Like most Americans, we probably don’t give much thought to the meat we buy beyond it being fresh or how much it’s going to cost. But now that we have a new butcher’s shop in Brooksville, we should think twice before buying any more supermarket Styrofoam tray-plastic-wrapped lower quality meats like pork chops, NY strip steaks or chicken cuts.
Having sliced meats and poultry for Publix and Winn-Dixie for years, it was only a matter of time before Robert ‘Mitch’ Carlisle would open his own butcher shop.
Mitch called his butcher shop Carlisle’s Neighborhood Meat Market. It’s located in the Crossroads Plaza at 20178 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville.
A family business, Carlisle is joined by his wife, Elaine, son-in-law and co-owner Gabriel Montelongo and sausage maker, Lowell Biddle as well as cashiers and other full-timers on hand.
Now open for 4 months, Mitch’s butcher shop excels on offering the best quality meats not normally found in supermarkets and with prices that are very competitive. All his products are natural and hormone free.
Inside is spotlessly clean with beautiful, gleaming stainless steel display cabinets bursting with today’s selection of beef prime cuts, pork, chicken, burger patties and handmade sausages of several different flavors. The sausages are made fresh every morning.
Pointing to a juicy ribeye from a corn-fed Black Angus, Carlisle said he only buys Omaha beef USDA inspected prime, a grade that most chain grocery stores do not stock.
“Meat-buying habits have changed dramatically,” said Carlisle. “Today’s shoppers are more thoughtful about what they’re buying and prefer organic, antibiotic-free and hormone-free products.”
Having a real butcher shop in the neighborhood is a real luxury. Any cook will tell you that finding that perfect cut of meat can be very frustrating and most people can be stuck with limited choices at your local supermarket.
Linda Blackburn of Trinity in Pasco County said she is willing to drive to Brooksville just to get the perfect meats she wants for that perfect meal.
“I think shoppers are forced into buying not only lower quality packaged meats at the supermarket but sometimes, because of the way they are presented, it’s usually more than we really want,” she said. “Buying at Mitch’s butcher shop, I can get better quality meat and exactly the cut of meat or joint I want — my family likes really thick pork chops for example.”
Blackburn went on to say that she likes to pre-order those bits of an animal that supermarkets never carry.
“Coming from Europe, we have different meat-buying habits and like to use the more unusual parts like the neck, feet and tongue,” she laughed.“I don’t mind spending more money to get the flavor I want,” she said. “I like to think I’m a gourmet cook.”
Carlisle is the epitome of an aproned butcher and he and his coworkers are more ready to help customers how to best prepare certain cuts of meat.
“My goal is to be the butcher customers can approach and get advice on cooking their crown of pork or prime rib.” said Carlisle. “Some customers also like help choosing wine and meat pairings.”
All of Carlisle’s pork comes from Iowa Gold’s products, also not stocked in most supermarket outlets. Carlisle recommends brining pork in a simple mixture of water and salt, herbs if desired, for about 15 minutes.
“This will add extra flavor to this mild flavored meat and it keeps the meat against overcooking and becoming dry,” said Carlisle.
Carlisle’s also offers homemade flavored gourmet burgers including bacon cheddar, sweet onion, western and bleu cheese. Homemade sausages come in flavors of Tuscan garlic, cherry, mild Italian, Jalapeño spicy and roasted pineapple/ mango.
Poultry is also prominently displayed, including whole roasting chickens, boned and skinless breasts up to 2 pounds each. But if you fancy veal or lamb that’s available too.
If you just want to throw some burgers on a grill, get some ground beef from Carlisle’s. No need to bother with seasoning. The ground beef here is juicy, flavorful and it’s all made fresh every day. Carlisle’s also stocks the supplies you need for your smoker or grill
Carlisle’s also offers a frozen selection of the more unusual meats that include venison, buffalo, elk, duck, gator, rabbit, quail, frog legs, and Ahi tuna and wild salmon as well as accompaniaments like homemade spaghetti sauce and a variety of jellies made by an aunt and uncle who live in the Appalatians.
Get to know your local butcher. It’s good to know where to find advice on buying and cooking and will help you make your dollars go further.
Carlisle’s Meat Market
PHONE:
Call (352) 593-5483
@carlislesmeatmarket
HOURS:
Open Tuesday-Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday 9am-5pm.
Budget packages available.
All USDA no hormones/bi products.
Fresh never frozen.