Comments on: Experiences with “Meal Mart” glatt beef http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/ Finding the finer side of everyday kosher living Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:24:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Bill http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-13517 Bill Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:05:57 +0000 http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-13517 I just had your Pastrami (1.25 pound package from Costco) after having tried your similarly packaged Corned Beef last week. Both were the absolute WORST cold cuts I have ever had. Both products have thick strips of inedible fat (yellow in the case of the corned beef) running through the middle of each piece. Fortunately I have sharp kitchen scissors and was able to cut the fat out (of course that was a pain and wasted meat). Even more annoying was that somehow this fat managed to be hidden in the packaging so it was not obvious until I opened the packages. Almost as bad, the thick black topping on the pastrami was not the usual spices one would expect -- it had a strangely smokey flavor but absolutely no spice. I have emailed Costco to let them know of my displeasure and suggest that they no longer carry these products. The Sinai Kosher brand that they carried prior to this was FAR superior. I had purchased 2 packages of both products since I was so thrilled to see Costco carrying kosher cold cuts again. I'll be returning the second packs this weekend. I may return the opened Pastrami and ask for my money back on that too, I'm sure they will give it to me. I just had your Pastrami (1.25 pound package from Costco) after having tried your similarly packaged Corned Beef last week. Both were the absolute WORST cold cuts I have ever had. Both products have thick strips of inedible fat (yellow in the case of the corned beef) running through the middle of each piece. Fortunately I have sharp kitchen scissors and was able to cut the fat out (of course that was a pain and wasted meat). Even more annoying was that somehow this fat managed to be hidden in the packaging so it was not obvious until I opened the packages. Almost as bad, the thick black topping on the pastrami was not the usual spices one would expect — it had a strangely smokey flavor but absolutely no spice.

I have emailed Costco to let them know of my displeasure and suggest that they no longer carry these products. The Sinai Kosher brand that they carried prior to this was FAR superior. I had purchased 2 packages of both products since I was so thrilled to see Costco carrying kosher cold cuts again. I’ll be returning the second packs this weekend. I may return the opened Pastrami and ask for my money back on that too, I’m sure they will give it to me.

]]> By: ruth http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1955 ruth Fri, 16 May 2008 00:22:52 +0000 http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1955 I had your corned beef for Pesach and everyone thought it was delicious. The storewhere I bought it said they only carried it for Pesach. I checked with the local butcher and another market, but neither had it. Do you distribute it anywhere in the central NJ area? I had your corned beef for Pesach and everyone thought it was delicious. The storewhere I bought it said they only carried it for Pesach. I checked with the local butcher and another market, but neither had it. Do you distribute it anywhere in the central NJ area?

]]> By: Milhouse http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1954 Milhouse Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:12:16 +0000 http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1954 Are you anywhere near Albany? If so, try the Price Chopper in Colonie, on 155. Are you anywhere near Albany? If so, try the Price Chopper in Colonie, on 155.

]]> By: Paul Sherratt http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1953 Paul Sherratt Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:13:27 +0000 http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1953 where can I buy Aaron's best (rubashkins) hot dogs in Upper New York state? not the dogs made for passover. where can I buy Aaron’s best (rubashkins) hot dogs in Upper New York state? not the dogs made for passover.

]]> By: Harlan http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1952 Harlan Fri, 02 Nov 2007 01:23:50 +0000 http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1952 I find the meat coming from Postville, regardles of the branding, is lacking. A&H gets my vote for best dogs and I agree that the bison was great. I find the meat coming from Postville, regardles of the branding, is lacking. A&H gets my vote for best dogs and I agree that the bison was great.

]]> By: Ari http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1951 Ari Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:53:43 +0000 http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1951 A&H makes the best hot dogs. As far as reduced fat hot dogs A&H is far & away the best (just as good as regular ones) and the new reduced fat Rubashkin hot dogs are pretty decent (and much cheaper) as well. A&H used to also make bison hot dogs, which were far superior to every other hot dog I have ever eaten (and also relatively low in fat) but I haven't been able to find them for the past 2 years or so. As far as hamburgers, Rubashkin's packaged patties are pretty terrible, but their fresh ground meat is actually quite good. Much better than Zalman's used to be. I haven't tried Mealmart ground beef in a while since I prefer lean ground beef. Rubashkin's beef cubes are usually pretty decent, and are usually better than Mealmart's "beef for stew." That said, the best meats in general that I have had have come from Gordon & Alperin in Newton, MA. My understanding is that their fresh meat all comes from Alle. A&H makes the best hot dogs. As far as reduced fat hot dogs A&H is far & away the best (just as good as regular ones) and the new reduced fat Rubashkin hot dogs are pretty decent (and much cheaper) as well. A&H used to also make bison hot dogs, which were far superior to every other hot dog I have ever eaten (and also relatively low in fat) but I haven’t been able to find them for the past 2 years or so.

As far as hamburgers, Rubashkin’s packaged patties are pretty terrible, but their fresh ground meat is actually quite good. Much better than Zalman’s used to be. I haven’t tried Mealmart ground beef in a while since I prefer lean ground beef.

Rubashkin’s beef cubes are usually pretty decent, and are usually better than Mealmart’s “beef for stew.”

That said, the best meats in general that I have had have come from Gordon & Alperin in Newton, MA. My understanding is that their fresh meat all comes from Alle.

]]> By: Jack Atedin http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1950 Jack Atedin Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:47:17 +0000 http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1950 Friends. The posts here are so incredibly unbelievable that there is only one thing that's for sure. It sounds like the owners and employees of Meal Mart, Rubashkin and other meat companies are having fun Blogging and boring us to sleep. Friends. The posts here are so incredibly unbelievable that there is only one thing that’s for sure. It sounds like the owners and employees of Meal Mart, Rubashkin and other meat companies are having fun Blogging and boring us to sleep.

]]> By: E http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1949 E Wed, 31 Oct 2007 19:48:19 +0000 http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1949 The best kosher meat for polish sausages, garlic hot dogs, hot dogs, hard and soft salamis, and other cuts of meat, including filet mignon, is Romanian Kosher Meat on Clark Street in Chicago, IL. There is no place that I've found to have better meat. They've two kinds of pastrami.. and also.. I've never had better pastrami anywhere in the continental US. To be honest, when I visit people in other cities, I've often brought them salamis or smoked chicken as a hosting gift and they're so pleased with it that the next time I come back they ask me to buy for them a meat order and bring it with me to stock their pantries up. The best kosher meat for polish sausages, garlic hot dogs, hot dogs, hard and soft salamis, and other cuts of meat, including filet mignon, is Romanian Kosher Meat on Clark Street in Chicago, IL. There is no place that I’ve found to have better meat. They’ve two kinds of pastrami.. and also.. I’ve never had better pastrami anywhere in the continental US.
To be honest, when I visit people in other cities, I’ve often brought them salamis or smoked chicken as a hosting gift and they’re so pleased with it that the next time I come back they ask me to buy for them a meat order and bring it with me to stock their pantries up.

]]> By: Craig Winchell http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1948 Craig Winchell Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:38:36 +0000 http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1948 BS"D One may indeed find grass fed beef to be a better source of CLA than grain fed, but is that a good thing? Quoting Wikipedia: "Possible Side Effects There are concerns that the use of CLA may actually cause insulin resistance, leading to an increased risk for developing diabetes.[5]. [2] A recent study (2006) conducted in mice by the US Department of Agriculture gives account of some highly concerning effects of CLA: it can dramatically induce essential fatty acid redistribution (DHA and AA) in various organ tissues. The same study raises the concern that it might pose significant risks, especially regarding cardiovascular health and inflammatory diseases. DHA content in heart tissue for instance was found to be reduced by no less than 25% by certain CLA isomers, while spleen DHA increased 6-fold and spleen AA was reduced to only 5% of its normal levels in that tissue. [3]. Another study (2005) of CLA supplementation of hatching chicks showed high mortality and low hatchability rate among the CLA-supplemented groups, and also a decrease in brain DHA levels of CLA-incubated chicks. [4]" So, I think that rather than tout CLA for any possible marginal health improvement, or lambast CLA for any possible marginal decrease in healthfulness, we should just leave well enough alone and concentrate on taste and texture. I really dislike bad science, but even more, I discount people who believe it. You like the taste and the texture, kol hakovod. Personally, I want a healthy animal, but I want tender meat. I'll typically take quality grain-fed beef. BS”D

One may indeed find grass fed beef to be a better source of CLA than grain fed, but is that a good thing? Quoting Wikipedia:

“Possible Side Effects
There are concerns that the use of CLA may actually cause insulin resistance, leading to an increased risk for developing diabetes.[5]. [2]

A recent study (2006) conducted in mice by the US Department of Agriculture gives account of some highly concerning effects of CLA: it can dramatically induce essential fatty acid redistribution (DHA and AA) in various organ tissues. The same study raises the concern that it might pose significant risks, especially regarding cardiovascular health and inflammatory diseases. DHA content in heart tissue for instance was found to be reduced by no less than 25% by certain CLA isomers, while spleen DHA increased 6-fold and spleen AA was reduced to only 5% of its normal levels in that tissue. [3]. Another study (2005) of CLA supplementation of hatching chicks showed high mortality and low hatchability rate among the CLA-supplemented groups, and also a decrease in brain DHA levels of CLA-incubated chicks. [4]”

So, I think that rather than tout CLA for any possible marginal health improvement, or lambast CLA for any possible marginal decrease in healthfulness, we should just leave well enough alone and concentrate on taste and texture. I really dislike bad science, but even more, I discount people who believe it. You like the taste and the texture, kol hakovod. Personally, I want a healthy animal, but I want tender meat. I’ll typically take quality grain-fed beef.

]]> By: Renee http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1947 Renee Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:26:21 +0000 http://www.kosherblog.net/2004/08/19/experiences_with_meal_mart_glatt_beef/#comment-1947 Meat Mart retail pack meats are grass fed. This makes a big difference in our health with regards to CLA and its role in preventing heart disease. I use Meal Mart ground and stew meat exclusively, the rib steak and minute steaks are too expensive for our family. I buy the Italian sausage at Passover time because they are without corn syrup. I try to stock up. The 999 kosher sausage are the best, we have always loved them, but they are hard to get in South Florida. Kosher Kingdom does have them though. I happen to think that Meal Mart's grass fed meats are delicious, you have to marinate them and slow cook them like our mothers and grandmothers did. But just think, meat is muscle, would you rather eat from a flabby, mushy cow or from a healthy, grass fed muscle bound one?? Meat Mart retail pack meats are grass fed. This makes a big difference in our health with regards to CLA and its role in preventing heart disease. I use Meal Mart ground and stew meat exclusively, the rib steak and minute steaks are too expensive for our family.

I buy the Italian sausage at Passover time because they are without corn syrup. I try to stock up. The 999 kosher sausage are the best, we have always loved them, but they are hard to get in South Florida. Kosher Kingdom does have them though.

I happen to think that Meal Mart’s grass fed meats are delicious, you have to marinate them and slow cook them like our mothers and grandmothers did. But just think, meat is muscle, would you rather eat from a flabby, mushy cow or from a healthy, grass fed muscle bound one??

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