Home, home on my range...

[Gail]

In our attempts to avoid what my son likes to call Angry Cow disease, we've been exploring other alternatives to beef. After someone here mentioned buffalo, we decided to give it a try. Only last night I finally got around to defrosting my package of beastie.

Good stuff! I'm impressed. Anyone else think so, too?

Just out of curiosity, since we're all in different regions, has anyone happened upon other cuts of meat? All I've seen so far is ground.

[suziking]

I have never heard of beastie? What is it? Does it taste like beef?

Suzi

[Gail]

Okay, that's it.

I have made one too many really DUMB mistakes today. I apologize profusely Suzi, for leaving out the key word in the whole post.

Buffalo. I am talking about buffalo.

...and I don't blame you one iota for being confused. :o

[Beth]

I was with you Gail. Does that mean I've already been had by the angry cow?

[suziking]

Gail -

I was thinking that the marketing people must have a bit crazy to use a word like beastie to describe a "meat-like" product.

Out here in Western Colorado - you can get lots of buffalo - steaks, tenderloin, etc. I admit - I have never tried buffalo. I don't know if we could get it at our City Market - but there are places you can buy it. They also serve it in alot of upscale restaurants in ski country.

Thanks for the laugh - Gail!!!

[browneye]

Gail-
Yes, yes yes...
We have been buffalo fans for a few years... lots of different cuts. I have done sirloin, roasts, tenderloin YUM! in a barolo wine sauce, T-Bone, sausage, and burger, all with great results.
The main thing to remember with buffalo cuts, is that you don't want to cook it as long as you would a similar cut of beef. It is soooo much lower in fat, that it cannot tolerate the high temps or done-ness (is that a word or is my chef's marinate talking here?) that beef can tolerate. It is truly magnificent, if eaten more rare. Once you are a buffalo fan, it really can be difficult to eat beef!
It can be prepared with beef recipes, just adjusted for shorter cooking times and lower heat.
Hmmm, have to get those steaks out of the freezer.
Have fun!

[suziking]

browneye - do they taste "gamey" - what ever that means. Does it taste like beef?

[browneye]

Suzi-
No, Not at all "gamey" it is more mild than beef, yet with a beef-like flavor. I would say it is slightly more "sweet" and less "stout" tasting than beef. Does that make sense? More a Merlot than a Cabernet, I guess.... (again, the chef has marinate on the brain tonight)..
:D

[Gail]

...so now all I have to do is to find those other cuts, I guess...

Got me a powerful hankerin' fer buffalo, I reckon. :p

[kwormann]

I for one would be interested in where you found buffalo meat! It is probably going to be hard here in cattle country! WE have a restaurant that sells diferent kinds of burgers...ostrage, buffalo, kangaroo, but they are pre-frozen patties that they get from a supplier, so Im sure fresh would taste better!

Gail, if you would, Id love to know how to get some:)

[Mamasue]

I have seen Buffalo steaks and ground meat at BJ's and some upscale grocery stores but have never tried it. Just haven't have the nerve to I guess. :)

[HDgirl]

I have recently (Feb?) added buffalo (bison) to my diet instead of beef. I perfer it. Although it is more $$$$. I order mine from eatlean.com. They advertise in CL. So far I have been happy with their product. Their website is very informative about the beast.

Browneye is so right on about the cooking...found that out the first time I cooked a steak!

[mightyh]

When I used to live near a Trader Joe's (sob!), I would buy their buffalo hamburger patties in the freezer section. They were great!

Also, for those of you who live near Fuddrucker's, the one we used to live near sold ostrich burgers which are phenomenally better for you than beef.

[Zinnia]

Not sure if this reply is gonna work, :)-so I will make it short. Moose meat is very popular in Ak.

[JHolcomb]

All we can get around here is the ground buffalo, Gail. I'd be willing to try anything else if I could find it, but I don't like my burgers, um, bloody, and I'm afraid cooking a "beastie burger" till well done would make it inedible. How does everyone cook theirs? I like the rest of my red meats rare to medium rare, but the sight of a bloody burger grosses me out! Anyway, I'll also put in a thumbs up for ostrich steak. Very yummy-similar to beef in flavor, but an entirely diff't texture.

And for those of you who know about Mad Cow-does it only affect cattle or other hoofed beasts as well. I'd be more than willing to switch over to goat-it's fairly well avaliable here and I like it. Though I'm not really looking at giving up cow-I've eaten so much of it I probably have mad cow anyway.

[Grace]

We LOVE TJ's frozen Buffalo Burgers. In fact, we had them last night for dinner. They're pricey ($4.79 for 4 burgers), but we don't eat burgers all that often, so it's no more expensive than getting a couple of steaks, or even some salmon (cheaper, actually). And they taste WONDERFUL. We always keep a couple of packages in the freezer for when the hankering hits!

[gabbyh]

Geez...you guys are gonna have me tryin' kangaroo soon...my hubbie will be in his glory!
I have tried buffalo burgers and found them to be very tasty...but I remain a "boneless chicken breast girl" at heart...:cool:

[browneye]

There are several online sources for purchasing buffalo (very expensive, when shipping it around).

Here's a tip for you with a local small butcher shop: I spoke with one locally who will order a buffalo for a few folks, then he splits it between 5 or 6 families, and they fill up their freezers with it! If you talk to someone like that, sometimes you can get lucky!

We get ours here in the area from a small shop in Duvall, Wa. They sell buffalo and elk, steaks, chops, etc...
Elk is fabulous too!

Also, if you ever go to Flathead Lake in Montana, take your cooler and fill it up! There is a shop on the West side of the lake there, on the way to Kalispell, called M&S meats with a whole store-full of buffalo, elk, venison, etc. All cuts, including Sausage! (Buffalo Summer Sausage is a wonderful thing!)

[Julia1Pin]

Gail-

Where did you find Buffalo? I have a hard time believing Vons or Ralphs carry it...

I did have Ostrich at a Greek restaurant in Malibu though. Very good, not gamey at all.

[Curleytop]

Can't Buffulo also get F & M diseases? They are very similar to beef cattle?:confused:

[BlueMoose]

A couple of our local grocery stores have recently added special display coolers just for buffalo meat. I assume they have a variety of cuts and products. I haven't noticed since I don't partake in that. Don't tell my DH, though! ;)

[Gail]

Originally posted by Julia1Pin
Gail-

Where did you find Buffalo? I have a hard time believing Vons or Ralphs carry it...

I did have Ostrich at a Greek restaurant in Malibu though. Very good, not gamey at all.

Good question, Julia.

I don't remember. See, I shop at quite a few stores as a rule: Ralphs, Pavilions, Bristol Farms and Whole Foods-- depending upon what I want. Logic tells me it was probably either Bristol Farms or Whole Foods, but I'm going later in the afternoon so I'll check it out for sure. I know the Bristol Farms which was on Topanga folded-- you Valley folks seem to favor Gelson's as your upscale market choice, so you might check there. It was frozen, by the way, but it was tasty. I'd check TJ's and Whole Foods if you you're closer to one of those.

[Natasha]

Forget the buffalo. How 'bout that ostrich? ;) I know, I know...we've already been there...

Signed, your D.B. (no, NOT "dear/darling boyfriend")

[Julia1Pin]

Gail -

I don't think there's a Gelson's off of Topanga either (I live off of Topanga).

I will check the Whole Foods on Ventura & Oxnard (haven't seen it at TJ's).

BTW, "you valley folks" would imply you live in the city or Santa Monica, am I right?

[Gail]

Originally posted by Julia1Pin
...BTW, "you valley folks" would imply you live in the city or Santa Monica, am I right?

Nope. South Bay.


Oh, and I wasn't suggesting there was a Gelson's on Topanga, rather that it might be another place to look since The Valley is Gelson's Country, that's all...

[dotglee]

I just bought some buffalo steak at the Whole Foods in Seattle the other day. I think the availability varies from day to day. We like the leanness with a beef-like taste. I am planning to make the buffalo chili (I think CL 2000?) or perhaps my old Albuquerque Country Club green chile stew recipe. DH really will go crazy for either.

[Kristilyn1]

I actually barbecued a stack of buffalo burgers for my family (mom, sisters, brother in laws, etc.) then told them after they commented on what good "beef" it was, that it was actually bison. They were very surprised. It has less fat than beef, but it's a little pricey here in New England.

Kristi

[Ed]

Hi Gail,

Thanks for posting about Buffalo, it's a great meat and very similar to beef in many respects.

Buffalo can be used in any recipe you would use beef in that's for sure.

Unfortunately for us there is no Buffalo to be had in our small town, but they do sell it in the Twin Cities.

Sharon and I are using less Beef these days too.

Ed

[Deedy]

Grace! I'm so glad you spoke up about TJ's buffalo burgers!! I've been looking at them in their freezer case for weeks and was tempted to try, but afraid we wouldn't like them. I gave up ground beef about 8 years ago and just use "crumbles", (Boca or Morningstar) or ground turkey. Thanks for your input. I'm off to Trader Joe's.

[Gail]

Just came back from Whole Foods with a nice pound package of frozen ground buffalo. I see they also have buffalo steaks.

So I guess if you long for a home where the buffalo roam (or if you prefer they remain quietly dead in your freezer) start with Trader Joes or Whole Foods.