This past Monday was the Martin Luther King Holiday for me. It was also the coldest day so far this winter, 45 degrees in the early morning according to the Bank Thermometer! Best to go out and grab some pho' or other soup. But of course the Missus had other ideas!
She: "I want a burger"
Me: "Okay, what do you want? In N Out...."
She: "No I want a home made burger."
Me: "Okay, I go buy some hamburger and I'll fry some up"
She: "Ummm, no, I want a grilled burger."
Me: "Are you kidding me! It's freezing out there."
She "Forget it then......"
So a half hour later, there I was driving down the freeway to Iowa Meat Farms, our favorite meat market. Siesel's is closer, and both Iowa Meat and Siesel's is owned by the same Parent Company the Cohn Group. But I've always thought that the meat and service at Iowa Meat was better. Case in point, once when I needed a Beef Tenderloin, and I couldn't find one of appropriate size in the "case". The Cutter actually took me into the back and showed me a bunch of tenderloins, helped me pick one out, cut, trimmed, and tied me a 2 1/2 pound piece off of the tenderloin. Such is the service at Iowa Meat Farms, at least when they aren't busy.
A quick look at this makes it pretty clear at what Iowa Meat sells:
And it's "No Bull". Iowa Meat is one of a handful of markets where I trust the quality of the ground beef. USDA prime beef is also sold at Iowa Meat; and I'll usually spring for a prime cut for special occasions(like Sammy and Frankie's Birthday). Since we don't eat alot of beef it's worth splurging on. There is also a Prime Sirloin Cut called the Cattleman's Cut that is about 2 inches thick. Grilled over direct heat, on a covered grill, this cut is amazingly tender and tasty for a sirloin. According to what I've been told, it is believed that the thicker the cut of sirloin, the more tender. I usually makes this once or twice during grilling season. Meat here is not cheap, but is worth every penny to me.
So I got 2 1/2 pounds of ground beef, enough for 6 patties(5 for us, 1 for the boys), and soon enough I was grilling. By that time the sun was out, it had warmed to the mid-50's, and the hot grill felt good. Nothing like grilling in January. All was well in our household:
I like my burger with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and some brown mustard. The Missus enjoys it the same way, sans the mustard. She tells me, "I want to taste the beef". She ate a double patty (that's about 10-12oz) burger, then went to take a nap.
6041 Mission Gorge Rd
San Diego, CA 92120
Oh yes, the story! During my "College Days", during one of the many Business type classes I had to take, another student was giving a presentation. Now, this "Dude" used always tell us about working at a certain "Fast Food" joint, you know the type, he lived for working at this place, always talking about his "career path" to fast-food Manager. Yeah, whatever! For this story let's just call this place Xxxxy's. So he's going over business plans, and I'm just totally spacing out, staring blankly into the distance. All I hear is; "waa-waa-waa, waa-waa,waa". So during the Q&A session following the presentation, the Instructor, who noticed how little attention I was paying to the presentation, called on me, and asked "Kirk, can you tell me, based on the information given; what is the secret to Xxxxy's success?" Now I hadn't heard a word! "Ummmm-ummmm...." I could feel a drop of sweat rolling down the middle of my back, my mind racing, trying to come up with something, anything. And suddenly it all became so clear! In a example of improvisational genius, I blurted out; "Yeah, yeah, yesterdays' burger is todays' chili!" And the whole class cracked up, even the Professor. He later told me that I'd summed up the entire 15 minute presentation in one short sentence! Oh, and I was sure that my display of "business prowess" was the reason I got an 'A' in the class.
Great story, Kirk.
I love these kind of old time butcher shops, they're a dying breed. How's this place compare to Tip Top Meats in Carlsbad? I rather like the smoked meat selection at Tip Top.
Posted by: Professor Salt | Wednesday, 18 January 2006 at 10:30 PM
Hi Kirk!
lol. that's about the happiest burger I've ever seen. Now only if I could take a bite! It's been to long since I've have a fresh, thick juicy patty. Why do I torture myself with your posts?!
Posted by: Kathy | Wednesday, 18 January 2006 at 11:01 PM
*Drool* I love a great, thick, beefy burger. It looked like it was grilled to perfection yum yum!
Posted by: Rachel | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 02:41 AM
Great burger :) I like that the missus took a nap afterwards ;)
I am so in for mustard, I think it is the german in me ;) hehhehehehehe
Posted by: clare eats | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 04:04 AM
Wendy's eh?? At least that's my guess to Xxxyyy's. Great story and great lookin' burger! Your wife is a lucky woman!
Posted by: elmomonster | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 08:42 AM
Hi PS - Thanks for commenting. I've been to Tip Top once, when first moved to San Diego back in 2001, so I really don't remember much. But I remember I enjoyed the "vibe" there. I'll make a point to take a trip out there, once it gets closer to grilling season. What I can say about IMF is that they are owned by the large Cohn Restaurant group, but still go for a neighborhood meat market "style". The meats are always good, as is the poultry - from Fulton Valley Farms. I really don't care for the sausages/smoked meats/marinated meats/seafood there. For sausages, I prefer Sausage King in Mission Hills/Hillcrest, though the service can be rather "tough".
Hi Kathy - Thanks! LOL! The smiley face didn't come out real well - you could say it "couldn't cut the mustard".
Hi Rachel - The Missus said it's the best burger she had in a while. I think it's just that she hadn't eaten a burger in a long time.
Hi Clare - I like brown mustard on my burger. Don't know why, but I just do! The Missus just wants "Da' Beef".
Hi Elmo - You shoulda' been a detective. LOL! Funny thing is; I don't think there are any Xxxxy's in Honolulu anymore.
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 09:14 AM
When you wrote about hearing the Waa...Waa...Waa....Waa...Waas..., I totally thought of Charlie Brown! ;) Great story!
Posted by: Kristy | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 10:30 AM
Hi Kristy - That's exactly what I was "copying"! LOL!
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 08:46 PM
Dude, are we doing an unconscious telepathic blogging thing or what? I hadn't checked in on your blog in a couple of days, until just now--right after I posted a whole entry on my eGullet blog about visitng Iowa Meat Farms! I even posted a photo of the danged plastic steer out front! But you know what they say about great minds thinking alike ... :-) Oh yeah, and I love mustard on burgers too. Cheers!
Posted by: mizducky | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 10:05 PM
Hi mizducky - I call it blogger-rhythms. I've noticed that on many occasions, bloggers in the same area all eat or crave the same dish or style of food at the same time. It's very strange and uncanny!
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 10:48 PM
P/S Kirk, I think your wife has the best business prowess ... she always manages to persuade you to get her the food she craves ! She should start up some classes for the rest of us girls ;)
Posted by: Rachel | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 10:54 PM
Hi Rachel - We having a little repartie' around the house....If I ask for something? I will ask how much! If I ask you to jumo? I will ask how high!!!! I think we're joking around.... Maybe she should start some classes, she's got me trained! I call it her Chinese Mind-control. LOL!
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 10:58 PM
Ahh I love those types of meat places. Well you saw the place Jo and I go and get privsions from, Dittmers. But man it was nice seeing the one you go to, and I love the wonderful service(usually). The burger looks awesome. Cute oniony nose, does that mean he can smell a stinker a mile away... ;P
Posted by: milgwimper | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 11:21 PM
Hi Mills - I think he is the stinker you smell a mile away! :o)
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 19 January 2006 at 11:47 PM
Kirk,
Homemade burgers are the best, aren't they? A chilly afternoon sounds like just the right reason for firing up the grill.
Posted by: Reid | Friday, 20 January 2006 at 01:27 AM
Hi Reid - You're right; nothing beats a homemade burger seasoned to your taste.
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 20 January 2006 at 09:22 AM
Kirk, Now that I'm closer to Iowa Meat Farms, I've been going here more frequently...mostly going for the two-legged family members, sometimes for those of the four-legged type. They are on a raw diet and love the marrow bones.
Posted by: Jack | Friday, 20 January 2006 at 06:47 PM
Hi Jack - I'm sure they (the 2 legged and 4 legged members of the family) appreciate the effort. We still go out of our way to get our meat here, even though Seisel's is closer.
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 20 January 2006 at 09:32 PM
I don't know how long you've been in San Diego but I grew up around Mission Gorge and there used to be a very small Cohn family restaurant in that same parking lots back in the 80s. It was called Rory's and it was a 50s style diner. Very popular back in the day. Now it's a car lot.
Just a little S.D. food history lesson... LOL.
Posted by: Beth | Saturday, 21 January 2006 at 01:33 PM
Hi Beth - We moved to San Diego in 2001, so really don't know much about "restaurant history" here. I did read about Rory's on the CRG website, though. Thanks for the info.
Posted by: Kirk | Sunday, 22 January 2006 at 07:44 AM