Skillet Does Heavy Lifting for Sustainable Meat

Chef Josh Henderson at Dog Mountain Farm. Photo Credit: Jenise Silva

Last weekend, Tamiko told us all about the sustainable butchery practices of the meatsmiths on Vashon Island, and how they were drumming up funds to educate others who are interested in animal processing.

Turns out, there's a burgeoning butchery community out in the Sound--and they're all connected. This week, I was delighted to receive an invitation from Josh Henderson at Skillet for a farmstead meatsmith dinner this Sunday, August 7 on Vashon Island.

His father had passed along a link telling him about some folks on the island who are starting a program to educate people on the virtues of artisan butchery. Lauren and Brandon Sheard, along with filmmaker Andrew Plotsky, produced a video as part of a Kickstarter campaign--the one that Tamiko wrote about--which they're using to raise the funds to put together a series of butchery webisodes that would be free to all takers.

Thinking it would be fun (and beneficial) to host a dinner to put them over the top and get them to their goal in short order, Josh took it upon himself to give the Sheards a hand. Which isn't suprising--that’s just the kind of guy Josh is. He's a constant fixture in the food community, cooking at many fundraisers on local farms and shepherding young talent in the culinary field.

But the invitation I got wasn't exclusive--if you'd like to help the Sheards out, and dine with some of the Seattle area's most elite in meat, mark your calendar and get your tickets post-haste for the dinner on Sunday. It'll feature butchery demonstrations on a couple of animals (most likely a lamb and perhaps a pig), while Josh and his Skillet counterpart Brian do culinary demonstrations, alongside several guest chefs. They'll not only prepare you a meal--they're also educate you on you what to do with each cut of meat. And of course, there will be plenty of farm inspired nibbles, a full dinner plus wine. And just to fatten the calf, diners are also promised an afternoon of Peter Greenaway-inspired lawn games.

Want to support this meaty cause? Suggested donation is $75. For ticketing info contact farmsteadmeatsmith@gmail.com