Asked the butcher (1 Viewer)

[sammy719]

I'm always amazed by the questions I get from people everyday about pricing or cuts of meats, reciepts, or just questions in general, so if any of my treefrog brothers or sisters have any questions about the meat industry please feel free to asked, I have been in the meat industry for 24 years as a butcher/ manager/ field merchandiser, pretty much see something different eveyday, Wayne knows what I'm talking about, so again feel free to asked anything you may want to know...Sammy

 

[theBaron]

OK, two questions, Herr Metzger. In the US:

Where can I get mutton?

And where can I get a proper Schweinshaxe? That is the hock, but it's not cut the same way butchers cut them here, for smoking for example. I'd like to get a proper Hax'n, cut the Bavarian way, so I can grill it. I haven't yet found a butcher who can, even among German specialty shops. Prepared meats, sausages, [i[Leberkas[/i], but never a Hax'n.

When it's grilled, the skin gets crisp, like pork rinds, but the way it's cut, there's a good deal of meat on the bones. I think it's the upper part of the ankle joint.

Prost!
Brad

 

[sammy719]

OK, two questions, Herr Metzger. In the US:

Where can I get mutton?

And where can I get a proper Schweinshaxe? That is the hock, but it's not cut the same way butchers cut them here, for smoking for example. I'd like to get a proper Hax'n, cut the Bavarian way, so I can grill it. I haven't yet found a butcher who can, even among German specialty shops. Prepared meats, sausages, [i[Leberkas[/i], but never a Hax'n.

When it's grilled, the skin gets crisp, like pork rinds, but the way it's cut, there's a good deal of meat on the bones. I think it's the upper part of the ankle joint.

Prost!
Brad

Hi Brad,

to find true mutton in the U.S.A. is very difficult, unless imported, there isn't a large market for it in the U.S.A. but if you can find a Indian or middle eastern style market there in Pa. just look up"MUTTON outlets in Pa" you may get lucky, but as far as the "haxn" that's a new for me, have not heard of that before, like I said in my post, I learn something different all the time, maybe Wayne may have some ideas on that item, but asked around at the speciality markets, you may find someone who can help you with your delicious haxn...Sammy

 

[trooper]

Would some of the Amish communities be able to help?

 

[Louis Badolato]

Hi Brad,

to find true mutton in the U.S.A. is very difficult, unless imported, there isn't a large market for it in the U.S.A. but if you can find a Indian or middle eastern style market there in Pa. just look up"MUTTON outlets in Pa" you may get lucky, but as far as the "haxn" that's a new for me, have not heard of that before, like I said in my post, I learn something different all the time, maybe Wayne may have some ideas on that item, but asked around at the speciality markets, you may find someone who can help you with your delicious haxn...Sammy

Markets in Carribean based communities also sometimes carry mutton. My kids nanny brings us mutton when she arrives from her home every week.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Why would anyone on Gods green earth want mutton

 

[jazzeum]

Never cared for mutton myself. I like a nice cooked lamb chop anytime. On a slightly different point, when I was a kid and lived in Uruguay, to get hamburger meat, we'd go outside the capital (Montevideo) and go to one of the butchers who would turn whatever part of the cow you use for that (I'm sure Sammy and Wayne know) into hamburger meat as you watched. It was cool to watch it. They would also make the best sausage in the world there, chorizo. After almost 50 years, I can still imagine the smell.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Why would anyone on Gods green earth want mutton

You eat it . . .

Seriously, I love mutton. There's a famous restaurant in NYC that's been there for 100+ years called Kean's Chophouse. It is famous for mutton chops. You should try them sometime, they are very good.

 

[sammy719]

You eat it . . .

Seriously, I love mutton. There's a famous restaurant in NYC that's been there for 100+ years called Kean's Chophouse. It is famous for mutton chops. You should try them sometime, they are very good.

As Seinfield said one time...."notin like some mutton"

 

[kogu]

Oh Brad,
your talk about the Schweinshaxn makes me want to buy a ticket and fly to Germany for a weekend
For several years we had a German butcher here in Florence, KY, and I was able to get all the cuts I wanted. Unfortunately he closed down his shop here and moved on.
Sammy here are two pictures, one where you can see the raw cut and the other one after the grilling is done.

 

[wayne556517]

OK, two questions, Herr Metzger. In the US:

Where can I get mutton?

And where can I get a proper Schweinshaxe? That is the hock, but it's not cut the same way butchers cut them here, for smoking for example. I'd like to get a proper Hax'n, cut the Bavarian way, so I can grill it. I haven't yet found a butcher who can, even among German specialty shops. Prepared meats, sausages, [i[Leberkas[/i], but never a Hax'n.

When it's grilled, the skin gets crisp, like pork rinds, but the way it's cut, there's a good deal of meat on the bones. I think it's the upper part of the ankle joint.

Prost!
Brad

The hardest thing about smoking hocks in keeping them lit............
No on a serious note its the Hindquarter shank of the leg of pork,well thats what my little German buddy over here uses.

 

[wayne556517]

Why would anyone on Gods green earth want mutton

As for mutton if you ever use diced lamb,crumbed lamd steaks,lamb shanks,lamb fillets,lamb tenderloins i could go on but i wont i will garantee you its MUTTON.Way to expensive to bone lamb we bone roughhly 3-5 hundred a day (Mutton) and thats what it is used for,oh and for snags/sausages.Plus if you find a decent Mutton will eat better than lamb more flavour,but we have all heard the storys of Mutton dressed up as lamb...............

 

[sammy719]

Oh Brad,
your talk about the Schweinshaxn makes me want to buy a ticket and fly to Germany for a weekend
For several years we had a German butcher here in Florence, KY, and I was able to get all the cuts I wanted. Unfortunately he closed down his shop here and moved on.
Sammy here are two pictures, one where you can see the raw cut and the other one after the grilling is done.

looks delicious Wayne!!! need to see if I can hire that German butcher...Sammy

 

[sammy719]

As for mutton if you ever use diced lamb,crumbed lamd steaks,lamb shanks,lamb fillets,lamb tenderloins i could go on but i wont i will garantee you its MUTTON.Way to expensive to bone lamb we bone roughhly 3-5 hundred a day (Mutton) and thats what it is used for,oh and for snags/sausages.Plus if you find a decent Mutton will eat better than lamb more flavour,but we have all heard the storys of Mutton dressed up as lamb...............

3-5 hundred a day?? my God man, you boys are rock"n!!!!

 

[theBaron]

Thanks, guys, especially Konrad for the pics! Now you can see what I'm talking about. Nothing says "beer garden" like a gegrillte Hax'n mit Blaukraut und Knödel, and Maßbier. Wayne, thanks, too, that will help track it down.

Sammy and Louis, thanks for the tip about the Indian, Middle Eastern and Caribbean places, I never thought of that. I do know that Middle Eastern and Caribbean places can also get goat, which is also something I'd like to try sometime. To mutton's detractors, I'd like to get a roast and make that in the winter. There's something that sounds so Old English about a joint of mutton and a pint of ale. Or maybe it sounds more like the Shire?

Prost!
Brad

 

[wayne556517]

3-5 hundred a day?? my God man, you boys are rock"n!!!!

I bone 100 in 2 hours thats our tally pace $3.10 a sheep,team of 2 one stripping(no to cold for that sort)the frame the other boning forequater and leg

 

[DMNamiot]

Man oh man Brad you're making my mouth water! I will be in Germany for the fall so I am looking forward to some great beers and food! We will be stationed in Hesse near Darmstadt so I am really looking forward to getting back to some of my old haunts. So many good places to eat!!!!

Dave

 

[glossman]

I thought it might be interesting to introduce "Mutton Soup" which is Indian cuisine and available locally.

Here is a link to a recipe for mutton soup:

http://www.indian-food-recipe.com/content/view/288/151/

Another point when ordering mutton curry in Asia.

You might want to ask the restaurant captain if the mutton served is lamb, true mutton or chevon (goat's meat).

For most local eateries, mutton curry means lamb.

Raymond.

**

 

[sammy719]

Never realized how many muttom lovers we had on the forum...Sammy

 

[trooper]

And the Angel of the Lord said unto the shepherds
"This is cattle country, git outta here!"