Well, it looks as though our buddy and meat pal has gone on a little vacation. This time he hit up 2 places and brought back a cooler or two of fresh sausages and cheese. What does this mean to you and me? Well, for me it means I’ll have to get busy and hop in the pickup for a little drivin’. It’s a perfect time of year too, I can hardly wait! Come along and have a little sit and see what he and his wife brought back.
Please continue to read Chilebrown’s story not written by me.
Chilebrown and Ms. Goofy, we’re meat enthusiasts. We have traveled to Bend Oregon in search of A&B Bacon. We had a vacation coming, Ms. Goofy said, “We need to go to Capitola and spend a couple of days”. I rolled my eyes and said, “Whatever.” I can only ride the roller coaster so many times and cotton candy is not my favorite. Ms Goofy said, “We are going to the Shadowbrook. It’s most certainly a destination restaurant. We had a killer dinner literally. They gave us an extra dose of spinach. The dinner was spectacular, I did leave the spinach. I do not want to be a “Guinea Pig!”
Los Gatos Meats and Smokehouse is what you need by your house, Dr. Biggles. It was definitely a local place. They had the barbeque Tri Tip’s going for sandwiches. When we walked in, the large display of Beef Jerky mooed us. There was a couple of refrigerators full of meat, lots of sausage. In the back we could see an Elk hangin’. Our server was nice. I think they probably do a good business due to the smell of the Tri-Tips cooking. The bacon was middle ground compared to the “A&B Gold Standard”. We did not buy any bacon but we did buy some sausage and jerky.
Los Gatos Meats & Smokehouse
575 University Ave
Los Gatos CA 95030
Phone 408.354.7055
Next up we have:
Freedom Meats
If you drive too fast you will pass by 160 Hi Grade Lane and be sorry. There are a lot of apple orchards, farms and roadside fruit stands. You drive up an alley and there will be an old looking truck and a barn type building.
You know that you have arrived when you see the door handles with cleavers. We walked into the joint and Ms Goofy yelled, “I am going to Disneyland”. (Just Kidding, that was me ). We walked around the place with our mouths open. There was a wall with freezers, and another right angled case of “Meat Goodies”. If you looked in any direction there was somebody or something to do with meat.
Ms. Goofy and I took a couple of laps and wondered what we should get? We picked out some stuff and our server noticed that I was snapping photos. He was very nice and asked about a tour. ‘Well twist my pork leg!.’
We met the Cutters, Stuffers and Butchers. We then got a glimpse of the actual locker. (Rocky eat your heart out). Ms.Goofy did not like that part. They had a lot of marinated Tri-tip, Beef and Chicken. They had every cut of beef you could ever imagine. The sausage list is huge. There was also game meat. Their bacon has won some awards. We just had some for dinner and the A&B is up for a challenge. I can only say, if I was Cole Porter, my Musical would be “MEAT ME AT THE FREEDOM LOCKER’S”.
Of course I am only dreaming, but am I.?
Freedom Meat
160 Hi Grade Ln Freedom, CA 95019-3142
831-724-4355
Peace,Paul
Here is a sample of what we bought !
Freedom Meat Locker Los Gatos Smokehouse
Award Winning Bacon Fresh Bratwurst
Smoked Bratwurst Garlic Polish
Kobacia Croation Style Smoked Apple and Cinnamon
Jalapeno Cheese Spicy Chipotle Barbeque Sauced
Bavarian Cheese Honey/Garlic Mustard
Creole Cheese Habanero Hot Sauce
Nicely done, Chile. A shame they don’t make a gourmet version of Spam®.
Hey Dr. Biggles, This bacon is so good. I am cutting little pieces off and rationing it out so it will last. I am wondering if you would be interested in renting a refigerated truck for your road trip. An ice chest or two will not cut it.
Speaking of making the bacon last, let me share an old family secret. Take a piece of your favorite bacon, or a chop, or any portion of your most coveted meat, and shellac it with about ten coats. Next, carefully drill a small hole in one end and tie a string through it into a small loop. Now comes the good part. Hang your little porcine ornament on this years Christmas tree.(I made up the part about “old family secret,” but what the whooo) C.B. your little vacation looks most delicious. Merry Christmas, B.C.
Interesting article but what about where all the best of the best comes from. Lets talk about what we “all” know we really, I mean really love … and that’s that 100% PURE “D” BLACK ANGUS.
NOT once have you mentioned the trillions of restaurants in OMAHA, NEBRASKA. That is the BEEF capital of this PLANET.
You want beef ?! Then let this little fly by night places do just that, fly by night. Cause anywhere you go in Omaha, Nebraska you “will” discover what REAL beef is about and like. Comeon folks … where do you think Texas, Wisconsin and others that claim the beef GET the beef. It’s Omaha, Nebraska. Any one want to challenge that then I’ll meet ya’ there and show you 100% Black Angus and that is as good as it will ever get !!!
Hey Where’s The Real Beef,
Uh, I ain’t flying to Nebraska for beef. Ain’t gonna happen. I’d go for bacon, but not beef.
Biggles
What is an Omaha?
Biggles–I just finished reading your cruel article about the Amish and want you to know that I think that it is horribly misconstrued. You obviously don’t personally know any Amish people to have such a vicious point of view. I have many Amish friends and I love and respect them just as much as my other friends. They are a gentle, peaceloving people who I think should be admired rather than condemned
Hey Louise,
I need to know more about my cruel article about the Amish. Please! Where did I write it? Where is it?
I just searched Meathenge and the word Amish does not appear on anything I’ve written.
Please, let me know where I’ve condemed the Amish?
Biggles
whats an amish?
I AM IN TOTAL ENJOYMENT OF YOUR ARTICLE!!!!!!! You guys couldn’t have picked 2 better places to visit. Unlike many readers I have been blessed to be able to visit both of the places you discussed!I got sausage at Los Gatos and at Freedom Meat Lockers I enjoyed a sandwich and got some of their marinated meat. Both places are so phenomenal that they should be featured on some kind of TV show……how do we go about doing that? Ha Ha
Thanks for being meats!!!!!!!
Mrs .Hungry
Hey Mrs. Hungry,
Thanks for stopping by, it’s nice to hear good things. Yay!
Biggles
I love Freedom meat Lockers also they are great people!
You really missed by not trying the wine & spice marinated skirt steak. I now live in Colorado and really miss the market. You can’t get skirt steak back here and nothing compares to their marinates.
Now you have an excuse to go back. If you do you might want to try the sausage at Corralitos Market.