470661 Tue Dec 18 12:12:22 -0800 2007 29 12 Boston Area 0 3219186 Any suggestions for purchasing a good cut in Newton/Needham area other? I have gone to Dewers in the past, delicious but very very pricey, if there aren't any good alternatives I will go there. Tue Dec 18 12:12:22 -0800 2007 110819 bakerboyz 1 3219213 Whole Foods in Wellesley had a pretty good meat department-have purchased rack from there many times. Of course, Dewar is the best. Also, Roche Bros/Sudbury farms in Needham also have good meat departments (same owners). Tue Dec 18 12:17:48 -0800 2007 3219186 13202 emilief 2 3219225 Familiar with both Roche and Whole Foods, trying to decide that for such a special dish maybe it's worth it to pay however much more it is and go to Dewar's, just not sure? Tue Dec 18 12:21:00 -0800 2007 3219213 110819 bakerboyz 2 3219258 Depends where it's from. New Zealand is quite good, and is usually what you'll get at Whole Foods, but Icelandic lamb is the absolute best I've ever tasted. Hard to find around here though. Tue Dec 18 12:28:11 -0800 2007 3219213 14386 BobB 1 3219223 It's amazing how different a great rack of lamb is from a good one. Case in point. I almost always get my racks from Savenor's on Beacon Hill, but thought I'd save a few bucks once, and purchased one at Whole Foods. NO comparison. The Savenor's rack of lamb is superior in every possible way. When you're buying something that's already pretty pricey, I say go for the best you can get. Tue Dec 18 12:20:56 -0800 2007 3219186 16490 Bostonbob3 2 3219608 I have to agree. I love to cook rack of lamb and enjoy most I have purchased from a variety of sources. However, there is no comparison between supermarket bought and the ones at Dewars or Savenor's. I bought one from Dewars last yhear, paid an arma and a "leg" but it was well trimmed and remarkably fresh. If you can afford it, it is money well spent. Tue Dec 18 13:45:02 -0800 2007 3219223 12990 Northender 3 3219639 That makes a lot of sense...only 2 of us are eating it so that's only approx. 1 lb or about $12 more...I think I will swing for the extra twelve bucks and stick with Dewar's. Tue Dec 18 13:52:23 -0800 2007 3219608 110819 bakerboyz 4 3222397 I hope you enjoy it. the last one I bought from them was the best I ever had (no lack of modesty on my part since I cooked it lol) Wed Dec 19 11:13:10 -0800 2007 3219639 12990 Northender 1 3219284 It depends what kind of lamb you like. If you want American lamb, you'll probably need to go to a butcher like Dewar or Savenor's. Whole Foods usually has a selection of New Zealand (terrible, but cheaper) Icelandic (good, but small) Australian (IMO best all-around) and occasionally American (mild and expensive.) I recommend Australian lamb from Costco - good flavor, nice eye conformation and much better price. Look for a 28up (that's ounces per rack.) Tue Dec 18 12:33:13 -0800 2007 3219186 102066 almansa 2 3219480 I like Australian best all-round also, and have had great luck with them from Costco too. If your going to marinate and/or put a rub on the rack, no need to go all out from a high end butcher. Tue Dec 18 13:14:39 -0800 2007 3219284 11222 Infomaniac 3 3219519 I am planning on a garlic-herb crust. Whole Foods and Roche both sell American for $17.99/lb and Dewar's is $29.99/lb, also American. Tue Dec 18 13:22:15 -0800 2007 3219480 110819 bakerboyz 4 3219556 I must say that I am floored by the Whole Foods/Roche Bros price. That's well below wholesale for American lamb racks. Tue Dec 18 13:32:11 -0800 2007 3219519 102066 almansa 5 3219600 I just called both and that's what the meat departments quoted me. I called BJ's and there's is $13.99/lb but they were all out today. Tue Dec 18 13:43:26 -0800 2007 3219556 110819 bakerboyz 6 3219891 That price is likely not trimmed at all. Tue Dec 18 15:04:32 -0800 2007 3219600 27342 trufflehound 6 3222499 Davis Sq McKinnon's has rack of lamb for $9.99/lb. Frenched, but not fully trimmed. I was in the checkout line when I noticed it, so wasn't able to leave my spot to see where it was from, but based on the packaging I would guess smaller sized racks of NZ lamb. Overall I really like Dewars when its a special occasion. Market Basket used to have some nice 2-packs of NZ racks frozen which were good to keep around for a snowey day, but I haven't sighted them in Lexington/Burlington or Woburn for ages (Somerville never had them, but they have been seen in Lawrence/Lowell more recently). Wed Dec 19 11:39:29 -0800 2007 3219600 12962 itaunas 7 3225447 I love Mckinnon's generally but the lamb racks are the sealed NZ or Australian ones which are not too well trimmed. Ok in a pinch but nothing great. Thu Dec 20 09:58:28 -0800 2007 3222499 12990 Northender 2 3224768 Hmm. Matter of personal taste, I suppose. I've always preferred NZ lamb to Aussie or American, and have never tasted any that was better than Icelandic (although most of that was eaten in Iceland - they may keep the best stuff for local consumption). Thu Dec 20 07:04:52 -0800 2007 3219284 14386 BobB 1 3219938 Rack of Lamb. One of my most favorite food groups! For festive, but practical dinners, I buy at Costco. The quality of the Australian lamb that they sell is quite astonishing for the price point. Full of flavor with just the right amount of fat to cook on a charcoal grill. However, to celebrate a birthday in a year where making it to the birthday wasn't a given, I went to Savenors. The butcher did a beautiful job of preparing the ribs, and the results were so delicious, it is hard to imagine. I found that I didn't eat as much since I was sated by the flavor, and manage to get 5 meals from one rack. To compare, I have never bought a rack from a local supermarket. Tue Dec 18 15:19:22 -0800 2007 3219186 59258 smtucker 2 3220236 The racks at Costco are frenched, bones trimmed and cleaned, nice touch. Tue Dec 18 17:11:08 -0800 2007 3219938 147961 treb 1 3222285 If its NZ or from Austraila you want, might as well go to shaw's or stopshop. frozen is frozen comes from the same place . American lamb is the best, therefore the most expensive,-- go to whole foods Wed Dec 19 10:45:27 -0800 2007 3219186 112127 hlerm2 2 3222310 Thank you all, decided to spring for the extra bucks and go to Dewar's at $29.99 lb. Only feeding 2 of us so I feel it's worth it for the extra $ I will pay over supermarket brand. Wed Dec 19 10:52:25 -0800 2007 3222285 110819 bakerboyz 2 3222375 I would argue that domestic lamb isn't necessarily the "best." It is certainly fed in such a way as to more closely resemble beef in flavor due to the American palate disliking gaminess. For example, Niman Ranch lamb is considered excellent by many chefs and gourmands here, but Bill Niman told me that his goal was to produce less flavorful meat. He hates lamb, he confessed, so he began to grain-feed it. Now it's common practice. Is that better? I don't know. Maybe. But for me I'd take British or French lamb over domestic. And Australian, to me, comes in second. I don't particularly care that it's been frozen. Wed Dec 19 11:06:47 -0800 2007 3222285 102066 almansa 3 3223366 I respectfully argue that frozen is an automatic 10-point deduct on a 100 scale. I lived in Colorado for 8 years, and I frequently grilled fresh Colorado lamb racks over mesquite in a Webber with just rosemary, garlic, and coarse pepper. I can pay a king's ransom for aged New Zealand lamb here in Florida, or order it with high hopes in fancy restaurants, what with crusty this and mustard that, but my crude Colorado preparation was non-pareil. Wed Dec 19 15:52:33 -0800 2007 3222375 57170 Veggo 1 3223229 I've had the Costco Australian rack of lamb, and it is pretty good and great deal for the money, but my favorite is the frozen, premarinated Trader Joe's. I've gotten many complements on it before admitting I didn't actually season it, just tossed it in the oven... Wed Dec 19 14:59:51 -0800 2007 3219186 124072 tbiscaia 2 3223580 I've made the TJ's version many times. It's a great value and a big time-saver, though I don't think anyone's arguing it's the best available. Wed Dec 19 17:21:26 -0800 2007 3223229 11661 nfo 1 3224833 I'm new to the area so I don't know exactly where to send you, but something I've always done is look for Halal markets. Since lamb is a major part of muslim cuisine, they specialize in it and sell high volume so the price is right and the quality is good. Thu Dec 20 07:24:16 -0800 2007 3219186 73520 markethej 2 3225528 I'm at Pete's Pub a lot (burp), and see the Halal markets on either side of them unloading lambs from small, unmarked, unrefrigerated white vans all the time. Our ongoing joke is that it's a delivery from Wonderland Park. Thu Dec 20 10:18:42 -0800 2007 3224833 16490 Bostonbob3 3 3226057 No joke.... (hic) Thu Dec 20 12:46:22 -0800 2007 3225528 12990 Northender 3 3229383 I'm new to the area. What's Wonderland Park? Fri Dec 21 15:07:13 -0800 2007 3225528 73520 markethej 4 3229433 dog track Fri Dec 21 15:36:18 -0800 2007 3229383 12603 ScubaSteve