Bay Area - Where do you buy brisket??

Epicurean Exploits - Food and Recipes
1

Since moving down here, I have had a tough time finding brisket to smoke.
In Oregon, I had several options but mainly went to Cash and Carry.

I have asked the guys behind the meat counter at several specialty grocery stores, but everyone shrugs their shoulders and say they only sell the flat ends.
Am I missing something?
newhere

2

I thought you guys bought everything bovine from Bryan Flannery.


[berserker.gif]

3

Same question here. I do buy my pork butt at Whole Foods, where you can get a whole picnic (the half I prefer to smoke) wrapped and ready to go. Just ask for it at the meat counter, they’ll have several of them in the back, still wrapped in plastic. Haven’t tried Flannery, I’m positive he can get it. You missed the days when he had an actual store front in Marin, which I would stop into once in a while, but you can get everything delivered now.

4

I asked my cousin’s husband this yesterday. He said that most places would do it for you (grocery stores like Safeway) if you order them a few days in advance. Otherwise they usually separate them.

5

I’ve seen some in the SF Costco, but it’s hit or miss if they have it. Golden Gate in the Ferry Building will usually have it and if not they’ll order it for you.

6

Woohoo!
Found 13 lb brisket packer at Smart and Final, which is much like Cash and Carry. [dance-clap.gif]
Turns out there are 2 of these within 5-10 minutes!
Doy!! newhere

7

Smart and Final is the same company as Cash and Carry. There is a Cash and Carry in SF on South Van Ness, and another one in Oakland near 2nd street.

8

Well that would explain the similarities! [snort.gif]

9

Costco would be the other logical guess for a big box store, but don’t you have any local butchers in your area? There are exceptions such as Fairway & Whole Foods, but in general I find that the smaller local butchers here in NYC have meat that is equal in price and generally better in quality than my local supermarkets.

10

As well as Santa Rosa. Great place to buy big cuts, roasts and bulk items like ribs.

11

Standard response to questions like these is: Ranch 99 or Marina.
You might have to ask them to put in a special order if it’s not in the cases.

Speaking of special orders, I one time ordered like 10 pounds of cow eyes for a science project back when I was in the seventh grade or so. Chinese supermarket people didn’t bat an eye.

If you prefer a western butcher, Pape’s Meat Co in Millbrae will have it too. Call in an order ahead of time to save the wait.

12

I bought a whole brisket, custom cut from a prime aged side of beef and trimmed as I watched, at Schaub’s in Stanford shopping center. I think it was $6/lb.

13

Restaurant Depot. I think they have them out there. I buy them by the case. Five in a case, usually adds up to about 70 pounds.

14

You can get the deckel cut, or 2nd, at Fatted Calf.

15

Costco in Novato and Santa Rosa both have Brisket, as well as whole Prime loins (NY and Ribeye). The Prime loins are insanely cheap - something like $7/lb for NY.

16

Mike, I saw brisket at our local Fremont Costco, but it was just the flat, not the whole brisket. I suspect that’s what you have there as well.

17

Alan - you may be correct. All I saw was a big chunk of meat in cryovac with Brisket on the tag and figured that was it. I’m not a huge fan of brisket, so I did not investigate further.

18

Most good butcher shops should be able to get these for you if they don’t have them in stock and cut them however you want. Two in Oakland I’d recommend are Marin Sun Farm in the Rockridge Market Hall (a bit pricey) and Ver Brugge Meat and Seafood on College across from the Safeway at the Berkeley border. MSF usually has brisket in the display case.