Great Grilling: Best Places for Meat

Great Grilling: Best Places for Meat

So it's Memorial Day weekend, the kickoff to summer, and you want to fire up the grill and put a huge hunk of meat over flames. But on one of those cold, shut-in winter nights you watched that Food Inc. DVD and you're not sure where to get the most delicious, not to mention humanely raised, hormone-free, healthy meat. Well, good news meat lovers, there are plenty of places in the RI area for really great pork, chicken, lamb and beef.

Pork

Hill Farm
Louis & Maria Vinagro raise Berkshire pigs on their farm in Foster, RI.
Many cuts of pork are available, including bacon.
At the Pawtucket/Springtime Farmers Market from 11am-2pm Sat. May 29; check here for where they'll be in farmers markets this summer.

Simmons Farm
Brian and Karla Simmons organically raise Tamworth pigs on their farm in Middletown, RI.
Many cuts of pork are available, including lard (available if you're lucky--make a pie dough with it!).
At the Pawtucket/Springtime Farmers Market from 11am-2pm Sat. May 29. Also check out the farm and their CSA.

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Chicken

Baffoni's Poultry Farm
These are some beautiful chickens, and since they can process on-site in Johnston, RI you can buy them fresh.
At the Pawtucket/Springtime Farmers Market from 11am-2pm Sat. May 29, check here for where they'll be in farmers markets this summer.

Lamb

Hopkins Farm
Very versatile with tons of flavor - try something you may not have had before, like saddle or breast.  Of course, there's nothing wrong with a great leg or chop.
At the Pawtucket/Springtime Farmers Market from 11am-2pm Sat. May 29, check here for where they'll be in farmers markets this summer.

Beef

Blackbird Farm
You can't go wrong with any of their beef, but if you want a burger this weekend, here's where you should get them. Great rib-eyes, strips and filets as well.
They are open at the farm over the weekend, please call ahead, 578-3959.

Stoney Hill Cattle Farm
You can get burger here too, but don't forget their delicious hot dogs.
At the Pawtucket/Springtime Farmers Market from 11am-2pm Sat. May 29, check here for where they'll be in farmers markets this summer.

Best markets for meat

If there's no time to get to the farmer's market, you've still got great options statewide. The Green Grocer in Portsmouth carries products from local farms.  Dave's Marketplace (several locations) is a good alternative to the chain supermarkets as is Eastside Marketplace in Providence and Tom's Market which has locations in Warren and Coventry.

Photo David Dadekian