Help wanted – Texan Longhorn Beef (preferably grass-fed)

[estufarian]

Toronto Chowhound (and friend) will be travelling around Hill Country in June (roughly triangle from Fort Worth-Austin-Lubbock), and am looking for a place(s?) to try Longhorn Beef (eating establishments, not buying for home use).

Last time around I found Longhorn Burgers at Hut’s and could really taste the difference, so would like to explore some other cuts. I’m starting here, but will expand to other boards if you can’t help. I’ve searched the Board, but most references to Longhorn give me a tavern or a team.

Please help me find the chow.

[achtungpv]

I always thought Longhorns were raised for a hobby rarely, if ever, for beef.

[Jimbeaux67]

Not just a hobby.

Without getting into a cow history lesson Longhorn cattle have been around a long time in Texas... yada, yada, yada.
Longhorn meat is actually lean and delicious.
Debbie Davis over at Bandera Grassland is one of the only suppliers of grass fed Longhorn beef(in our area), that I have found, that offer up the whole critter vs. only ground.
http://www.banderagrassland.com/index...

Not noted on the website – they also offer up feral hog when they become overly unruly and appropriately sized for the pit. (Get on the mailing list for this

)

As for where to purchase this cooked in a restaurant? That could be its own thread….oh, wait…

[estufarian]

And, of course, the Hut's supplier is the same Bandera Grassland.

Ummm - how about a thread on where to purchase the feral hog in a restaurant.......!

[sqwertz]

I went to foodhawk.com and entered "longhorn:" in the menu item search box. After sorting through all the gimmicks, the last hit said Opal Divine Penn Field has a 1/3lb 100% "range-fed" longhorn burger on the menu as a patty melt or "Texas Range Burger".

Frankly, I didn't know this breed was even available.

Texas Range Burger 1/3 lb. patty served with mayo & mustard. Opal's features 100% natural range-fed Texas Longhorn Beef. Not only is it tastier it is also leaner and has less cholesterol than other breeds. Our burgers are cooked to medium unless otherwise ordered. $6.50

Patty Melt 1/3 lb. Longhorn or 1/2 lb. Black Angus patty with grilled onions & Swiss cheese on grilled rye. $7.45

Foodhawk.com is good for those kinds of menu searches, but it doesn't have nearly all the menus in town (only those that pay to be on the site). And the menus are not always accurate.

-sw

[estufarian]

GREAT find. Thank you.
Opal Divine's website doesn't even mention the Texas Range Burger - it only promises 100% Black Angus Beef!

Given the details on Foodhawk, this seems to be genuine (therefore it's Opal Divine's that's incomplete). But if anybody is in the area, would you please confirm that this item is available?

This gives me a chance to confirm (or othewise) that the Hut's longhorn Burger wasn't an aberration - it's possible that ALL Hut's burgers are top class, so I may have erroneously thought it was the Longhorn Beef that generated the superior taste (for me).

I also hadn't realized that Longhorn Beef wasn't very common - maybe I've been watching too many movies. But the failure (so far) to find anything other than a Burger was unexpected. Thanks to the respondees to date - any other locations/responses more than welcome.

[stephanieh]

I've used Foodhawk to find dishes, but I don't think it gets updated frequently. It's probably been over a year since I've been to Opal Divine's, but I don't remember having a choice of beef there, so I think they just have the Black Angus. I will say that they will happily do medium rare for you and they get it right, plus they chargrill, which adds a good flavor. They have good burgers, but I don't think they have Longhorn. They have multiple locations, so there may be an offering at one of the other ones I didn't know about. I've been to the "Marina" location on Parmer.

[estufarian]

That was my concern - but the details on the size of the burger were so specific that it seemed to be believable.

And the Foodhawk reference was specific to the Penn Field location - again seems to add to the credence.
I'll be in Austin from 15-18 June - so if anyone sees/hears anything before then, please add a comment.

[rudeboy]

Why don't you just call them?

[estufarian]

That's exactly what I plan to do.
Can you help with who I should call to find longhorn cuts 'other than Burger' - which was my original request?

[rudeboy]

Oh - I thought that Penn Field had something else based on the comments above - I see that it is just a burger. I was suggesting to simply call them, but that's not what you are looking for.

[estufarian]

So I called, and the response was "I don't know anything about it".
But as luck would have it, my route took me right past their door, so I dropped in anyway (sometme between 11:00am and noon). Maybe 20-30 customers, and a sign saying 'Please Wait To Be Seated" - but no host/hostess. Eventually, after nobody appeared I walked over to the bar, but was sent back to the sign. Still nobody! At long last, somebody appeared and I asked about the Longhorn burger. She'd never heard of it!

So I left.

To Hut's tomorrow.

[dinaofdoom]

bummer. good luck in your search!

[sqwertz]

Another negative vote for Foodhawk.com. I wonder how long it's been since they've verified their menus? After 5-6 years they must be pretty stale.

Sorry about that. Don't believe everything you read on the web ;-)

[estufarian]

Thanks anyway - if it HAD worked out, you'd have been a hero!

Had the longhorn burger at Hut's - actually ordered a second! So all was not in vain.

And thanks everyone who tried to help. I expect to be back in a couple of years, so if anyone hears or sees anything..........

[yehudimenuhin]

In Austin, there are a number of local-focused restaurants that serve beef from grass-fed texas cattle, but I've never seen any described as longhorn. I'd imagine they're mostly Brangus and Beefmaster. Good luck.

[estufarian]

That's promising - any particular recommendations?
Thanks.

[yehudimenuhin]

I know Wink gets their beef from Bastrop Cattle Co, among other local farms. If you're looking for a steakhouse, however I don't have any ideas.

[estufarian]

Thanks for the reference. I see they specify 'grass-fed' for the Beef Tartare - but NOT for the mains. But at least that's a possibility.

Any more (from anyone)?