JM STOCK PROVISIONS — Attraction in Charlottesville

I was not expecting to be confronted with 240 lbs of recently-slaughtered hog this weekend. It was more enjoyable than you would imagine. Really. The MeatBoss knows his stuff. His knives are sharp. His demeanor is that of a--I dunno, a Kitchen DaVinci. Facing your food as a carnivore is a Chastening Thing in the New Millenium.

We eat well here.

As Matt dismembered the colossal hog in front of him, there was another side of pork crisping on an oil-barrel bbq pit just steps away. The gentleman who makes his living selling pork bbq at festivals basted him lovingly, all night long. It's a form of freedom, is it not? Stock Provisions makes it possible for an independent business person to obtain quality meat for your bbq.

I sucked it up and watched with respect as the porker who gave his all for edification of burbon-drinkers and bbq imbibers in Cary, North Carolina became pork chops, baby back ribs, and an unpronounceable (spellable) cut that is the next cuisine craze.

The MeatBoss' no-nonsense butchering of Ye Aulde Porcine was not for the faint of heart. A thin but fascinated crowd followed the processing of the animal with unfeigned interest.

Well butchered meat is something that is as near as an excellent butcher like the MeatBoss. If you can afford it, it's worth it. If you're gonna be a carnivore, you can localize it for the greater good. A demo I would not...

Prior to moving to Charlottesville, I endured eight years of vegetarianism. In retrospect, I refer to these years as The Great Depression. The manifestation of my youthful idealism, I refused to support the industrial meat complex and did not live in a place where local, responsibly raised animal products were available. I am grateful that J and M (those are just their first initials, not their actual names) have provided me with a magical wonderland where I can feel good about the food I buy and still get to eat bacon. In the wake of my re-meat-birth, I started the for profit foundation Meat to Miles in which otherwise ambition-less steaks and sausages are converted to approximately 100-120 miles per week. The flesh, muscles, fat, and organs that might otherwise never wander mountain trails get to experience breathtaking vistas in the form of beta-hydroxybutyrate, amino acids, and adenosine triphosphate. An additional beneficiary of the foundation, my stomach, also makes out quite well in the deal. Finally, the foundation is proud to be giving a percentage of my paycheck to local farmers and tattooed bros with...

JM Stock Provisions is a class act, through and through. Before I even get to how amazing their meats/provisions are, they are great people who always make you feel welcome and involved as a customer. When I ask about products they are always sharing their favorites and are happy to tell me more or help me make choices. Their BPG (Black Pepper Garlic) is out of this world and a staple, pimento cheese if lifechanging, I had been sleeping on their burger meat, and their Virginia Country Breakfast sausage is beyond compare. Really any sausage here is a winner. Do yourself a favor, pay for good quality, savor the enjoyment of cooking/eating this amazing meat and support these people that give a damn about where your food comes from and work hard for it. Their meats have changed the way I cook and eat. Not to mention they support other local businesses...