Review of Confessions of a Butcher by John Smith

Beatriz — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:13:00 GMT

No, dear DS readers, these are not the confessions of a frugal serial killer! Despite the catchy title, it is an accurate one—this is insider information straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak: tips for purchasing meat from a former career butcher. Better yet, advice from a tightwad butcher who is willing to impart his knowledge!

Even if you don’t know one side of the cow from another, in fact, especially if you don’t know, this useful guide will help you choose cheaper cuts of meat and still dine like a queen/king! If you always suspected that all those different labels for meat were meant to confuse the consumer, you were right, as it turns out. Using his 31 years of experience as a butcher, Smith blows away those misleading merchandising tricks and reveals the truth behind meat-marketing.

With food prices going up through the roof with no relief in sight, this book will prove especially valuable to the frugal consumer. The author divides the book into sections for beef, chicken, pork, lamb and veal, with saving alternatives suggested for each cut. Even savvy meat shoppers will find some new ideas here.

Smith also includes a much-needed glossary for us newbies, an index, and an appendix with recipes, turkey purchasing tips and advice for leftovers, a lesson on butcher etiquette (how to treat your butcher so he/she will treat you!) and “Tools of the Trade” a section on how to purchase and maintain knives and other equipment.

A good book always leaves you wanting more and in this case it proves true; for those of us starting from scratch, our meat education could use even more details. We await a possible second volume; perhaps the “Further Confessions of a Butcher?”

Make sure and visit the author’s website, www.all-about-meat.com, for even more tips or to ask a question.

Book Information:

Confessions of a Butcher:

Eat Steak on a Hamburger Budget and Save $$$

John Smith

2006 (Revised ed.)

Ark Essentials Publishing

www.arkessessentials.com

www.all-about-meat.com

ISBN 13: 978-0-9669280-1-3

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Review of Confessions of a Butcher by John Smith