The Meat House

The Meat House Butcher And Grocer

Amherst NH
The Meat House Website

So I wanted to start off this blog with a review of a place that I just love, my butcher shop, as any true meat lover would right? 

If you ask them, most chefs will tell you, the most important thing any lover of food can do is become friends with, or atleast be on a first name basis, with their local butcher, they say you should be this way with all local food merchants (Farm stand owners, ect), but they will say, the most important of those truly is the butcher shop connection, I always thought this was bullcrap, until I tried the Meat House. I tried tried them out the day before this past New Years Eve, looking for something special to get for New Years dinner, wanting to do something rather special for my mom and I. I was greeted and welcomed by the man who we would later find out is the manager and two other employees, all of whom asked me if it was my first time in the shop, they were very friendly and happy, and when I asked for two porterhouse steaks just 2 1/2 inches thick, of which they had none out, but the younger assistant, who would eventually go on to become the guy I deal with 90% of the time when I go to the shop, offered to go cut me some, which he ran and did happily, I truly enjoyed my first visit, infact they gave me free steak tips as a thank you for trying their shop, how awesome is that!

My first two buys, two Porterhouse Steaks

My first two DelMonico Rib Eyes

I have to tell you, until I cooked up those steaks, I really hadn't truly been sold on the whole Butcher Shop vs. Grocery Store meat debate, but I can tell you with certainty, that porterhouse, though slightly undercooked for some's liking, destroyed any chance of me ever getting another steak at a grocery store. I quickly returned to the Amherst store for more! And this time, I discovered what would come to be my go too and favorite steak of all time, the lovely Delmonico Rib Eye. Possibly the most tender and flavorful steak cut I have ever eaten in my life. Seriously just looking at these things makes your mouth water for a nice grilled up slab of meat, if you've never had one, you truly are missing out, unless you're a vegetarian or a vegan, in which case, go eat a carrot you damn hippie, no one cares what you think.

Cowboy Rib Eyes, the gateway to a meat coma

Peanut Butter Pie, truly they are gods who made this.

I have been going back to the Meat House regularly ever sense that first month, depending on various things either once a week or once very two weeks, and they just amaze me every single time, their beef, chicken, pork, lamb and I would assume buffalo, is all locally raised and grown, with no additives or injections, all organic farm grown untouched pure meat, there truly is something amazingly good about that, and something very healthy, the Meat House also prides itself on selling as many local products as it can, be they peanut butter pie or mini chocolate lava cakes made by a local bakery thats one of the top in the state, or untouched fresh from the cow milk in the old glass jars with the cream ontop and everything! All of their products, except for afew of their in house brand and afew big demand spices and rubs, are local to the area around the store, we've discovered that the Amherst location, as I would assume the others in the area, feature products from New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts, everything from Michelle's Famous popcorn (the best in the world, review will come later) to locally made wine and beers to cheese and ice cream to even salsa chips.

Their twice baked potatoes, a favorite around my home

The dessert case, truly, they are a tempting evil lot who stock this

So where am I going with all of this? Well simple, if you're like I was, someone that loves to enjoy their food, and wanting to get away from the factory farms that pump animals full of the most horrid additives and do the most cruel things to them all in the name of food supply and demand, and would like to try a healthier, better for you alternative with out becoming one of those annoying hippie types, try out a local butcher shop, and if you have one in your area, try a branch of The Meat House, they have locations all over Mass, NH, Maine, and afew states down south and out in California. You will be glad health wise you did, and also you'll be supporting tons of local companies, which really is the best thing about it all, remember, eating local supports more jobs then you realize. Plus, their staff is just so nice and lovely, every single time you buy anything they make sure you know to cook it, or suggest you different ways to cook them, or seasoning or rubs, they are truly some of the most knowledgeable people on just about everything in their shop, and also check out their website, their blog has cheat sheets on the best way to cook everything they have, as well as a great place to get recipes now and then!

So seriously, if you live near a location for The Meat Shop, give them a try, and if you don't, well, go give a local butcher a try, they might be just about a dollar or so more cost wise then a grocery store, but, your taste buds, and your health will thank you for it.


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Chris