Looking for whole packer brisket in the San Diego area

[HouseHomey]

I was at the Bellaterra (HB) Costco yesterday and they had whole packers. Dude didn’t know anything about a shortage.

[mnavarre]

Also Iowa Meat Farms and Siesels for higher-end stuff than you're going to find at S&F or the grocery store. All around great butcher shops. Tip-Top Meats up in Carlsbad might be another, also worth checking out for the selection of sausage and the restaurant.

[tdimond]

I found some in a Costco near Poway, plus HouseHomey had good info on Smart & Final. Thanks all!

[tdimond]

Just made it to Smart & Final and spotted the whole packers. Thanks for the tip!

[radshop]

Roger that

[tdimond]

I appreciate the offer, but we're in temp housing at the moment - I'm not in a position to do any cooks. I was just doing some scouting around before starting the new job.

[surfdog]

Well, if Costco isn't coming through...check out Harvest Ranch Markets. They have locations in

El Cajon, Encinitas, and Del Mar.

Jonathan's Market in La Jolla is the same company.

Another place to try is Tokyo Central & Main in San Diego. I've not been to that location but the I did go to also carries wagyu.

[HouseHomey]

@ComfotablyNumb you got it way worse. Had surgery on the 18 under the 2nd metatarsal on the bottom of my foot and on the the bottom below the big toe.

[SMOG MAN]

I have purchased a few from Valley Farms Market on Campo Rd. It's between Spring Valley and La Mesa. Decent Butcher Shop.

[ComfortablyNumb]

Surgically wounded foot? Don't tell me we are twins!

[Steve R.]

I agree with Jerod. The quality of a brisket is going to be on a continuum of Select - Prime, and you can't always just go by what the label says. There might not be a whole lot of difference between a lower Choice and a higher Select. The grade is just a starting point for me. I have had a Prime in hand when I spotted a really nice Choice that I ended up getting instead.

[HouseHomey]

radshop Food safety expert, not a chance. I still use the 40 second rule.

Costco & Sams are the only places I know. Smart n final carries Choice.

I never looked at the fine print on the Costco tri tip. Prime- blade tenderized- makes no sense to me. I won’t by it if that’s the case. Maybe I’ll go today for fun, on my surgically wounded foot, Parking in the north 40, with the meat all the way in the back.

I always wanted to use one of those electric carts. Maybe they’ll send it out to the car for me, with snacks.

dang that tri tip was good stuff though.

[RonB]

Keep lookin' at Walmart. I have found a choice or two mixed in the select bin occasionally.

[Jerod Broussard]

tdimond I hardly have time to wet-age these days but select (pun intended) a few with plenty fat in the flat, then use a bend test if you like to select (again punnin' out) the winner. Dry brine 3 days with plenty Kosher wrapped in plastic. Rub it, throw it on the smoker, smoke away. Only wrap early if you want to collect some juices, other than that, I just smoke for bark. The brisket doesn't get graded per se, so some nice ones get the dreaded Select grade.

[radshop]

Also, check the fine print on the Costco prime tritip - for some crazy reason they blade tenderize it, which means it's not safe unless cooked to high temperatures (or low temp for a long time like sous vide). I'm not the food safety expert for exact time & temp - maybe HouseHomey can bail me out.