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A Meatsmith Harvest


Aug 10, 2019

In Episodes 40 and 41, Brandon does Hollywood!

In this two-part series, Brandon talks of his experiences competing against three other highly-skilled butchers on the History Channel's premiere episode of its new show The Butcher. Hear Brandon describe the three different rounds of the competition: 1) splitting a pig using an old-school hog splitter, quartering it, and then butchering to a list;  2) cutting steaks, and eye-balling them to weight without a scale, and 3) in the final round of the show, "Meat the Monster", butchering a mystery "beast" to maximize its retail value.  Learn what it was like behind the scenes, the unexpected challenges the contestants faced, and how personal butchery preferences, philosophies, and practice (in addition to experience and skill) affected the outcome of the competition.

Introduction and Announcements:

  • Watch Brandon compete on The History Channel's The Butcher!
  • To Kill a Pig Nicely now available FREE of charge on our YouTube channel!
  • Membership is open!
    • New content available on: lamb butchery, curing red meat, lamb curing, and lamb carpaccio!
    • Membership forum topics now categorized for easy browsing!
  • Join us for one of our upcoming Family Pig classes!
  • Help us produce more episodes by supporting us on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/meatsmith.

Part 1 Show Notes:

  • Brandon travels to L.A. to compete in The History Channel's The Butcher, 3:19
  • Pork shares now on sale!, 5:48
  • Our Family Pig classes - Come join us!, 7:29
  • Videos, podcasts, and Patreon, 15:48
  • "To Kill a Pig Nicely", 19:09
  • Demo videos coming to YouTube!, 22:20
  • Brandon's experience competing in The History Channel's The Butcher, 27:27
    • Troubles with the bandsaws, 42:08

Part 2 Show Notes:

  • "Off-shoot discussions" from the first competition
    • The Golden Mean: how it applies to butchery, 1:02
    • Why Brandon doesn't stuff chops, 6:26
    • Brandon's recommendations for sausage stuffers, 8:40
  •  The second competition - "The Eye-Baller" (portioning), 12:56
  •  The third competition - "Meat the Monster" (butchering an alligator), 31:21
  •  Highlights from Brandon's trip to California, 34:16
  •  New content and upgrades in Farmstead Meatsmith Membership, 42:15
  • "Code of the Slaughterman", 51:44

Links for Episode 40:

Links for Episode 41: