Plus get our latest book recommendations, author news, and competitions right to your inbox.
Table of Contents
About The Book
For true meat lovers, a beautifully prepared cut of beef, pork, lamb, veal, or poultry is not just the center of the meal, it is the reason for eating. No one understands meat’s seductive hold on our palates better than America’s premier butcher, Pat LaFrieda. In Meat: Everything You Need to Know, he passionately explains the best and most flavorful cuts to purchase (some of them surprisingly inexpensive or unknown) and shares delicious recipes and meticulous techniques, all with the knowledge that comes from a fourth generation butcher. If you have ever wondered what makes the meat in America’s finest restaurants so delectable, LaFrieda—the butcher to the country’s greatest chefs—has the answers, and the philosophy behind it.
In seventy-five recipes—some of them decades-old LaFrieda family favorites, some from New York City’s best restaurateurs, including Lidia Bastianich, Josh Capon, Mike Toscano, and Jimmy Bradley—the special characteristics of each type of meat comes into exquisite focus. Pat’s signature meat selections have inspired famous chefs, and now Meat brings home cooks the opportunity to make similar mouthwatering recipes including multiple LaFrieda Custom Burger Blends, Whole Shank Osso Bucco, Tuscan Fried Chicken with Lemon, Crown Pork Roast with Pineapple Bread Stuffing, Frenched Chop with Red Onion Soubise, Beef Wellington with Mushroom Cream Sauce, and Chipotle-Braised Tomahawk Short Ribs, along with many more.
Step-by-step photographs make tricky operations like butterflying a veal chop or tying a crown roast easy even for beginners; beautiful double-page photographic diagrams show more clearly than any previous book where different cuts come from on the animal; and advice on necessary equipment, butcher’s notes, and glorious full-color photographs of the dishes complete this magnificent and comprehensive feast for the senses.
Throughout the pages of Meat, Pat LaFrieda’s interwoven tales of life in the meatpacking business and heartwarming personal reminiscences celebrate his family’s century of devotion to their calling and are a tribute to a veritable New York City institution. Pat’s reverence and passion for his subject both teach and inspire.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atria Books (September 2, 2014)
- Length: 256 pages
- ISBN13: 9781476726014
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
"A valuable reference that will give readers a greater appreciation for not only their favorite cuts of meat, but their butcher as well.”
– Publishers Weekly
“The Magician of Meat.”
– New York magazine
“Pat LaFrieda does everything right as a butcher. MEAT stands out to me as the best handbook there is on this subject.”
– Mario Batali, chef and entrepreneur
“Pat LaFrieda has led the ‘butcher revolution’ in the United States. Every serious cook needs this instructional, well-illustrated, and very well written book.”
– Martha Stewart, founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
“It made me laugh, it made me smile, it made me miss my grandpa. I absolutely adore this book.”
– Rachael Ray, New York Times bestselling author
“If you want to know about meat, this is the book. The recipes are great and each one has a story to tell.”
– Andrew Carmellini, chef and owner of The Dutch, Locanda Verde, and Lafayette
“MEAT by master butcher Pat LaFrieda is officially the carnivores' holy grail and my new reference point for all things meat.”
– Chef Michael White
“The recipes and techniques in this book are things that can be used in any kitchen whether it’s at home or in the restaurant.”
– Marc Forgione, chef and owner of Restaurant Marc Forgione, American Cut, and Khe-Yo
“A celebration of Pat’s enormous skill set, his encyclopedic understanding of meats and their various cuts and how to best use them. Butcher extraordinaire!"
– Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, Butter restaurant
“Certain to make meat-lovers’ mouths water.”
– Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group
“A must-have for any home cook, it will surely be a valuable resource for years to come.”
– Chef Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park and The NoMad
“MEAT is a superb, detailed sourcebook that I am thrilled to have on my shelf.”
– Chef Geoffrey Zakarian
“A fantastic resource for both the professional chef and the home cook.”
– Chef Missy Robbins
“A genuinely good read.”
– Cooking Light
“If you want to know about meat, go straight to the meat man: New York City-area butcher Pat LaFrieda has released his meaty magnum opus."
– EATER National
"New York City's ultimate butcher, the man behind the famous LaFrieda burger blends, penned the definitive cookbook on all things meat."
– Fathom
“I loved absolutely everything about this book.”
– SanFranciscoBookReview.com
“Meat is unsurpassed and truly sets the standard for a book that offers both recipes and education.”
– Cooking by the Book
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): MEAT eBook 9781476726014