495074 Sun Mar 02 14:25:30 -0800 2008 43 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 3452605 Good corned beef can be tough to find in the Bay Area most of the year, but in the days leading up to St. Patty's many local places offer it as a special. Cafe Rouge's butcher shop will have corned beef available a few days before the 17th. This is really good stuff, tender, juicy, nice distribution of fat, excellent flavor. I always call ahead to reserve some, because it just might sell out. I'll pick up some sauerkraut from the farmers' market, some gruyere from the Cheeseboard, a little Acme rye, and Mrs. Mousse will make a batch of her Russian dressing. We'll be in Reuben heaven, East Coast be damned. Cafe Rouge will also offer a corned beef sandwich on their lunch menu right around the 17th. Since their menu changes daily, you might want to call ahead and confirm. Fatted Calf will offer corned beef this year. In the past, they've only offered a whole, uncooked roast. Since I don't have a meat slicer at home, I haven't been able to try it. However, with the opening of the new Oxbow market, Taylor says they hope to have cooked corned beef available by the slice (definitely call ahead to check on this). If I can make it out to Napa, I just may need to do a corned beef taste-off. For those of us who don't want to prep at home, Gregoire has a corned beef sandwich on the menu this month. It's one of his best sandwiches, featuring house made corned beef and sauerkraut. Sun Mar 02 14:25:30 -0800 2008 10793 Morton the Mousse 1 3452715 Since I am not on a first name basis with the Fatted Calf people your mentioning Taylor in the same sentence as the Oxbow Market confused me. I thought for a moment that Taylor's was adding corned beef to their menu. Sun Mar 02 15:01:22 -0800 2008 3452605 105235 wolfe 1 3454697 Thanks for the reminder Morton! I was just thinking about corned beef when I was changing my calendar at work and realize St. Patty's day is this month. I rarely eat corned beef because it's not that healthy, but I will eat it around this time of the year. I really am craving corned beef with hash. Do you know who would make a good corned beef and hash? Mon Mar 03 09:25:42 -0800 2008 3452605 43882 singleguychef 2 3454888 I had great corned beef hash at Canteen, but it's not always on the menu. I really like the corned beef hash at 900 Grayson, though it's not at all traditional and I have friends who were unimpressed with it (I say that because if you're eating it once a year I'm reluctant to recommend a place that didn't get unanimous reviews). Mon Mar 03 10:08:16 -0800 2008 3454697 10793 Morton the Mousse 2 3454917 Bette's Diner on 4th St in Berkeley makes an AMAZING corned beef hash. My husband is totally addicted to it. Order it with one of their delicious donut muffins and its probably as unhealthy as a breakfast can get, but oh so good. Its definitely worth having at least once. Mon Mar 03 10:17:54 -0800 2008 3454697 25012 chemchef 3 3455311 I love Canteen, but know what you mean about whether it'll be on the menu. I may have to check out Bette's if I can stand the line! :) Mon Mar 03 11:39:28 -0800 2008 3454917 43882 singleguychef 4 3455445 No line on weekdays (if you can swing it) or weekends if you go early. My husband and I always manage to avoid the line. Mon Mar 03 12:05:36 -0800 2008 3455311 25012 chemchef 1 3454715 Are they corning their own at Cafe Rouge this year? I bought Niman there before and found it too lean for my taste. Corned beef *and* hash seems like a strange idea, since hash is the traditional dish to make with leftover corned beef. Mon Mar 03 09:30:07 -0800 2008 3452605 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 3454863 They corn their own once a year, every year, for St. Patrick's Day. Last year's batch was nice and fatty. I agree with you about the Niman. Mon Mar 03 09:58:58 -0800 2008 3454715 10793 Morton the Mousse 1 3455572 DeLissio makes its own pastrami and corned beef once in a while, in the appropriate seasons (pastrami: December, corned beef, March). It's excellent, but I haven't tried Cafe Rouge's for comparison. The butcher at Faletti Foods also carries Niman corned beef this time of year, and they're very helpful about digging out exactly the cut you want. They typically have a selection of different cuts from Niman, and I've always been able to get a center cut piece of brisket. Mon Mar 03 12:33:09 -0800 2008 3452605 17221 SteveG 2 3501882 Pastrami has a season? Mon Mar 17 14:35:15 -0700 2008 3455572 10966 Windy 3 3501888 Corned beef does b/c of St. Patrick's Day. Mon Mar 17 14:36:16 -0700 2008 3501882 25012 chemchef 4 3502121 Yes, I realize that, but Steve wrote December for pastrami. Mon Mar 17 15:41:35 -0700 2008 3501888 10966 Windy 3 3501938 Ecclesiates 3:1 KJB To every thing there is a season Mon Mar 17 14:47:01 -0700 2008 3501882 105235 wolfe 4 3505401 ....December is Pastrami Season???!!! Who knew?! Maybe to coincide with Hanukah...perhaps the nice 'fatty' pastrami commemorates the fatty oil used in the great Menorah! You eat a lot of it and your indegestion lasts for 8 days! A miracle indeed... Tue Mar 18 15:52:01 -0700 2008 3501938 10485 ChowFun_derek 3 3503107 Not really, but it showed up during Hanukkah last year at DeLissio. You have to steam it yourself since they don't make sandwiches to order. Mon Mar 17 22:33:37 -0700 2008 3501882 17221 SteveG 4 3503129 Maybe the Kosher version of the Christmas ham.... Mon Mar 17 22:55:13 -0700 2008 3503107 131118 Xiao Yang 1 3455725 Thanks for the reminder. While it is all lean and not a speck of fat, I enjoyed the corned beef I bought last week at Saul's in Berkeley. Yes it is Niman, but it makes a nice cold cut type of sandwich with mustard. As much as I like some things at Magnini's, the corned beef is not one of them. It is a weird tasting meat. The dog next door enjoyed the rest of it. If you go up to Fatted Calf get some of the rye bread at Model. I'm not sure yet if I like it better than Acme's (from Saul's). To decide I'lll have to have a few more breakfasts of rye toast slathered with Clover's farmstead butter with sea salt that Fatted Calf is selling in little crocks ($10). A little digression, but Fatted Calf said the pastrami might be available this week. Mon Mar 03 13:08:13 -0800 2008 3452605 10264 rworange 2 3455782 Clover Farmstead Butter is also at Whole Foods and (at a higher price) Andronico's. Mon Mar 03 13:21:05 -0800 2008 3455725 11369 Robert Lauriston 3 3456379 Also at Mollie Stones, $9.99. Mon Mar 03 15:40:59 -0800 2008 3455782 15457 peppatty 2 3476696 Some things were not meant to be lean. A little fringe of fat makes corned beef mich so satisfying, and after all, it's something most of us eat about once a year. What next, low-sodium corned beef? Sun Mar 09 21:38:45 -0700 2008 3455725 131118 Xiao Yang 3 3477549 Normally I'd agree, but this was just tasty, good-quality stuff cut from a fresh-cooked corned beef and not the junk most delis serve. Mon Mar 10 08:34:09 -0700 2008 3476696 10264 rworange 1 3456095 TJs (at least the one on Masonic) has the Niman corned beef. A variety of cuts were available this weekend. Mon Mar 03 14:28:00 -0800 2008 3452605 15646 tranewreck 1 3456394 Any local sources for grass fed brisket? I can usually only find ground or steaks. I may try the home cure from this month's bon appetit. Mon Mar 03 15:44:39 -0800 2008 3452605 15457 peppatty 2 3456423 You might call Marin Sun Farms. Mon Mar 03 15:52:52 -0800 2008 3456394 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 3461209 Corned beef and cabbage is on the menu at Marin Joe's. It's the regular Thursday lunch special. I haven't tried it yet, but it sure looked good on someone's plate at the next table. Wed Mar 05 00:19:52 -0800 2008 3452605 13619 Sharuf 2 3476674 I see that San Rafael Joe's also offers corned beef as their Thursday lunch special. At $8.95 it's significantly cheaper than Marin Joe's. Sun Mar 09 21:23:46 -0700 2008 3461209 13619 Sharuf 1 3501297 I ended up getting corned beef at the deli at The Pasta Shop at Market Hall in Rockridge. It was Niman Ranch corned beef selling for $19.95 a pound. My three slices for dinner set me back about $17. I thought it was good. On the lean side like someone else mentioned, but it tasted healthier. It didn't seem to have as strong a salty taste as I like my corned beef, but it did the trick. I'm good until next year! It was pricey but for me it was more convenience since Market Hall is close to where I live. Mon Mar 17 12:15:00 -0700 2008 3452605 43882 singleguychef 2 3501339 TJ's just up the block from Market Hall probably has it at about $6 a pound. Four or 5 large sandwiches on TJ's rye after slow cooking and under $17. Mon Mar 17 12:22:31 -0700 2008 3501297 105235 wolfe 3 3501354 Is that already pre-cooked? I was also looking for the thicker slices. Maybe next year I'll check out Trader Joe's. (That's who you meant by TJ, right?) Mon Mar 17 12:25:47 -0700 2008 3501339 43882 singleguychef 4 3501462 Yes, Trader Joe's and you do have to cook it. Dump contents of package, about 2 # of CB bring to a boil put in oven, 300 degree covered pot, about 3 1/2 hours. It was Niman Ranch. Mon Mar 17 12:50:55 -0700 2008 3501354 105235 wolfe 5 3502931 FYI, the Niman Ranch CB at TJ's = round, not brisket. Mon Mar 17 20:37:27 -0700 2008 3501462 17723 lexdevil 1 3505409 Anyone find corned beef that is brisket, but the fattier (and more flavorful) point cut...not the flat cut...my searching has found just flat, or round... Tue Mar 18 15:54:22 -0700 2008 3452605 10485 ChowFun_derek 2 3505590 Our host last weekend got what looked like a point cut from Bryan's. Supposedly, Bryan's does the corning in-house, but it's not spiced so we had to give it a dry rub the night before cooking. It turned out really well, and we didn't have to change the water or otherwise mess with it to get the salt content to the right level. Tue Mar 18 16:59:36 -0700 2008 3505409 17221 SteveG 2 3955586 Hey ChowFun, on March 14, I stopped by Roberts Corned Meats and picked up a point cut corned beef and a corned tongue. I was a little worried when I was asked if I'd ordered ahead, but no worries, there was still plenty on that day. Here's the pile of orders on the counter, http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/2759228402_245b6799db.jpg?v=0 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2759228392_7db748464f.jpg?v=0 It was a great San Francisco scene. A fire truck pulled up and the crew dropped in to pick up their order for the station. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/2759228386_268e88d62c.jpg?v=0 Firefighters and policemen in uniform get a discount. Actually I got a discount too and the owner apologized because I'd waited so long to be waited on. So, I'm not sure what the real price is for my two items. As far as point cut, you can buy it in quantity as Povi-masima 40 lbs for $69, which is the Tongan/Samoan name for this cut. One of the firefighters was an islander and described how to cook it. Our piece of point cut had too much of the stringy flat attached. I didn't see it before it was wrapped up in paper, or I might have asked for another. On a less busy day, you can probably be more picky. We really liked the corned tongue. Pricey, but very good texture and just the right amount of salt. Wed Aug 13 20:49:46 -0700 2008 3505409 10039 Melanie Wong 3 3955827 Good to hear that the meat is good right from the source. I tried it one or two places who didn't do a good job with the pastrami. My visit a while back to the shop was interesting, really cool space. I didn't want to invest in a large piece of meat, so I didn't get any. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/355489 Thanks for clarifying wnat povi-masima is. On my visit it was $65. Given the price of that didn't rise, the corned meat was $2.59 - $2.89 lb on my visit, so it might still be in that range. Nice photos. Thu Aug 14 00:46:07 -0700 2008 3955586 10264 rworange 3 3956712 Robert's Corned Meats is a great source for picking up whole corned and unprepared briskets. Just dont tell 'em you are going to make pastrami out of it! Memphis Minnie's gets their briskets there too. Thu Aug 14 09:17:48 -0700 2008 3955586 13300 Civil Bear 4 3956731 Good tip! And, I'm glad to hear that you've found a spot to source briskets for your BBQ adventures. Thu Aug 14 09:23:23 -0700 2008 3956712 10039 Melanie Wong 5 3957603 Thanks Melanie. I have actually found an even better source, as Golden Gate Meats has been kind enough to sponsor me by donating a couple of CAB briskets each contest. BTW, for those that may be interested, there is a huge contest in Fairfield this Saturday coinciding with their Tomato Festival. Over 60 teams will be on site (many with their outlandish smoking rigs), which makes it the biggest contest of its kind in California to date. Thu Aug 14 13:30:07 -0700 2008 3956731 13300 Civil Bear 6 3961679 I'm planning to be there in hopes of tasting some of the bbq that's not destined for the judges. Not much info about the smoking side of the festival. Fri Aug 15 23:33:00 -0700 2008 3957603 10039 Melanie Wong 7 3962130 Double D's BBQ will be there. It opened recently in Oakland and the owner participates in these competitions. It was trashed on this board and by a friend who I really trust ... BUT ... My freind says though the meat is disappointing (he's trying to do things on the cheap ... $5 plates) ... the BBQ sauce is amazing. He said he'd buy bottles of the stuff. So if you see them, you might consider tasting the sauce. Sat Aug 16 09:09:45 -0700 2008 3961679 10264 rworange 8 3964236 Didn't see anyone there by that name. Could they be competing under a different team name? Sun Aug 17 13:17:28 -0700 2008 3962130 13300 Civil Bear 7 3964228 Good to see you there Melanie. I only wish we could have been a bit more hospitable, as we were getting ready to turn in our tri-tip. 90% of barbecue is sitting around waiting and drinking beers with your buds, but between 11:30-2:00 we get all stressed trying to get everything perfect for the judges and not miss our turn in times! Sun Aug 17 13:14:59 -0700 2008 3961679 13300 Civil Bear 8 3964394 Pleasure to meet you! Here's my post on the day, http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/549475 Sun Aug 17 14:41:55 -0700 2008 3964228 10039 Melanie Wong