Artesan A Marina

Ode to my local butcher shop

I love my butcher shop, Marina Meats . The owner, Joey Gandolfo, is almost always there to help you with your decisions. He grew up in the Marina District and has a family lineage of providing fine meats, fish and poultry to generations of Marina residents.

The store manager, Dave Budworth (davethebutcher.com), is there to help out as well. Dave brings in the local specialty products like the six different kinds of 4505 Ryan Farr sausages. My favorites are the beer and cheddar, lamb and chorizo. It’s the only shop this side of town that carries these.

Marina Meats is also the only place in the city that sells Long Ranch pasture grass-fed goat. Yes goat. Did you say ewwwww? Goat is the most popular meat in the world … just not in America. It’s got a mild flavor, and to take away the gaminess, the goats are fed alfalfa hay the last few weeks. On top of that it is sustainable.

Speaking of grass fed, they sell Pacific Pastures beef which is northern California grass pasture fed beef. In an effort to sell more organic meats, the Marina Meat Market recently stopped buying factory chicken. Now their chicken comes directly from the farmers.

Lobster tail, duck confit, ground bison … it’s all there. Marina Meats is well stocked, but if for some reason they don’t have it, they will order it and provide a fast turnaround. When I put in an order for pork belly with the skin on, it came in a day later. I always take advantage of their special ordering at Christmas for prime rib. Most of the time they have plenty in stock, but at Christmas you can never be too sure.

I usually stock up on the orange roughy when they have it because its hard to find these days — yes, even though it has high mercury content. Another must for me … the giant crab cakes. I keep a supply of them in my freezer. They thaw out quickly and make a fabulous last minute meal over dressed greens.

They have some great pre-marinated products. I really like their parmesan rosemary chicken. It is a full breast of chicken packed in olive oil, garlic, breadcrumbs, and parmesan. Pop it in the oven for 30 minutes and it’s fresh chicken with a nice crunchy texture — and the flavor is outstanding.

They also sell a few products that can help you round out a whole meal. This week they had heirloom tomatoes and basil. In addition they always have a small selection of veggies. Next to the racks of condiments, tomato sauces and artisan pastas, they have a nice selection of heirloom Rancho Gordo beans and popcorn.

Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails: Celebrate July 4th Weekend With ...

There will be back-to-back family fun activities from 12:30 – 5 p.m. such as dizzy bat, three-legged race, hula hoop contest, and more.  There will be live entertainment at 5:30 p.m. followed by the fireworks display at 8:30 p.m. (please note this is an approximate time and fireworks will begin when it gets dark).  For more information contact Jamie Avery at jamie.avery@ky.gov or 1-800-325-0057. Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails (KAHT) is an award winning program that showcases interesting places, exciting events, wonderful food and some of the state's finest artisans. The 18 KAHT Driving Trails are designed to provide an experience rich in local culture and scenic beauty. KAHT is your source for local recipes, "how-to" projects, tourism tips for traveling through Appalachia, and much more. Point, Click, and Discover our unique trails.

From Seascapes of Extinction to Seascapes of Confidence, Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries in Chile: El Quisco and Puerto Oscuro

Ecosystem effects of fishing in the Mediterranean, an analysis of the major threats of fishing gear and practices to biodiversity and marine habitats

Women and work in northern Nigeria, transcending boundaries

Billboard

Frommer's Seattle 2011