Psst! It's not about the marbling™

Carrie Oliver Rating: Seductive Date Beef™

Since reading about friends, Katie and Jeff Hagan, celebrating the annual arrival of their share of Morris Grassfed Beef, I have been (not so) patiently waiting for the opportunity to try it myself. I was finally able to share two spectacular steaks and ground beef with 8 Toronto food aficionados and envy anyone able to buy this beef.

The beautifully marbled grass-fed steaks were voluptuous and the burgers even a bit more daring. If you like assertive, layered, but balanced flavors in your beef, this one’s for you.

Tasting Notes

The grass-fed steak had a some chew Texture, a straightforward to adventurous Personality, and left a long-lasting Impression. It had a sweet brightness to it followed by deeper green and iron flavors, a silken texture, and balanced aftertaste. The burger was a flavor powerhouse that opened up as you ate it offering an intriguing mix of caramel and feral notes and a sweet, tangy finish.

Favorite Quote

“I don’t like hamburgers but I love this. I can actually taste the meat, not just the condiments.” Katrina, Toronto, ON.

Wine Pairing

Zoltan Szabo, Sommelier, wine consultant, and educator: This well-marbled, dark ruby-red coloured steak had aromas of smoke, butter, sweet lard and game, a fairly firm texture with a good amount of fat content, and a smooth finish. I would pair it with the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Exclamation Cellar Series, Pillitteri, Niagara On The Lake.

Meet The Ranchers

Joe and Julie Morris moved to Joe’s family ranch in San Juan Bautista, CA, in 1991 eager to employ holistic land management practices to regenerate the land. Grazing cattle was core to their efforts to create a carbon sink, and the Morris’s soon found themselves in the grass-fed beef business selling to a handful of friends and family. Today, they direct market grass-fed beef to several hundred lucky customers.

By carefully choosing cattle that thrive on the local range lands and nearby summer mountain pastures, and taking them to slaughter only when they’re ready, not when it’s convenient, the Morris’s offer a model that I hope others will follow.

Where to Buy It:

You can buy Morris Grassfed Beef in split-halves and wholes directly from the ranch. The team also offers a CSA program that will deliver your split-half in four smaller portions over the year.

Tasting Overview:

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