Best place to buy Wagyu?
I have a special occasion coming up and want to pick up some Wagyu steaks. What's the best place to get them? I don't mind paying a premium price for a premium product but definitely hate markups just for the sake of paying for pretentiousness and upscale clientele. So any better more reasonable options besides McEwans, Pusateris, and Cumbrae?
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elvisahmed
Nov 30, 2009 08:42 AM
Hey Just checked the Costco Canada website and they are selling Wagyu Steaks (Kobe Style)! I don't have a reference point but at 250$ for 8 Pieces of Strip Lion and 300$ for Rib Eye they seems like US prices (i.e. reasonable). Me being a single person can't justify buying 8 but it seems like a good buy for someone planning a memorable feast.
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elvisahmed
Nov 26, 2009 07:09 PM
Hi Just came back from the tasting session of Aussie Wagyu style at the LCBO. They had three examples of Aussie Wagyu 1. On Skewers Marinated 2. Mini Burger. 3. Braised in the in a butter tart with sour cherry topping.
The Skewers were nothing special. Burgers were pretty good braised one was somewhat in the middle. In terms of value I think its darn good value @ 40$ with matching wines and tasting Kobe Style beef. I am sold on the ground meat. The chef was from the Oliffe Butcher right down the street and said the ground meat mix that he used for the burgers always available there and the recipe was simple to boot. All in all a good session to get a taste of the ultimate meat.›1 Reply -
jayt90
Oct 5, 2009 05:08 AM
Cumbrae's on Bayview is a good place for lower cost cuts of Wagyu. They raise their own small herd of Wagyu and butcher the whole animal (at Bayview, I think). The other places buy only steak cuts and rib or tenderloin roasts and age them. Their wholesale cost will be considerable, because the wholesaler has to balance costs. If anyone wants to explore non standard cuts from a well raised Wagyu, it is worth calling Cumbrae's to talk to a butcher and see what is available. There is an earlier thread about this:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/639927 -
Olliffe, though I don't know their pricing. Before the ownership change, they were doing many things with suppliers. Can't say what the new owners are doing, but they seem to be talking the talk at least.
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re: Snarf
elvisahmed
Sep 30, 2009 08:19 PM
I second J-Town butcher Famu. I have never bought Wagyu myself but the meat looked extremely marbled (if there is such a thing). For Wagyu luvers I suggest the tasting event that LCBO is having at various locations in November for Australian Oakleigh Ranch wagyu. 40$ per head not bad in my opinion compared to how much you shell out for this meat besides I am afraid of cooking it at home so rather leave it to the experts.
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re: elvisahmed
skylineR33
Sep 30, 2009 08:49 PM
Famu carries different kind of Wagyu and the most marbled one is the same as the one at Pusateris (same price too), as shown in the picture. Not everyone like extremely fat marbled beef, many top restaurants use A3 to A4 instead of A5 nowaday.
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re: graydyn
skylineR33
Oct 1, 2009 09:36 AM
Look risky, why ?
Yes, I ate that steak, it is the A5 Wagyu striploin from Pusateri. It is like butter, I can only eat 3 oz at one time. I prefer tenderloin for that grade of beef.
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re: skylineR33
Crispier Crouton
Oct 1, 2009 10:14 AM
skylineR33, I was curious: how much was that A5 striploin per lb?
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re: graydyn
Crispier Crouton
Oct 1, 2009 10:39 AM
Here's a much more reasonably marbled wagyu I had in Hiroshima. That A5 looks ridiculous.
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re: Crispier Crouton
skylineR33
Oct 1, 2009 12:20 PM
Haha, yes that's what I mean that it really depends on what one wants to eat. That piece of A5 is full-blood wagyu selling at around $130 per lb in Toronto.
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re: chrisfernando100
elvisahmed
Oct 4, 2009 10:58 PM
The one on Bayview LCBO is on Nov 10th ,the Kingsway is Nov 18th and Nov 26th for the Summershill. They are under lifestyle under the event and courses section on the LCBO site so you might want to poke around in the location near you. As for whether its worth it I guess I will tell after the event :)
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lyndak
Sep 30, 2009 11:26 AM
I've tried Wagyu from all the locations listed so far and I think the best we've had is from J-Town. Sorry I don't recall the name of the butcher, but it's on your left when you enter the mall.
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re: lyndak
skylineR33
Sep 30, 2009 11:35 AM
There are different kinds of wagyu beef with different pricing at J-Town. When you say it is the best, which one are you referring to ? Or do you think they all taste the same ?
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re: brianl999
skylineR33
Oct 6, 2009 06:12 PM
The Japanese Wagyu at Famu is the same cut, same grade and from the same prefecture of Japan as the one at Pusateris. I have tried both too. So when she says the one at J-Town is better, it is basically the same thing with the same pricing.
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re: skylineR33
Same cut, same grade, same prefecture, different animal (when I say that, I mean the two were obviously not from the same cow - we don't eat this every day!). Despite the grading, etc., things are still highly variable. Add in the human factor (different cooking methods, etc.), and, despite the fact that we're talking about basically the same thing, you can still end up with a different experience.
Reminds me of the time we first went to McEwens. They had Australian Wagyu that looked phenomenal, but the USDA Prime looked almost as good, at less than half the price. We bought that, and for $35/lb, it was very, very good, very close to the Wagyu we've eaten. Went back and tried it again (despite it didn't look anywhere near as marbled as the first time), and while it was a very good steak, that was it - it didn't compare to Wagyu.
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re: brianl999
skylineR33
Oct 6, 2009 06:43 PM
Well, I am just saying it is the same cut, same grade, same perfecture and same pricing. Of course there is the human factor that one can screw up one time but cook better the other time. The wagyu from both places are basically the same piece of meat to me with my experience. I am quite satisfy with the meat I get from Pusateri.
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re: lyndak
Crispier Crouton
Sep 30, 2009 11:38 AM
The name of the butcher is Famu. Should also try their Berkshire pork.
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skylineR33
Sep 30, 2009 10:03 AM
McEwans, Pusateris, and Cumbrae carry different kinds of Wagyu, it really depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.
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re: skylineR33
Alot of mid range shops carry Wagyu. I was supprosed to see that even Bruno's carries Wagyu. I would hit the phones and find price per lbs. you shoudl also find our where the Wagyu comes from. I love the Australian Oakleigh Ranch wagyu, which is highly accessible through many butcher shops.
I am sure that some of the smaller shops with less overhead might charge less then the big boys, but i am only guessing.-
re: carnivore1964
Yes, I've seen Wagyu at Bruno's, but it was $60/lb for striploin (which I believe is about standard). The thing that bothered me was that they had a bunch of steaks shrink wrapped. I'd question how long they sit there, whereas someone like Cumbrae's probably goes through a lot more volume and I would assume is therefore fresher. I could be way off though.
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Probably not. Stores sell products they think their customers will buy. You're not going to find well marbled "wagyu" at a radom butcher. The most marbled wagyu I've seen from any butcher counter is at Pusateri's. Cumbrae's and McEwans doesn't compare IMO. I'm basing it simply on appearance. Taste - that's another issue :-)
