Brisket in Minneapolis

[Josh Resnik]

Like Alice a few months ago, I need some help shopping for my 1 year old's birthday party. I think I have the cake part figured out. However, I need to locate a brisket. My son loves smoked meats so I am thinking of smoking a brisket this weekend for his first birthday party. Any suggestions of the best place in Minneapolis to buy a brisket?

[teamkitty]

Everetts certainly did us right. We got a 10 lb brisket @ 3.98/lb and I can't complain. It was perfect. If you want to talk meat, be sure to speak to Jack. The young pups don't know "deckle" from "schmeckle". I have yet to have a bad cut of meat from these folks - and I am überpicky.

Everett's Foods - Meats 1833 East 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407 [phone]

[ajs]

Like Menard's, the Home Depot is a source of last resort.

Northwest Charcoal & Chemical
2900 17th Ave S.
Mpls 55407
612.879.8044
800.426.6568
'Wholesale Distributors and Brokers of high quality natural lump & granulated charcoals, smoking woods, food salts, water softener salt, and safety absorbents'

These folks are the wholesale arm of the late. great, lamented Outdoor Cooking Store of White Bear Lake. They stock at least a dozen kinds of smoking woods in quantities from 5 to 500 lbs., as well as several kinds of charcoals, and 8 or ten hardwoods in log form. While they sell to the public, they urge you to call ahead, in case they 'don't happen to be there'. They also sell the Lyfe Tyme line of barbecue pits.

As far as brisket goes, I'll say this. A while back, circumstances forced me to nearly cremate a brisket from Widmer's Market (St. Clair and Prior), St. Paul. While it was nothing that I would have served to guests, it was still surprisingly edible. Widmer's dry ages their beef, and their butchers just seem to love the idea of meat, and take pride in their work. Their brisket is currently going for about $6/ pound, I believe.
I too have heard good things about Everetts Meats, but have no direct experience.

Sure, all of this is too late for the party, but may come in handy in the future. By the way, Josh, you did indeed miss a fun Chowdown at JunBo, but how many first birthday parties does one get to throw?

[poivre]

PS. Josh do you know about northwest charcoal and chemical for smoking chunks?

[Josh Resnik]

No, please tell me more. I had only known about the Home Depot for charcoal and smoking chunks.

[teamkitty]

Kosher - Fishman's or Byerly's in SLP. But you may be SOL - it's Rosh Hashannah this weekend.

Regular - Everetts Meats on 36 (38th) at Cedar.

[Mill City Modern]

In my neighborhood (NE Minneapolis), I like Ready Meats on Johnson.

I keep hearing good things about Costco meats, but I still haven't been able to bring myself to set foot inside one. Maybe this weekend...

[Atticus Fresh]

Johnson Wholesale Meat Company. It supply meat to most twin cities restaurants and is open to the public. Can get you almost anything if you call ahead.

1735 Nicollet Av

[bob s]

Is Johnson still open? I thought they had closed a year or two ago.

[AnnyM]

You are correct - they are closed.

[poivre]

I've always got mine at Von Hansons (St Paul location), ordered to specification ahead of time. Never had any complaints.

I've never found them big enough at L/B.

[Rheta]

This is goint to sound weird, but the best brisket I have found in the western suburbs is Costco. It's the only brisket I have found that is trimmed correctly. I'm very picky about my brisket and Costco has the best that I have found in the 10 years I've lived here. Even Lunds/Byerlys doesn't trim right. Good luck!