Market Meals: Getting Some Fire Under You

Photo by María Helena Carey

It’s July First: do you know what you’ll be serving at your Fourth of July barbecue?

I know what you may be thinking here.  You may be saying to yourself, “Why is she asking such a basic question?  What does EVERYONE have on the Fourth of July, if not burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, beer and TUMS a little while later?”  Or, well, if you’re vegetarian or vegan, you also have some sort of meatless version thereof, a.k.a. the vile, yet good-for-you tofu pup just to name one.

Don’t get me wrong: burgers and hot dogs or their doppelgängers are fine answers, but maybe you need something that is a little different?

Well, if you are me, you’re probably still wondering what to do (possibly before deciding to let someone else do the cooking and crash a party, for instance); which is why I moseyed on down to Eastern Market and asked both Canales Meats and Union Meat Company for a little inspiration.

You may say it’s un-American to want anything other than burgers and hot dogs, but since their suggestion was STEAK, I think we’re sticking with the red-blooded American theme here.  And seriously: with the array of gorgeous cuts to choose from, the only problem you may have is deciding which cut to go with.  Everything from tasty hanger steak to the most sumptuous Black Angus Filet Mignon is available right now for you to stock up and delight your guests.

Ask anyone at either the Canales Meats counter or Union Meat and they will give you a run-down of all the fun options you have. One of the friendly folks at Union even suggested that I could do spareribs AND steak.  But then he lost me and my stomach when the word, “parboil” entered the conversation.  Because, let’s face it: extra steps before barbecueing is very un-American, unless those steps involve a bottle opener.

But really: at anywhere from about $10 per pound to just north of $21/lb, you can get a flavorful and juicy steak that you can grill with as much abandon as you’ll allow yourself.  While you’re at the Market, you may also want to pick up  burgers (available at both Canales and Union Meats); sausages of all kinds, again at Canales, Union, and at the Eastern Market Deli and the Market Poultry.  I don’t want you to deprive yourself.

Maybe you’re thinking, “But it wouldn’t be the Fourth if it doesn’t have bacon.”  And I suggest to you bacon-wrapped filets!  If you’re feeling particularly saucy, you can even dress them like a burger and go to town.  I’ll come over with beer and a fork.