Do you ever feel intimidated to walk into a butcher shop? If this is your first time, it can be very overwhelming. Between the numerous choices in cuts, your questions about quality, the array of flavours and textures, and the uncertainty of the quantity you need, it can be enough to have you turn tail. But don’t worry! We’ve all been there, and we are here to help.
Leanna is our Calgary Meat Shop manager and local butcher, and we’ve asked her your most burning and frequently asked questions:
Q: Tell us a little about you! What is your experience in the food industry? How long have you been a butcher for Spragg’s Meat Shop?
My name is Leanna, and I am the store manager at Spragg’s meat shop. I went to SAIT for Butchery and Charcuterie Management in 2014, and have been with Spragg’s since May 2017 when we opened the store on Macleod Trail. I have been in the food industry for over 10 years but didn’t find my passion until I discovered the world of meat cutting in 2012.
Q: Do you have a favourite cut of meat?
My favourite cut of meat is anything pork. Pork is my favourite protein because it is incredibly versatile when it comes to cooking, curing and smoking. It also lends itself well to a huge variety of seasoning and recipes, as it is the most consumed protein all over the world.
Q: How can a customer tell if the meat is of high quality? Are there easy tells?
The very best way to know if meat is of high quality is to understand where it comes from. You can’t have a good final product without starting with quality ingredients. Go to a reputable butcher shop that has knowledgeable staff that can point you in the right direction to suit your preferences. If you are looking to go to a grocery store, then easy tells would be colour, best before dates, and marbling.
Q: What sorts of cuts can you make for customers in-house?
We process the whole carcass so we can get a large variety of cuts. To name a few, rind on pork belly, shoulder Boston butt steaks, double-cut rib end chops, and sweet and sour ribs are all very popular.
Q: What are some uncommon but flavourful cuts?
Some cuts aren’t as common, such as sirloin steak, that is on the leaner side but still tender, great for a quick sear, and lends well to many quick, easy weeknight dinners. A leg roast - also called round - is on the leaner side but makes for a nice oven roast and has a more accessible price point. If you are a fan of marbling, rib end cut chops and Boston butt steaks have exceptional flavour.
Q: Are there any tricks or things customers should look for when they are picking out a cut of meat?
If you are buying meat from a grocery store meat counter, there are a few tips that are good to keep in mind: the colour of the meat, the marbling, and the texture of meat. If you are going to butcher, be clear about what you like, and any knowledgeable meat cutter should be able to point you in the right direction.
Q: What cuts of meat give you the most bang for your buck?
You can get a shoulder roast or side ribs that you could get a few meals out of for the same price as one prime cut steak. Flank and Skirt steaks have grown in popularity, so their price points have gone up, and there are only two small pieces of each on a whole carcass, so don’t be surprised if your local producer doesn’t have an abundance on hand as supply is limited.
The more the butcher needs to cut your meat, the higher the price per kg will be. If you’re not afraid of doing a little of the work yourself, you can save a lot of money by buying whole, bone-in, roasts and subprimal cuts and cutting them yourself. Boneless skinless chicken breasts cost more than twice the price per kg of a whole chicken, and by buying a whole bird, you get the breasts, legs and thighs for stewing, and a carcass for making stock from.
Q: What sets Spragg’s Meat Shop apart from the rest of the butchers in Calgary?
Spragg’s Meat Shop sets itself apart from other butcher shops by their unwavering consistency and dedication to quality. I can stand by any product in the shop and have confidence the customer will leave with quality and be back with a smile on their face eager to try new things because I am also that consumer and have yet to be disappointed.
Q: Can you give us the top 5 reasons to buy meat from a butcher like Spragg’s, instead of the grocery store?
Value: You really do get what you pay for. We are not much more expensive than the grocery store, and I have customers come in day in and day out saying they buy chicken/pork/beef from the big box stores, and it's cheap, but it doesn't taste good. When you buy quality food, you can reduce your portion size and still be just as satiated as you would be eating more of something less satisfying.
Support Local: The Spragg's family raises the pigs in Alberta, and they work very hard to get their product to consumers. They truly are the farmer, butcher, and meat shop. And they source our other proteins from local, hard-working Alberta farmers.
Quality: The Spragg's family focuses on more natural ways of raising animals that are conducive to their natural environments meaning lower stress, no additives, room to roam around and access to sunlight. I can't stress enough, starting with the highest quality and carrying that standard throughout will only ensure that you will end up with the best result.
Knowledge: We all know how intimidating the meat counters and butcher shops can be, but don't forget us butchers have also been to meat counters and have faced a sea of red with no idea where to begin. Curiosity is what got us to where we are today. We want to know how you cook things, if you like fat, if you are on a budget, etc. There is something for everyone, and the more info we have, the better equipped we are to make sure you leave with a product you will be happy with.
Custom Processing: In our Calgary store, we process most of our products Thursday to Saturday, and we can cut custom roasts, steaks, burgers and even small batches of sausage to suit any of your specific needs.
Stop into our Calgary Meat Shop and speak with Leanna or any of our other knowledgeable staff. They can help answer all of your questions, and we promise you will want to come back!
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