Check out our Tomahawk Steak Recipe - Sure to Impress!

Custom meat shops and smaller “farm to table” ranchers are trending significantly across the US. 

This increase in small custom butchers is not as simple as increased interest in healthier grass-fed meats, or even supporting the “small guy.”

Consolidation of the LARGE meat manufacturers has left a hole in the industry for small ranchers to sell their meat.  For example, 98% of all meat butchered in the US is handled by less than 50 large scale processors.  This results in small ranchers to either get creative or get out of ranching.   Some producers have had to adapt to what the luxury market requests and desires whether it be grassfed, hormone free, specialized feed etc.  However, it has also fueled the drive for more and more small custom butcher shops to thrive

Small butchers are making a comeback which means you can custom order special cuts of meat, as opposed to being at the mercy of what is leftover in the butcher aisle at your local grocery chain.

Featured in this newsletter is the custom cut “Tomahawk Steak.” 

What is a Tomahawk steak?   The name itself sounds exciting!  The tomahawk steak is essentially a bone-in ribeye steak (it has also been known as the “Cowboy Ribeye”).  This piece of meat is cut from the rib section of the cow, with the large rib bone still attached, hence the resemblance of a tomahawk ax is very apparent. The attached rib is not only there to allow this cut of meat to have an exciting name, but it serves a bigger purpose when being cooked!  Having a bone-in ribeye insulates the meat during the cooking process which allows the meat to stay moister and more tender. 

You have not ever cooked a Tomahawk?  Have no fear.  There are a lot of methods for cooking this cut of meat, and we decided to include of our favorite recipes which would pair well with any of the selections in our club shipments.  This is also a fantastic cut of meat to cook this summer with you favorite friends or family to impress even the most persnickety of guests.

Believe it or not, there are several places to get your hands on this cut of meat locally here on the Central Coast.  There are a selection of small butcher shops including J&R meats in Templeton as well as Zio’s meat and salami in Paso Robles.  There are also several local small ranchers whom you can buy direct.  Many of these producers sell their wares at the local farmer’s markets, and they even take special orders!