238956 Mon Nov 04 22:28:06 -0800 2002 12 19 Outer Boroughs 0 1267307 We seem to have plenty of fishmongers, but is there anyplace in the Park Slope area where I can get some decent steak or lamb to make at home? I'd be willing to go to Carroll Gardens or Cobble Hill as well. Mon Nov 04 22:28:06 -0800 2002 0 JessicaSophia 1 1267311 The best (and, rather incredibly, the only) butcher in the Slope is Great Western, 5th Ave and 8th St. Run by very nice and very competent father/son team. Good people, good meat. But if, as you say, you're willing to go to Cobble Hill, then you should go to Staubitz -- Court St. betw. Baltic and Warren. Best butcher in Brooklyn. As an aside: How is it possible that Great Western is the only butcher in the Slope? More specifically, how is it possible that there's no butcher on 7th Ave.? I still mourn the loss of Liberty Meats, and to a lesser extent the loss of Berkeley Meats, but it seems unfathomable that nobody has filled that void. I wonder if there's any other upscale-ish/professional/etc. neighborhood in the city that is comparably meat-deprived. Anyone got any theories regarding this odd state of affairs? -- Paul Tue Nov 05 00:47:08 -0800 2002 1267307 0 Paul Lukas 2 1267318 I must've walked by Great Western a zillion times-- I'm on 5th Ave and 3rd St. I will have to go check it out. I, too, think it is CRAZY that we don't have any butchers in the neighborhood. And I have absolutely no theory why this is so. It seems weird that we have so many fishmongers, who all seem to do a pretty decent business, but no butcher shops. Tue Nov 05 11:56:25 -0800 2002 1267311 0 JessicaSophia 3 1267374 Someone mentioned the pork purveyor at the Saturday market, but you should also know that the stall that has all that wool also sells good quality lamb at a reasonable price. There's a little board that lists all the cuts available. Just ask the nice lady. I also like Great Western's service. I needed chirizo for a recipe the other day -- was appalled by what was offered under that name at Key Foods (cursed be thy name) -- and called up Great Western, who were happy to help me. Unfortunately, I also bought their lamb stew, which had bones -- I thought stewing meat was always boned, silly me, and didn't check. Oh well. Wed Nov 06 15:08:26 -0800 2002 1267318 0 Pamlet 2 1267320 I believe it is possible to get special orders done still at A&S - for example, they made a boned whole pork leg for me once, stuffed with adobo paste I provided. They also sell excellent steaks. Eagle provisions will also perform special butcher services in addition to providing a huge array of meats, includying Bell&Evans ad Murrays chicken, d'artagnan products, geese, rabbits,capons etc. Re the traditional butcher shop, I think they are dying because of the dearth of skilled new butchers as well as of discerning, meat eating clientele. I dont know too many stay at home wives and mothers in today's Park Slope (below the age of 60) who put meat on the table every day. They are much more likely to be vegetarians or to be restricting meat consumption. Additionally, shopping at to a butcher or fishmonger, rather than a supermarket, requires an interchange, and a lot of us are diffident in those kinds of situations since we have not been trained up in the selection and use of meats. Finally, I wonder how many people in Park Slope actually cook more than occasionally? The restaurants and take out joints are prospering for a reason! Tue Nov 05 11:57:36 -0800 2002 1267311 0 jen kalb 3 1267325 Are you talking about A&S on 5th around Garfield or Carroll? I didn't know they sold butcher meat? I am making sauteed strip steak with green peppercorn sauce on Thursday. Maybe I'll check out the steaks there... Tue Nov 05 14:32:17 -0800 2002 1267320 0 JessicaSophia 4 1267329 yes - their operation seems to get less extensive each year but its worth checking. Not cheap, though. Tue Nov 05 14:43:41 -0800 2002 1267325 0 jen kalb 2 1267323 I was just at Great Western last night. What I like so much about them is that they take orders over the phone. I decided to make a stir-fry for dinner. I called them up, asked them for a pound of sliced beef, showed up at around 5:30 to pick it up, and had dinner ready in 15 minutes when I got home. Their phone number is: (718) 768-2855. Tue Nov 05 14:00:09 -0800 2002 1267311 0 Pru 2 1267328 What exactly did happen to Liberty Meats? Out of business, moved, under another name? I'd love to hear anything you know as I thought they were great. Thanks. Tue Nov 05 14:41:01 -0800 2002 1267311 0 JKL 3 1267352 Liberty Meats was owned by a nice guy named Anthony. He was a heavy smoker and died of lung cancer a few years ago. The store died with him. Wed Nov 06 09:28:10 -0800 2002 1267328 0 micki 2 1267333 I realized when I stopped in at Great Western a couple of weeks ago (I've shopped in Park Slope for years but recently moved to the neighborhood) that a couple at least of the guys who worked at Berkeley until at closed now work there! so in some sense Berkeley is still with us... Another butcher within shouting distance (which also takes phone orders) is United Meat Market on Prospect Park West between 16th and 17th Sts. (more or less next door to Farrells). They have excellent quality stuff, guys who know what they're doing, and Bell & Evans chickens. Thoroughly recommended. By the way, there is now a pork seller at the Grand Army Plaza greenmarket on Saturdays--Flying Pigs Farm... frightfully expensive but excellent chops and bacon. And there's the turkey people too. There used to be the lamb people but I don't think I've seen them lately. Tue Nov 05 15:29:42 -0800 2002 1267311 0 tamara 1 1267346 I haven't read through all the replies so I may be repeating...but I have gone with a friend to Staubitz' on Court Street for many years. They have done legs of lamb and pork roasts and steaks and many other things for us. While they are expensive they are dependably good quality and wonderful service. If it is holiday time, definitely order in advance! Tue Nov 05 22:42:19 -0800 2002 1267307 0 Joyce Goldstein 1 1267364 If you are willing to go to Brooklyn Heights try Brooklyn Heights Meats on Clark off Henry. The two brothers who own it were boys when they started their apprenticeship at Staubitz. They know what they're doing and have prime stuff. Wed Nov 06 12:56:11 -0800 2002 1267307 0 micki