The Year Begins with a Trip to Harmony Farms

Dana Cowin quoted Andrew Zimmern in a recent issue of Food & Wine:

“If you eat one alternate protein a week, it will have a staggering, immediate and lasting effect on repairing the massive damage our food system has endured over the last 25 years.”

I thought this was an interesting statement, though could not find any immediate information to back up the claim. And so, in an effort to prove or disprove Zimmern’s theory, today marks the official beginning of my year long challenge to eat and investigate all types of exotic meat.

The first challenge in eating game and exotic meat is obtaining the actual meat! A quick trip to my local Whole Foods proved an instant dead end. The only thing I could find that could fall into the category was ground buffalo meat–certainly delicious, but not enough to fulfill my need.

After a quick internet search I realized there is plenty of exotic meat available online, but shipping prices make this entire endeavor prohibitively expensive. Then I found Harmony Farms–a (kind of) local meat market in La Crescenta that sells beef, chicken, pork, and even a little fish, but also all types of game and exotic meats.  It’s all frozen, which would not be my preference but I do not think I will have much choice in the matter as it is unlikely that I will be able to find fresh alligator or kangaroo in Southern California.

I could have easily driven by Harmony Farms if I wasn’t looking for it.  But after walking in the door, I could barely contain my excitement–big freezer cases containing exactly what I was looking for!  A whole case of venison.  Boxes of wild boar, elk, kangaroo, and antelope. All kinds of game birds. Though I was hoping to get a hold of some alligator this week, the very helpful and friendly Sonny Cabrales let me know that it probably would not be in until next week.  Instead he offered up some crocodile tenderloins, which I was more than happy to have. As most of the meat is frozen, I decided to purchase enough for a few weeks so that I would not have to make another 45 minute trek next weekend. Sonny was also kind enough to let me know that I can order any meat that they sell to be delivered to the Santa Monica Co-Op, which would save me the trip.  I have not yet decided if I will do that as part of me wants to pick Sonny’s brain about meat on a regular basis.

What I bought this trip:

• half a kilo of crocodile tenderloin from Austrailia
• a pound of hickory smoked alligator andouille sausage
• one and half pounds of elk leg roast from New Zealand
• one pound of venison diced stew meat

Follow me to find out how it all goes!