​Carnivores Have Much to Choose From in the Area

By Rick Gion

rickgion@gmail.com

You’ve probably heard about some of the brewery and winery tours happening around here. But in this column, we’re going to take a tour of many of the locally owned butcher shops.

Let’s start in Dilworth at Butcher Block Meats. This market opened last summer and is located in Dilworth’s hip new area on the east side of town.

Butcher Block offers a variety of freshly cut items including many favorite cuts of beef and pork. They have a large meat case to view and then choose chops and steaks. The employees are especially friendly, so don’t be afraid to ask them questions.

Some of Butcher Block’s other featured products include wagyu beef on Wednesdays, smoked ribs on Thursdays, Mullyanno and Verdi Italian sausage, north country ring sausage and different flavors of summer sausage. The frozen section includes chicken and many hard-to-find and specialty items. There’s also plenty of sauces, seasonings and snacks on display.

You can find Butcher Block online at butcherblockmeatsllc.com and on Facebook. Their website, however, could use some more information.

Over in south Fargo, there’s Meats by John and Wayne, which has been a go-to for many in the area since it opened in 2004. They like to say there that “nobody beats our meat.” How about that for a little off-color humor? It’s appropriate considering many of the employees there are quite colorful.

The offerings at Meats by John and Wayne are vast. They feature a large meat case to choose chops, roasts and steaks. The frozen section includes chicken, packaged seafood and many specialty items.

Perhaps their most famous products are smoked ribs on Wednesdays and the multiple varieties of bratwurst. My favorite bratwurst flavor there is the wild rice and cheddar. I also really enjoy the jalapeño bacon. The jerky and sticks are quite good, too. There’s also plenty of cheese in the refrigerators and sauces, seasonings and snacks on display.

Check out their weekly specials online at meatsbyjohnandwayne.com or by checking out their Facebook page. Their website could use a little refresh though.

One of the other meat market mainstays in south Fargo has been Prime Cut Meats. They’ve served the area since 1996.

Prime Cut is definitely the spot if you’re a steak fan. Their fresh beef selection is unmatched in the area. We’re talking about some tasty stuff such as dry-aged and wagyu ribeyes. You can spot the dry aging unit on the back wall to the left. They also have a really good seafood selection that includes halibut, salmon, tuna steaks, and walleye.

Prime Cut also offers many other products such as smoked meats and sausage. Their jerky and bacon are quite good. The frozen section includes chicken and many hard-to-find items. They also carry plenty of cheeses, sauces and seasonings.

Weekly specials can be found online at primecutmeatsfm.com. They have frequently updated pages on both Facebook and Instagram.

She Said Butcher Shop is a neighborhood market in north Moorhead. It opened late last year, and has become a popular stop for friends and neighbors. It’s also the first woman-owned butcher shop in Moorhead. That’s very unique, considering that the butcher business is a male-dominated profession.

She Said doesn’t have a huge case in which you can view and choose items. Instead, they feature custom and weekly meat bundles that are cut to order. The frozen section includes many hard-to-find and specialty items like soup bones.

She Said really emphasizes local and features many products from around the area.

For more information and hours of operation, check out shesaidbutchershop.com online. You can also find them on Facebook.

A few other places that need mentioning are Casselton Cold Storage, the Halal Market in south Fargo and most of Hornbacher's locations. I’ve found some quality products at Hornbacher’s over the years. The butchers there are always quite friendly. There’s also Quality Meats and Seafood in West Fargo, which is a wholesaler.

And, although not a bovine or porcine purveyor, I do like to stop at Deep Blue Seafood a few times a year for some fresh mussels or swordfish steaks.

As explained in this column, there are a lot of choices when it comes to meat markets in the area. The best thing to do is find an afternoon and take a tour of these fine establishments for yourself.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Butcher Block Meats, 214 15th St. NE, Dilworth, Minn.

Meats by John and Wayne, 1801 45th St. S., Fargo, N.D.

Prime Cut Meats, 2434 S. University Dr., Fargo, N.D.

She Said Butcher Shop, 2103 5th Ave. N., Moorhead, Minn.

Rick Gion administers a Facebook group page called “Fargo-Moorhead Eats” that’s dedicated to the area’s great cooks and cuisine. Check it out, join, and feel free to post items about your local culinary adventures and home cooking.