Forum

A few years back, I was working in Woodland Hills, CA for a time.  I found a BBQ joint there called Grandpa Fred's.  They had a meal called “Big Fred's Short Rib dinner.”  When it arrived, it was one single rib - oh, but what a rib it was!  The bone was 16 inches long, and half of it was frenched (bare).  The other half was literally a loaf of rib meat - about 8 inches long, 3 inches wide and 3 inches thick.  Fred Flintstone would have been proud to serve baby. 

Anyhow, I've been looking ever since for a butcher who can re-create this cut, so I can make it at home.  Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that there are any real butchers left - all they have is what comes already trimmed and cryovac'd from the packer.  Anybody know a butcher in Florida that either does or can do this cut?  Thanks, in advance, for your leads.

BTW, if you're ever out that way, I reccommend you give this marvelous mound of meat a try.  Here's Fred's website for more info: http://www.grandpafredsbbq.com/  I have no affiliation, just a deep appreciation for original BBQ…

Yeah, Kevin - beef short ribs, for sure.  Interestingly enough, isn't Florida like the 3rd or 4th largest beef producing state in the country?  Wonder if there's any packers here, or if they just ship them out of state for processing? 

Anyhow, looking at various butchering sites on the internet, it seems to me like what they might be doing is not only taking the “normal” short rib meat in the cut, but also taking a portion of the blade meat with it - making for a much thicker portion of meat.  It was really quite unusual, and very delicious…

I emailed, and never got a response - maybe a call would do it.  In the meantime, I've pinged Steve at Ask-a-Butcher.  Maybe he's got some leads.  BTW, the dimensions I described were after cooking.  I imagine those puppies were huge, going in the smoker…