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Missouri Spots for Meat Eaters

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Credit: City Butcher and Barbecue

With the popularity of the farm-to-table movement, the interest in sustainable, locally sourced ingredients is on the rise. People want to know where there food comes from. Missouri has a selection of butcher shops and restaurants serving up a variety of meats that are locally raised and processed on-site – perfect for summertime barbeques, special holiday meals and everyday dinners.

The Show-Me State is dotted with small-batch, retail butcher shops offering an array of select cuts, expertly made sausages and cured meats. Many shops are family-owned and operated, offer local hormone-free meat, and process wild game. Some even have a deli counter where you can try a sample or order a whole sandwich.

Clark’s Custom Meat Company, St. Joseph: Step inside, and mostly likely one of the Clarks will welcome you with a smile. In addition to an assortment of high-quality meats and artisan cheeses, you’ll find Missouri wines and award-winning barbecue sauces.

Oberle Meats, Ste. Genevieve: Try the world-famous hickory smoked summer sausage, made with the same secret family recipe for the past 145 years.

Swiss Meat & Sausage Co., Swiss: Located just 12 miles from Hermann, the shop has more than 65 varieties of beef, pork, bison and chicken brats, sausages and smoked meats and about 10 flavors of cured bacon. The company now has a shipping, warehouse and freezing facility so you don’t even have to make the drive, but you should.

Stonie’s Sausage Shop, Perryville: Discover more than just sausage. The shop also offers cuts of beef, holiday gift boxes and deer processing.

Burgers’ Smokehouse, California: Find a variety of smoked meats, including the “Bacon Connoisseurs Sampler,” in store and online. The smokehouse provides tours highlighting how all its products are made.

Missouri has a growing number of hybrid restaurant-butcher shops. It only makes sense for chefs to prepare the fresh cuts of meat to create tantalizing menus for diners to enjoy.

Barred Owl Butcher & Table, Columbia: The constantly changing, ingredient-inspired menu of  appetizing large and small plates and tasty cocktails may make your choice a difficult one.

Hermann Wurst Haus, Hermann: The restaurant and shop features award-winning bratwurst, hickory-smoked pulled pork and house-made sides.

City Butcher and Barbecue, Springfield: From the farmer’s market to the brick-and-mortar restaurant, you’ll find authentic Texas barbecue as well as handcrafted charcuterie.

The Block Restaurant, Webster Groves: Try a roasted Rensing Farm pork chop with a local sweet potato and grilled asparagus, and pick up a grass-fed, hand-cut fresh ribeye to take home for tomorrow’s dinner.

Central Missouri Meat and Sausage, Fulton: Stop in for locally raised, antibiotic- and hormone-free beef and pork, processed on-site. While you’re there, order the piled-high, pulled pork fries at the Barnyard Smokehouse.