PROBABLY working in the meat department of the Costco, a mere 1/2 northeast of his former location.

The one time I visited the Charlotte location, the bulk of his goods were frozen, the stuff in the cases gamey and grey in color. eek.

I would imagine that a meat market on Charlotte ave would not be such a hot commodity in the parlance of our times. There are some other options. I would most recommend C&F Meats in Triune, but there is also the Butcher Block in cool springs. I think there may be a place or two downtown, but I am not as familiar with those.

I went to Robert Regg's on Middleton off Lafayette a couple times and got some great cuts of meat. I don't know if they're still open, but they were very helpful and willing to custom butcher if you asked.

I went to Todd's once, I wanted to go weekly, but he didn't have tri-tips, didn't think he could get any, didn't really seem to want to try, and like meat ball's experience, when I looked around I realised nothing there looked like it was worth coming back for. Was that my fault for not being there more often? Was that his fault for being between a gun store and a liquor store near an iffy car wash?

I don't get it, really. what do we have to do to have an honest to goodness butcher in this town?

and while I'm asking questions, I keep wondering if there's not a place in this here blog space that could be set up for plain ol' ordinary readers to ask questions or provide updates wihtout having to wait for someone oh-ffical to create an entry on topic. For example, you drive to a place you've heard about and it's shuttered, you put the question out there. You hear about someone opening up a new spot or taking some place offline to re-work things, you let everyone know. Is that possible? And while I'm at it, could there also be some sort of entry where we could ask what people do or where they go for certain cooking/eating situations? Like, who has organic lard? Where'd the five dollar chicken guy across from the honda/kawasaki dealer go? just a thought from the peanut gallery...

For now, just ask your questions on any thread here. They'll get a response.

You know John Egerton?

I do competition bbq so I know my meat, and around here it is hard to beat Publix. I have had bad experiences at several "high end" meat places around town, and I have several bbq friends that have told me horror stories about these places as well. The most consistent place in town is Publix. They very rarely disappoint. The key is getting to know your local meat manager and having them make you custom cuts. When you go to one of these specialty meat shops it is just thicker cuts displayed nicely (allegedly). At Publix they will custom cut anything for you, and they rarely run out of anything. I cooked the best steak I have ever had the other day and it was a bone in rib eye custom cut 2.5 inches thick. I don't mean to sound like an advertisement, but I strongly believe in their quality.

For you organic folks their Greenwise line of chicken and meat are far superior to Whole Foods.

Ulika, which Publix?

I, too, am sadddened that Todd's closed. I picked up a couple of steaks there for Valentine's Day - last time I shopped there.

I shop at the Publix in Nippers Corner and McKay's Mill. Ask for Jimmy Carter at NC and Alfred Eller at MM.

poor jimmy carter - hard times all around...

S L, I thought it a rather perfect synergy that one could buy bourbon, bullets and big slabs of meat all in one strip mall. Made me feel more American every time I ever went by there.

And whose car wash are you callin' "iffy"? That's the last 50-cent car wash in town. I migrated there years ago as the one in Green Hills went way up in price.

So is everyone saying the only place to get good, interesting cuts of meat is Publix? Where do you think I could go to get duck fat? Or animals that don't always appeal to the Publix croud?

i think i saw duck fat at lazzaroli's. call and ask. as for interesting meat. good luck. i need to find beef heart. i think you need to talk to the meat sellers at the farmers market. i could not get veal bones here to save my life. marche might sell a thing or two...

mail order is my salvation.
sad but true.

i was just in cleveland and went to the westside market and i was so envious...

By 'iffy' I mean, I washed my vehicles there enjoying the price shortly after relocating here from elsewhere, and then realized a couple of shootings had occured there. Maybe that's not iffy to everyone.

Ok, where is the guy with the five dollar chickens who used to be across from Amerisports?

and Claudia, it's even worse if you visit Cincinnati. In addition to a thriving farmer's market in an area that makes East Nashville feel like Brentwood, where one can get freshly made mozzarella in addition to 3 different butchers just ready to cut whatever you like, they have Jungle Jim's, the place that finally made me say (after 20 years in Calif) "Trader Who?".

so, seriously, where did the pollo guy go?