Red Red Meat: Where can I purchase you?

December 13, 2006 7:42 PM

I'd like to send some raw meat to my brother for Christmas. Web site suggestions?

I've decided that my brother and his wife are gettting steak from me for Christmas. I know there are a lot of options online that will ship with dry ice but I'd appreciate any recommendations for places to check out.

posted by otherwordlyglow to shopping (23 comments total)

Try Omaha Steaks.
posted by pikaboy202 at 7:53 PM on December 13, 2006

My parents are getting steak from Chicago's Allen Brothers for Xmas. Neither of us have consumed said beef, but based on the prices of the beef and its reputation, I assume it's pretty damn good.
posted by princesspathos at 7:59 PM on December 13, 2006

Omaha steaks for the win, baby.
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:10 PM on December 13, 2006

Thirding Omaha. Can't go wrong.
posted by trip and a half at 8:10 PM on December 13, 2006

These guys claim to sell antelope, buffalo, wild boar, elk, llama, ostrich, venison, wild turkey, yak, and a bunch of other stuff. (I know nothing about them besides what their web site says.)
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:21 PM on December 13, 2006

Another vote for Omaha. I've received their steaks as gifts several times, and have almost always been happy with them. The one time I got a sub-par (but still decent, mind you) steak, I e-mailed them and 2 free replacements were in the mail that same day.

But if you ever order from/receive an order from them, you'll forever get junk mail that can be pretty annoying.
posted by nixxon at 8:29 PM on December 13, 2006

Well okay then, Omaha it is. A Holiday Pack for $59.99!
posted by otherwordlyglow at 8:32 PM on December 13, 2006

I love NFRNaturalBeef --- you can buy grassfed beef: either purely grassfed, or grain finished. I've bought a lot of stuff from them, and it's really excellent.
posted by LeisureGuy at 8:37 PM on December 13, 2006

I think Pikaboy deserves the checkmark.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 9:18 PM on December 13, 2006

I've never been happy with Omaha Steaks. But I've been wanting to try Lobel's.

BTW, thanks for reminding me with this question--now I know what to get my Dad for xmas.
posted by mullacc at 9:34 PM on December 13, 2006

I think Pikaboy deserves the checkmark.
First doesn't mean best. I liked the tone of ikkyu2 best. "Try Omaha Steaks" doesn't necessarily give me any degree of assurance that Pikaboy has an actual experience with Omaha Steaks either. That said, he (?) did provide a link and since I can favorite more than 1, maybe I will. But is this a contest?
posted by otherwordlyglow at 9:43 PM on December 13, 2006

Aw, give the guy a best answer - it's not a contest.

Funny this should come up. Mom usually gets an Omaha prime rib when I come to visit, but last week she got one from "Kansas City Steaks" instead. It was nowhere near as good.
posted by ikkyu2 at 11:20 PM on December 13, 2006

David Rosengarten publishes a newsletter wherein he directs readers to supposedly the best mail order food available. I believe Lobel's was tied for first in the hunk of red meat issue. I wasn't surprised. No authoritative discussion of this subject ever seems to come to any other conclusion.

The Report led me to some fantastic granola and knowledgeable foodies I know seem to respect him and his opinions seem to highly with other trustworthy judges wherever I'm familiar enough to compare. I'm trying to say that I think Rosengarten is trustworthy.

I just dug out the review. Lobel's was in fact the winner. Others receiving 5 stars ("ultimate steaks") were Palm Restaurant / Palm Pak, Main Street Steaks, Peter Luger, Allen Brothers and Gepperth's. Niman Ranch received four stars ("very good") and Omaha "Private Reserve" received two ("acceptable").
posted by stuart_s at 1:29 AM on December 14, 2006

..."and his opinions seem to correlate highly with those of other trustworthy judges"...
posted by stuart_s at 1:30 AM on December 14, 2006

We got Omaha Steaks stuff from my mother in law for Christmas, and my husband did some research on them after the fact. Apparently their quality has declined in the past few years, and once you get on their customer list they will hound you mercilessly to buy more - calling every night during dinner, etc. (also take into consideration that she ordered it for us for Christmas and it was delivered about a week and a half ago, if that tells you anything about their customer service)

So far we've had the hot dogs and the filet mignon. It's okay but nothing spectacular.
posted by Lucinda at 4:33 AM on December 14, 2006

In a cook's illustrated tasting the only one NOT recommended for beed tenderloin was the Omaha Brand.
They prefered BJ's, Costco and Stop and shop at some times 1/4 of the price.

NOT RECOMMENDED:
Omaha Steaks Chateaubriand Roast
$32.60 per pound
This mail-order sample was the only one deemed unacceptable by tasters. It was shipped frozen, and there were many complaints about the texture of the meat, ranging from "powder" and "gritty" to "wet cardboard" and "gummy".


HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

LOBEL'S WAGYU (KOBE-STYLE) BONELESS STRIP STEAK (FROM OAKLEIGH RANCH, AUSTRALIA) $68/lb
"Incredibly tender," "awesome."

NIMAN RANCH NEW YORK STEAK $22/lb
"Good flavor," "very tender."

COLEMAN NATURAL BONELESS STRIP STEAK $14/lb
"Great flavor," "rich, meaty."

PETER LUGER STRIP STEAK $29/lb
"Extremely tender," "mild."
posted by beccaj at 5:27 AM on December 14, 2006 [1 favorite]

Omaha steaks has some deals occasionally, but their meat is not prime and it's shipped frozen. It's recommended only for those times when you can get one of their deals. See here.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 6:23 AM on December 14, 2006

For my dad's birthday, I sent him some steak and lobster from Hickory Farms. He loved it.
posted by phatkitten at 6:40 AM on December 14, 2006

I can't speak to the steaks, but I have really enjoyed the Niman Ranch smoked meats I've had the opportunity to taste. And the Luger's steaks you get at the restaurant are outstanding (not sure if the meat is the same as what you get mail-order).
posted by lackutrol at 7:42 AM on December 14, 2006

You can buy Red Meat here.

I keed, I keed. But it is a great comic that you ought to know about.

McGonigles is definitely the best meat shop in Kansas City (a city definitely known for good meat). They ship. I have never tried their shipping service, but I can highly recommend the quality of their products.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 8:30 AM on December 14, 2006

Well despite the middling reviews, I went with Omaha anyway. I'm sure it'll be fine and they'll be happy. Next time I might try someplace else as the supply of red meat seems boundless. And sheesh, all right already - "bests" all around. You're all my favorite.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 9:02 AM on December 14, 2006

I have used www.kansascitysteaks.com and have really liked their product.
posted by iphog at 11:52 AM on December 14, 2006

Well, for future reference, Slate held a little eating contest for the best steak, and they liked the grass-fed organic steaks from Alderspring Ranch the best. Niman Ranch was a close second.
posted by Dasein at 12:17 PM on December 14, 2006