few of the top-shelf bottles from TJ's are drinkable. Too much experimenting is required to find something worthy and I've poured out more wine than I've consumed from Trader Joe's.

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 29
RE: FR: who sells better meats than Costco? - 8/26/2008 9:00:55 AM   
fingers

 

Posts: 736
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: zippz

i am lost for words to describe such a reaction...




No, you're not.

(in reply to zippz)
Post #: 30
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