Butcher shops with the top cuts in Calgary

With eating local being the biggest restaurant food trend ever, home cooks have turned to the city’s butcher shops to supply cuts of Alberta beef, pork, lamb, chicken and game for their own cuisine adventures. A number of excellent meat boutiques carry a wide variety of cuts, locally produced and otherwise.

By Ian Doig

Paolini's Sausage & Meat Ltd

5735 3 St SE, Calgary, AB T2H 1K1

• Phone Number
  • 403-252-9000Primary
• Directions

A local European-style sausage maker, Paolini’s operates both a southeast delicatessen and a Crossroads Market kiosk. Naturally, sausages are available at both locations, but also hamburger, steaks, pork tenderloin and specially prepared schnitzel, roulade and beef tartare. If you’re visiting the deli from 10:30 am to 3 pm, stay for lunch and order a bratwurst on a bun with the daily soup. The deli also carries a wide array of European foodstuffs from pickled veggies and canned fish to cookies.

Master Meats (1999) Ltd

7-4127 6 St NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6V5

• Phone Number
  • 403-277-5002Primary
• Directions

Just west of Centre Street on 40th Avenue Northwest, Master Meats’ four resident butchers offer top cuts of beef, pork, veal, poultry and elk. The shop also carries salami, sausages and beef jerky alongside a selection of seafood products such as lobster tails, salmon filets and halibut steak.

Bon Ton Meat Market

28 Crowfoot Cir NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3

• Phone Number
  • 403-282-3132Primary
• Directions

This premium meat shop is located in Crowfoot Crossing shopping centre. Bon Ton carries a wide selection of AAA Alberta beef cuts as well as veal, free-range poultry, sausages, marinated ribs and burgers. Highly recommended, a variety of house-made meat pies, including steak and kidney, beef, pork and chicken are available hot. Another dozen varieties are available frozen. The shop also features a deli counter and carries cheeses and desserts as well as both hot and frozen prepared foods.

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Ian Doig’s week may include dim sum lunch with friends, rummaging through indie bookstore shelves as well as scribbling in his notepad at Calgary shops and farmers’ markets. It most often concludes with a relaxing Friday evening pint of locally brewed craft beer.

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