Butchery is the new black; butchers are the new rock stars.
March 11, 2010 1:08 PM Subscribe
Forget about cupcakes, meat's the thing. Somehow chopping up animals has worked its way into the hipster mainstream, creating a nexus of locavorism, animal protection, and transgression.
hipster mainstream
I don't think at least one of these words means what you think it means.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:11 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
I don't think at least one of these words means what you think it means.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:11 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Meat? That's so last year. Bacon this, bacon that. 2010 is the year of the mushroom.
posted by explosion at 1:12 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by explosion at 1:12 PM on March 11, 2010
"It's a fashion trend of the most hollow and irritating sort,"
Wow. Perfectly expressed, and it took a butcher to say it.
posted by George_Spiggott at 1:13 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Wow. Perfectly expressed, and it took a butcher to say it.
posted by George_Spiggott at 1:13 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
It means the crap that the NY Times thinks is hip.
Honestly, I'm sick of cupcakes and sick of butchers.
posted by mneekadon at 1:13 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Honestly, I'm sick of cupcakes and sick of butchers.
posted by mneekadon at 1:13 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Meet meat.
posted by eastofottawa at 1:16 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by eastofottawa at 1:16 PM on March 11, 2010
2010 is the year of the mushroom.
No, man, it only feels that way. But look at the clock! It's only been a couple of hours, honest!
posted by hippybear at 1:16 PM on March 11, 2010 [13 favorites]
No, man, it only feels that way. But look at the clock! It's only been a couple of hours, honest!
posted by hippybear at 1:16 PM on March 11, 2010 [13 favorites]
Yet another in the long line of professions becoming too self-aware for their own good. This isn't about cutting meat, it is about marketing.
posted by infinitefloatingbrains at 1:17 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by infinitefloatingbrains at 1:17 PM on March 11, 2010
I'm so tired of the pseudo-suffix "ster." Hipsters, scenesters, geeksters. Just stop. If the world/internet really needs a label for young people who follow trends, can we come up with something new now?
posted by Caduceus at 1:17 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by Caduceus at 1:17 PM on March 11, 2010
If it's in the Times dining section, it's pretty much a dead fad already-- assuming it ever existed outside of the writer's social circle. Time and Newsweek can run their pieces next week to completely kill this fake trend.
posted by Mayor Curley at 1:19 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by Mayor Curley at 1:19 PM on March 11, 2010
...can we come up with something new now?
Carniwhores?
posted by hal9k at 1:19 PM on March 11, 2010 [5 favorites]
Carniwhores?
posted by hal9k at 1:19 PM on March 11, 2010 [5 favorites]
2010 is the year of the mushroom.
You mean, year of the "wild foraged" mushroom.
But actually, it's the year of home-fermented vegetables.
posted by mneekadon at 1:19 PM on March 11, 2010
You mean, year of the "wild foraged" mushroom.
But actually, it's the year of home-fermented vegetables.
posted by mneekadon at 1:19 PM on March 11, 2010
I wrote a comic strip once where the background entertainment in a bar was someone slaughtering a deer. I'm obviously a hipster pioneer
posted by dng at 1:20 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by dng at 1:20 PM on March 11, 2010
The poor seek food, the rich seek an appetite.
Clearly, it's all about regression- they're back to playing with their food.
posted by yeloson at 1:22 PM on March 11, 2010
Clearly, it's all about regression- they're back to playing with their food.
posted by yeloson at 1:22 PM on March 11, 2010
"Carniwhores"
You keep my mother out of this! How much do you think a bearded lady gets paid, anyway? She did what she had to.
posted by Theodore Sign at 1:23 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
You keep my mother out of this! How much do you think a bearded lady gets paid, anyway? She did what she had to.
posted by Theodore Sign at 1:23 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
Good Lord, I hope the NY Times never does a lifestyle section piece on something I enjoy.
*casts gaze warily from side to side*
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:23 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
*casts gaze warily from side to side*
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:23 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
2010 is the year of the mushroom.
It's about time. Kids these days can't even tell you what a portabello is...
posted by Afroblanco at 1:24 PM on March 11, 2010 [7 favorites]
It's about time. Kids these days can't even tell you what a portabello is...
posted by Afroblanco at 1:24 PM on March 11, 2010 [7 favorites]
"hipster mainstream" reminds me of "adult alternative"
posted by davebush at 1:25 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by davebush at 1:25 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Heh. Pretty much what you'd expect a bunch of Metafilter Sitesters to say.
posted by weston at 1:31 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by weston at 1:31 PM on March 11, 2010
Wow, we just cut up a hog in our garage, but it was for eating (and BACON), not to be hep, or what ever you kids call neat these days.
Meat? That's so last year. Bacon this, bacon that. 2010 is the year of the mushroom.
I eagerly await morel season, starting soon in Mi. ( I have a man on the scene, he says it's all under control.)
posted by Max Power at 1:32 PM on March 11, 2010
Meat? That's so last year. Bacon this, bacon that. 2010 is the year of the mushroom.
I eagerly await morel season, starting soon in Mi. ( I have a man on the scene, he says it's all under control.)
posted by Max Power at 1:32 PM on March 11, 2010
You mean, year of the "wild foraged" mushroom.
There are old mycologists and there are bold mycologists, but there are no old, bold mycologists.
posted by poe at 1:33 PM on March 11, 2010 [12 favorites]
There are old mycologists and there are bold mycologists, but there are no old, bold mycologists.
posted by poe at 1:33 PM on March 11, 2010 [12 favorites]
""It's kind of sending a message like, animals are like strippers, or animals are like whores."
And we wouldn't want to de-humanize animals...
posted by anti social order at 1:37 PM on March 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
And we wouldn't want to de-humanize animals...
posted by anti social order at 1:37 PM on March 11, 2010 [3 favorites]
Trendy lads! Don't treat women like pieces of meat! Treat them with pieces of meat!
posted by Mister_A at 1:40 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by Mister_A at 1:40 PM on March 11, 2010
I for one will never tire of cupcakes.
But I'm very tired of Julia Powell and her ilk.
posted by bearwife at 1:41 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
But I'm very tired of Julia Powell and her ilk.
posted by bearwife at 1:41 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
oh no we all have to kill ourselves :(
posted by Optimus Chyme at 1:49 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Optimus Chyme at 1:49 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Thank god I'm on the hipster fringe. My things that I like that you don't know about and I won't tell you about because then you would know about them are still sacred.
When you are tired of cupcakes you are tired of life. If you reach this point you need to retreat, regroup, and have a snack.
posted by Babblesort at 1:52 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
When you are tired of cupcakes you are tired of life. If you reach this point you need to retreat, regroup, and have a snack.
posted by Babblesort at 1:52 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Music sounds so much warmer on meat.
posted by munchingzombie at 1:57 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by munchingzombie at 1:57 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
I think there are actually some really interesting things to think about, and they're being masked by the trendiness (or post-trendiness) of it all. The fact that it's become trendy and noticed by the media makes it a thing that the same people who follow trends will ignore now that it's no longer cool. But I think the questions are still important.
There is very useful knowledge to be gained by learning from people who know how to kill things. Because industrial meat production is so completely terrifying, dangerous, cruel, and unsanitary, people are realizing it's important to know where the food is coming from and who has handled it. I think this is the same for pretty much anything you'd want to put in your body, but meat has a special element of risk to it that's not there for bread or apples.
On the other hand, do we really need meat at all? Most of us have access to reasonable food that does not require killing things. There are a lot of arguments for vegetarianism, but I'm sure that's been discussed to death, so if you actually care, just recite both sides of the argument in your head.
posted by mneekadon at 1:57 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
There is very useful knowledge to be gained by learning from people who know how to kill things. Because industrial meat production is so completely terrifying, dangerous, cruel, and unsanitary, people are realizing it's important to know where the food is coming from and who has handled it. I think this is the same for pretty much anything you'd want to put in your body, but meat has a special element of risk to it that's not there for bread or apples.
On the other hand, do we really need meat at all? Most of us have access to reasonable food that does not require killing things. There are a lot of arguments for vegetarianism, but I'm sure that's been discussed to death, so if you actually care, just recite both sides of the argument in your head.
posted by mneekadon at 1:57 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Wow, those reviews on Julie Powell's new book are brutal. Over 50% one star! Not a lot of love for the "poor me, cheating on my spouse is such an ordeal" genre, meat or no meat.
posted by nanojath at 1:59 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by nanojath at 1:59 PM on March 11, 2010
You do realize that humans have been eating meat the days of our hipster forefather, Zinjanthropus, right? There are 20-yr old butchers in Amish country too.
posted by Pastabagel at 2:08 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by Pastabagel at 2:08 PM on March 11, 2010
I was about to be all what's a Julie Powell... But then I remembered the googles. I went to see that movie with my mom, and oh my god if you give that much of a shit about how much square footage you have, move the fuck out of the city and leave it those of us who appreciate the opportunities it affords. I can't believe how whiny, self-involved, and blind that character was...The director couldn't have 3Ded her up at all? I don't care how shallow the actual author is, lie to me so that I care about the character.
posted by edbles at 2:17 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by edbles at 2:17 PM on March 11, 2010
Can I pay money to get Greg Nog to cook for me or maybe live in my pantry. I don't have that much money, but I could pay him in gumdrops and stories of his homeland.
posted by The Whelk at 2:18 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 2:18 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think there are actually some really interesting things to think about, and they're being masked by the trendiness (or post-trendiness) of it all.
No, they're being masked by those who think "trends" will wipe the earth of life.
posted by setanor at 2:19 PM on March 11, 2010
No, they're being masked by those who think "trends" will wipe the earth of life.
posted by setanor at 2:19 PM on March 11, 2010
"Butcher Parties" sounds like something you do with lots of white plastic on the walls.
posted by The Whelk at 2:26 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 2:26 PM on March 11, 2010
I could pay him in gumdrops and stories of his homeland.
You could regale him with tales of the many salts of that dry and salty land...
posted by Mister_A at 2:27 PM on March 11, 2010
You could regale him with tales of the many salts of that dry and salty land...
posted by Mister_A at 2:27 PM on March 11, 2010
We're trapping squirrels in our backyard, it's the latest suburban dad pants trend. We braise them, low and slow, and season with onion grass that we harvest locally and sustainably.
posted by fixedgear at 2:27 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by fixedgear at 2:27 PM on March 11, 2010
"Butcher Parties" sounds like something you do with lots of white plastic on the walls.
With Dexter Morgan giving tips on butchering.
posted by ericb at 2:31 PM on March 11, 2010
With Dexter Morgan giving tips on butchering.
posted by ericb at 2:31 PM on March 11, 2010
Music sounds so much warmer on meat.
Meat speakers? Meat guitars? Or just good ol' fashioned air forced from meat bellows through vibrating meat in a meat pipe?
Maybe running your harsh digital audio through some Monster cables plugged into some meat?
posted by weston at 2:34 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Meat speakers? Meat guitars? Or just good ol' fashioned air forced from meat bellows through vibrating meat in a meat pipe?
Maybe running your harsh digital audio through some Monster cables plugged into some meat?
posted by weston at 2:34 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Like the narrator of the Elton John song “Rocket Man,” frequent commenters can spend a little time every day inhabiting the identity of their wished-for selves — Mr. Hsiao becomes DaShiv, or Georgia Logothetis, a second-year lawyer in Chicago, metamorphoses into the respected liberal commenter georgia10 on Daily Kos. Online they indulge the sweet fantasy that “I’m not the man they think I am at home.”
This little gem from Optimus' link makes me suspicious of the NYT's interpretation of any trend and the motivating factors behind it. I would argue that most people here are being themselves. Probably a louder version of themselves given the number of AskMe questions from high volume commenters that revolve around "How do I express my thoughts, opinions, and feelings to real live meat puppets?"
So maybe we should give the baby butchers a chance to make asses of themselves on their own terms rather than in the NYT's eyes.
posted by edbles at 2:37 PM on March 11, 2010
This little gem from Optimus' link makes me suspicious of the NYT's interpretation of any trend and the motivating factors behind it. I would argue that most people here are being themselves. Probably a louder version of themselves given the number of AskMe questions from high volume commenters that revolve around "How do I express my thoughts, opinions, and feelings to real live meat puppets?"
So maybe we should give the baby butchers a chance to make asses of themselves on their own terms rather than in the NYT's eyes.
posted by edbles at 2:37 PM on March 11, 2010
Yeah, there is something kind of inauthentic about how people will chase the retro-cool trends. I can see where the complaints come from. True craftsmen of a scene, the ones who have quietly been at it for years, get to witness their hobby flooded with dabblers who just want to enjoy the show and then move on. Like when all the hipsters got into holga film cameras and the "real" hobbyists spent the next few years rolling their eyes. I'm sure this must be frustrating. Suddenly their niche community is swamped by a crowd who's there to gobble up novelty but has no desire for deeper understanding. Is this something blame worthy? Okay, they don't want to be real butchers or photographers or whatever. They just want to try something out and have a fun weekend. Consider it a variation on the dude ranch formula.
posted by katerschluck at 2:41 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by katerschluck at 2:41 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
I also live near-ish the Meat Hook, and while the guys are awesome and the practices sustainable, the meat fashionably priced, and the space quirky, the most important part of all of it is the fact that every single thing I have gotten from there has been the best piece of meat I've ever put in my mouth.
posted by CharlesV42 at 2:48 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by CharlesV42 at 2:48 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Like when all the hipsters got into holga film cameras and the "real" hobbyists spent the next few years rolling their eyes. I'm sure this must be frustrating.
Something something fixed gear bikes? Just sayin'
posted by fixedgear at 2:49 PM on March 11, 2010
Something something fixed gear bikes? Just sayin'
posted by fixedgear at 2:49 PM on March 11, 2010
YOUR HOBBY SOLD OUT FIRST
posted by setanor at 2:55 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by setanor at 2:55 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
New bakery in town sells "mancakes", i.e. cupcakes full of bacon.
Qua meat, they are the hippest
Qua cupcake, they're passé.
What the mancake giveth with one hand
With the other it taketh away.
posted by Beardman at 3:12 PM on March 11, 2010
Qua meat, they are the hippest
Qua cupcake, they're passé.
What the mancake giveth with one hand
With the other it taketh away.
posted by Beardman at 3:12 PM on March 11, 2010
Growlers are the new Sparks.
Wow, really? In Colorado this practice has been pretty standard for at least 15 years.
Though I see katerschluck's point, it doesn't apply here. I fully encourage even the most repugnant hipsters in their drinking of beer.
posted by 7segment at 4:08 PM on March 11, 2010
Wow, really? In Colorado this practice has been pretty standard for at least 15 years.
Though I see katerschluck's point, it doesn't apply here. I fully encourage even the most repugnant hipsters in their drinking of beer.
posted by 7segment at 4:08 PM on March 11, 2010
I wrote a comic strip once where the background entertainment in a bar was someone slaughtering a deer. I'm obviously a hipster pioneer
Was that before or after the Sarah Palin interview at the turkey farm?
posted by mneekadon at 4:11 PM on March 11, 2010
Was that before or after the Sarah Palin interview at the turkey farm?
posted by mneekadon at 4:11 PM on March 11, 2010
I also live near-ish the Meat Hook, and while the guys are awesome and the practices sustainable, the meat fashionably priced, and the space quirky, the most important part of all of it is the fact that every single thing I have gotten from there has been the best piece of meat I've ever put in my mouth.
Disliking something because it's popular with (subset of people) is just as ridiculous as liking something because it's popular. I don't care if the Meat Hook is hip or unhip - the sausages are INCREDIBLE. And they also have homebrew stuff. And I like supporting local businesses. The NYT Style section isn't swaying my opinion one way or the other.
posted by dubold at 4:20 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Disliking something because it's popular with (subset of people) is just as ridiculous as liking something because it's popular. I don't care if the Meat Hook is hip or unhip - the sausages are INCREDIBLE. And they also have homebrew stuff. And I like supporting local businesses. The NYT Style section isn't swaying my opinion one way or the other.
posted by dubold at 4:20 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Hey, if this trend leads to an actual butcher shop* opening up in my town, I'm all for it!
* As opposed to the boutiques meat stores we have now.
posted by madajb at 4:25 PM on March 11, 2010
* As opposed to the boutiques meat stores we have now.
posted by madajb at 4:25 PM on March 11, 2010
Actually, there are often much better reasons for liking something because it's popular than disliking it because it's popular. Just saying...
posted by warbaby at 4:41 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by warbaby at 4:41 PM on March 11, 2010
Actually, there are often much better reasons for liking something because it's popular than disliking it because it's popular. Just saying...
Except on MetaFilter.
posted by fixedgear at 4:45 PM on March 11, 2010
Except on MetaFilter.
posted by fixedgear at 4:45 PM on March 11, 2010
I was really hoping the 'transgression' link would go to a blog of someone butchering and cooking a toddler. (yeah, you're far from the first person to notice that there's something wrong with me.)
posted by overyield at 5:11 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by overyield at 5:11 PM on March 11, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'm not a hipster by any stretch of the definition (I work in a hipster-heavy industry, but I'm not one myself), but I'd seriously love to take classes to learn how to butcher. Because I like to know where my food comes from, and I like quality, and I like doing stuff myself. And I love meat. I think it would probably be important to me that the animals were reasonably local and treated well, though.
By the way, the article just below the one linked in the FPP, about learning how to do Chinese barbecue, is pretty tempting too. Making my own cha siu? I'm there.
Also, if my current job doesn't work out for some reason, going into butchery doesn't sound too bad. I even kind of look like a stereotypical butcher.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 6:27 PM on March 11, 2010
By the way, the article just below the one linked in the FPP, about learning how to do Chinese barbecue, is pretty tempting too. Making my own cha siu? I'm there.
Also, if my current job doesn't work out for some reason, going into butchery doesn't sound too bad. I even kind of look like a stereotypical butcher.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 6:27 PM on March 11, 2010
overyield: "I was really hoping the 'transgression' link would go to a blog of someone butchering and cooking a toddler. (yeah, you're far from the first person to notice that there's something wrong with me.)"
I would like to note that I find you perfectly normal.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 6:35 PM on March 11, 2010
I would like to note that I find you perfectly normal.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 6:35 PM on March 11, 2010
I first learned about butchering from this lady. She has interesting photos of a hog (part 1, part 2), a goat, a duck and a chicken, but the chicken didn't have many pictures. They aren't a step by step how-to, but rather, 'follow the instructions and here's some stuff they left out of the books'. They aren't for the faint of heart, but I think it's a much more interesting look at butchering than the Salon piece. Maybe someone can bring her to a New York bar?
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 7:41 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 7:41 PM on March 11, 2010
This is useful is you are in Australia, and potentially outside as well: Home Butchery. Brought to you by the good folks at the NSW department of primary industries book shop - the other titles there are also often pretty amazing, one way or another.
posted by overyield at 8:15 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by overyield at 8:15 PM on March 11, 2010
Good thing the butchers did not live in a yurt or else I would get a very angry missive from flapjax at midnite.
posted by parmanparman at 12:30 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by parmanparman at 12:30 AM on March 12, 2010
2010 is the year of the mushroom Yushityu 2007 Mimetic-Resolution-Cartridge-View-Motherboard-Easy-To-Install-Upgrade For Infernatron/InterLace TP Systems For Home, Office Or Mobile [sic].
posted by rusty at 11:22 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by rusty at 11:22 AM on March 12, 2010
"I was really hoping the 'transgression' link would go to a blog of someone butchering and cooking a toddler."
[NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE. ALSO, NOT REAL. Come on, no one serves orange juice with roasted baby.]
posted by rusty at 11:25 AM on March 12, 2010
[NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE. ALSO, NOT REAL. Come on, no one serves orange juice with roasted baby.]
posted by rusty at 11:25 AM on March 12, 2010
This is the kind of 'news' that gets repackaged for us in Australian tabloid media as the "OMG! those Whacky ! Americans are at it again!" story. I predict it will turn up on some shitty morning show here very soon.
posted by honey-barbara at 6:30 PM on March 12, 2010
posted by honey-barbara at 6:30 PM on March 12, 2010
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