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Looking to buy US Prime beef in Toronto

SteveW

By SteveW
in Ontario: Cooking & Baking

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SteveW

SteveW

Posted
Posted (edited)

My brother in Toronto contacted me yesterday. He's looking for a place that sells US Prime beef at a good price. I told them the ones that sell US Prime in Toronto are all charging pretty hefty prices(I think the US beef ban in Canada is pretty much over). My suggestion for him, was to maybe consider Canada Prime grade beef, which is a little less expensive(Bruno's & Grace Meats both sell Canada Prime grade beef, at last notice). He's looking for a 32oz cut of either striploin or rib-eye. He needs to get the beef by the weekend. Any suggestions?

-Steve

Edited by SteveW (log)
Librarian_chef

Librarian_chef

Posted
Posted
My brother in Toronto contacted me yesterday. He's looking for a place that sells US Prime beef at a good price. I told them the ones that sell US Prime in Toronto are all charging pretty hefty prices(I think the US beef ban in Canada is pretty much over). My suggestion for him, was to maybe consider Canada Prime grade beef, which is a little less expensive(Bruno's & Grace Meats both sell Canada Prime grade beef, at last notice). He's looking for a 32oz cut of either striploin or rib-eye. He needs to get the beef by the weekend. Any suggestions?

-Steve

There is nothing wrong with prime Canadian beef. You can always check out Pusateri's too. I recommend Wagyu (Kobe) beef. A few shops in Toronto are carrying it.

Mark

malcolmjolley

malcolmjolley

Posted
Posted

Sorry: where to get US? Or just where to get very good beef? Or where to get good beef cheap?

Toronto is full of excellent butcher shops. Where's he based? Or where is he doing the balance of his shopping? We could find the best in his neighbourhood.

Malcolm Jolley

Gremolata.com

GordonCooks

GordonCooks

Posted
Posted

The St. Lawrence Market had quite a few butchers with top quality alberta beef and others - My steaks at Bymark are as good as just about any in the states.

SteveW

SteveW

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted
Sorry: where to get US? Or just where to get very good beef? Or where to get good beef cheap?

Toronto is full of excellent butcher shops. Where's he based? Or where is he doing the balance of his shopping? We could find the best in his neighbourhood.

He's looking to get very good beef, a good price if possible. I suggested to him, get Canada Prime beef. It's just about as good as US Prime, & it's cheaper. Today, I suggested as a cheaper option, go to Royal Beef on Danforth(heard some great things about them). My brother lives in the suburbs around Richmond Hill, but he works in downtown Toronto.

-Steve

SteveW

SteveW

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted
The St. Lawrence Market had quite a few butchers with top quality alberta beef and others - My steaks at Bymark are as good as just about any in the states.

Thanks for the St. Lawrence Market tip. Does Bymark use US Prime or Canada Prime beef(it was talked about in the 'Opening Soon' episode)?

-Steve

jayt90

jayt90

Posted
Posted
I told them the ones that sell US Prime in Toronto are all charging pretty hefty prices(I think the US beef ban in Canada is pretty much over).

It's over? News to me! The U.S. is getting back into Japan, but I haven't heard that the U.S.- Canada beef trade restriction has eased up, in either direction...

GordonCooks

GordonCooks

Posted
Posted
The St. Lawrence Market had quite a few butchers with top quality alberta beef and others - My steaks at Bymark are as good as just about any in the states.

Thanks for the St. Lawrence Market tip. Does Bymark use US Prime or Canada Prime beef(it was talked about in the 'Opening Soon' episode)?

-Steve

Unsure on origin but I think the purveyor used Canadian. I can't rememeber the guy's name - I don't think it was Bruno's or Whole Foods - I remember the meat was dry aged for a good period and the running joke was the guy delivered his meat in the back of his mercedes

Librarian_chef

Librarian_chef

Posted
Posted

Bymark gets it's meat from Bruno's. However, its a special order, not the over the counter stuff and is custom aged for Mark McEwan.

I have found CAnadian Beef and Lamb in some instances to be far superior to the American counterpart. I swear the whole USDA Prime is a load of advertising hoowey. Some of the organic/free range butchers offer some very succulent beef. I still swear by the Wagyu stuff though. I prefer game, myself, particularly ostriche/emu.

Mark

SteveW

SteveW

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted (edited)

Sorry, my brother just corrected me. He's looking for quality US beef at a good price(prefers dry-aged if it's available). The guest he's making the beef for prefers US beef(my brother also likes Canadian beef, besides top quality US beef). I told him there're several factors that go into the price(eg:dry or wet aged; how long it's aged). Those things should be taken into account, when judging prices.

-Steve

Edited by SteveW (log)
SteveW

SteveW

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted (edited)

Yes now I remember, it was Bruno's, & custom aged for Mark McEwan as you stated. It's US Prime beef. I remember Mark saying that if he sold the steaks(the ones made specifically for Bymark) to anyone else, he 'would have to kill him.' Last I heard Bruno's sells both Canada Prime & US Prime. I wonder what's the difference in price between the two?

-Steve

Bymark gets it's meat from Bruno's.  However, its a special order, not the over the counter stuff and is custom aged for Mark McEwan. 

I have found CAnadian Beef and Lamb in some instances to be far superior to the American counterpart.  I swear the whole USDA Prime is a load of advertising hoowey.  Some of the organic/free range butchers offer some very succulent beef.  I still swear by the Wagyu stuff though.  I prefer game, myself, particularly ostriche/emu.

Mark

Edited by SteveW (log)
Marlene

Marlene

Posted
Posted

Canadian Prime at Brunos is $27.00 a pound. I haven't seen any USDA Prime there for a while though

Marlene

Practice. Do it over. Get it right.

Mostly, I want people to be as happy eating my food as I am cooking it.

SteveW

SteveW

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted
Canadian Prime at Brunos is $27.00 a pound.  I haven't seen any USDA Prime there for a while though

Is this a very recent price? During the height of the US beef ban in Canada, Canadian beef prices were sky high? If the US beef ban is over(as I've been told), then I'm guessing, the Canadian Prime beef at Brunos would be much lower now, than 4-5 months ago for example. BTW, did you notice much difference in taste of steaks at Ruth's Chris Toronto, when they were serving Canada Prime beef, instead of US Prime beef(during the US beef ban)?

-Steve

Marlene

Marlene

Posted
Posted
Canadian Prime at Brunos is $27.00 a pound.  I haven't seen any USDA Prime there for a while though

Is this a very recent price? During the height of the US beef ban in Canada, Canadian beef prices were sky high? If the US beef ban is over(as I've been told), then I'm guessing, the Canadian Prime beef at Brunos would be much lower now, than 4-5 months ago for example. BTW, did you notice much difference in taste of steaks at Ruth's Chris Toronto, when they were serving Canada Prime beef, instead of US Prime beef(during the US beef ban)?

-Steve

Actually, I was just about to revise that. I just got home from Bruno's where Canadian prime was selling for $34.99 per lb.

Thre is a difference between the two in that Canadian prime seems to be richer or more buttery than US prime.

Marlene

Practice. Do it over. Get it right.

Mostly, I want people to be as happy eating my food as I am cooking it.

Marlene

Marlene

Posted
Posted

Harbour Sixty is indeed an awesome steakhouse, although I still thin Barberian's is the best in the city.

Marlene

Practice. Do it over. Get it right.

Mostly, I want people to be as happy eating my food as I am cooking it.

SteveW

SteveW

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted
Canadian Prime at Brunos is $27.00 a pound.  I haven't seen any USDA Prime there for a while though

Is this a very recent price? During the height of the US beef ban in Canada, Canadian beef prices were sky high? If the US beef ban is over(as I've been told), then I'm guessing, the Canadian Prime beef at Brunos would be much lower now, than 4-5 months ago for example. BTW, did you notice much difference in taste of steaks at Ruth's Chris Toronto, when they were serving Canada Prime beef, instead of US Prime beef(during the US beef ban)?

-Steve

Actually, I was just about to revise that. I just got home from Bruno's where Canadian prime was selling for $34.99 per lb.

Thre is a difference between the two in that Canadian prime seems to be richer or more buttery than US prime.

I got some Canada Prime steaks from Queue de Cheval steakhouse in Montreal approx. 2 months ago, & found them just as good as their US Prime steaks that they use to carry(they're still carrying the Canada Prime beef, instead of switching back to US Prime). Next time you're in Montreal Marlene, you can also get some Canada Prime beef for takeout(raw steaks) from Queue de Cheval, & it's much cheaper than Bruno's. I'm guessing when you say $34.99 lb, you're talking about NY strips. What's your top 5 steakhouses in Toronto, ranked in order?

-Steve

Marlene

Marlene

Posted
Posted

Yes, I'm talking NY Strips. I just about fell over at the price. I don't buy a lot of meat from Brunos though, and I occassionally get my butcher to get me Canadian Prime Rib eyes.

Top 5 steakhouses in Toronto?

1.. Barberians

2. Harbour Sixty

3. Ruth's Chris

4. Carmen's for the garlic if for nothing else!

5 It's a tie between the Senator and Bardis

Marlene

Practice. Do it over. Get it right.

Mostly, I want people to be as happy eating my food as I am cooking it.

SteveW

SteveW

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted
Yes, I'm talking NY Strips.  I just about fell over at the price.  I don't buy a lot of meat from Brunos though, and I occassionally get my butcher to get me Canadian Prime Rib eyes.

You can get Canada Prime Rib-eyes from your butcher. Has this only been the case, since the US beef ban? Until the US beef ban, no Montreal steakhouse was serving Canada Prime beef.

-Steve

Marlene

Marlene

Posted
Posted

No, I've always been able to get Canadian Prime from my butcher. It's always a special order so if I know I'm going to want some for a dinner party or something I make sure I order in lots of time.

The 21 Restaurant in Casino Niagara has been using Canadian Prime for years. Outside the GTA, that's probably my favourite steakhouse, followed closely by the Omega here in Oakville.

There's one other restaurant here outside Toronto that has always used Canadian Prime as well, but I'm not picking up on the name at the moment.

I think we've had this discussion about Canadian Prime and USDA Prime Steve. As I recall, the bulk of our Canadian Prime beef is exported to Japan and Australia.

Marlene

Practice. Do it over. Get it right.

Mostly, I want people to be as happy eating my food as I am cooking it.

SteveW

SteveW

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted

Thanks for all the responses. My brother ultimately decided to make rack of pork loin for the guest. I'm sure he was partly dissuaded from getting the US Prime beef, because of the high price. 31oz would be at least $75+.

-Steve

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