Let's Make Barbecue Great Again!
This fact is especially apparent when the first warm spring weekend hits us. Go to public parks like Jarun Lake or Bundek Lake, or anywhere in the surrounding countryside where there's a lot of weekend houses, and the air will be filled with the seductive smell of barbecue. Grilling is our national sport. Barbecue is the best excuse for outdoor socializing. And every proper barbecue starts with finding good meat. Sorry, vegetarians, this post could be something you might want to avoid.
“You don’t compromise on the ABC of a good grill – the best possible meat.” Image credit: Eko mesnica FB
You can find packages of meat already prepared for grilling in any supermarket or get it from every decent butcher's at a farmers' market. But you don't want to settle for just any kind of meat, especially if you're a head to toe foodie. Many people also have their reliable butcher choice, with whom they build a fruitful relationship over the years, and since recently gourmands can turn to specialized butcher shops. Roughly, I can divide them into two main categories: artisan meat boutiques and organic butchers. What's common to both is that you can trace the origin of the meat and in most cases it comes from small Croatian farms focused on quality. Also, both work with the finest cuts or more unusual pieces (ox tail, for example), not so widely available in average butcher shops.
“If you’re a beef lover, this picture should drive your imagination crazy.” Image credit: Beef shop FB
Beef Shop is the first specialized artisan meat shop in the city, focused on premium cuts of Simmental beef and dry-aged meat. They do both wholesale and sale to individual customers in their shop in Ravnice neighbourhood. Naturally, this type of business mostly relies on supplying restaurants. The same can be said to another interesting artisan meat dealer – Meat the King. They started with the native breed of black Slavonian pig, but also spread to beef. Beside the beautiful fresh meat like all sorts of steaks, ribs or burgers, they also do dry-cured products, bacon, čvarci (our version of pork rinds made of pure fat) or just lard. If you want what their meat can do in the right hands, go visit Đurina hiža restaurant in Varaždinske Toplice, an hour's drive from Zagreb. It's like coming to a carnivore heaven.
“Dry-aged steaks are a luxury, but worth every lipa if you know how to prepare them.”
Image credit: Meat the King FB
Another little meat-focused shop is actually a spin-off of fino.hr, the first Croatian web shop selling only local and traditional products. In the meantime they have opened a real shop in Vrbik, and the organic meat department called Eko mesnica is actually a small-scale operation. Depending on the seasonal supply, customers make reservations and get the meat delivered to their address. And speaking of spin-offs, Santoku is another fine example, the first of its kind. Opened a couple of years ago adjacent to its parent company, RougeMarin restaurant, they sell already cut and marinated pieces of meat ranging from poultry kebabs to a whole porchetta. Basically, everything is already prepared; you just have to put the meat on the grill or in the oven. Marinades and sauces are a mix of various cuisines all over the world, so there are a lot exotic spices and interesting combinations. Mes-eko is a similar project started by the upscale Noel restaurant, currently working with the already mentioned Slavonian black pig, a breed that's finally getting all the attention it deserves.
“Give your meat a special marinade treatment, like they do it at Santoku.” Image credit: Santoku FB
Consider yourself lucky if you have your full-time favourite butcher who caters for all your meat needs all year round. But feel free to roam around a little bit and have a taste of this latest artisan butchery trend that's sweeping across Zagreb slowly but steadily. After all, the grilling season has just begun and there are many happy and tasty meat feasts in front of us.
“There will be many weekends like this, I hope.” Image credit: Đurina hiža FB
Header image credit: Eko mesnica FB
Author: Taste of Croatia / Morana Zibar