Is it punting?

...to just foist you off on another blog? I read an entertaining bit yesterday on the Zagat blog about what chefs are hoping for in 2008. Take a look and then peek at my wish list (with Janet Keeler and Chris Sherman). Then, zap me your own hopes and gastronomic dreams.

Comments

[A. Smedley]

Mouth, this posting doesn't constitute hopes and dreams for the new year ... but maybe will elicit some dialogue between your regular readers about a sort of ethical issue in the realm of gastronomical consumption.

This year for Christmas dinner our family ordered very expensive beef tenderloin filets from a renown purveyor of grass-fed meat products in northern California. Meat arrived exactly on schedule via Fedex and was packaged meticulously in frozen, vacuum-sealed pouches. With great relish, our family kitchen set about preparing said filets in a manner befitting such astronomically expensive (OK, OK, I admit - excessively self-indulgent holiday frivolity!) beef.

They were a resounding disappointment. Not BAD ... certainly the meal was NOT ruined; no one went away hungry; beef was consumed. But 6 6 oz. tenderloin filets at a cost of $177 were expected to be mouthwateringly flavorful. They were NOT. Ending up with an extra diner at our table, we had to supplement by purchasing an additional one locally ... at our nearby Publix prime meat counter. Truth be told, taste-tests indicated that the Publix filet was a better piece of meat for way less the cost.

I waged a "complaint" with the mail-order company, not really expecting a response or some compensatory solution ... more or less to just let them know that we were disappointed in their product. Their company's customer service responded immediately to my email comments, and not only am I impressed with their degree of solicitude and eagerness to back the reputation of their business, but I'm in a quandry as to how to respond further. They have offered a complete refund as one option, a replacement of similar filets, or our choice of a different meat entirely.

Given that we physically consumed the meat on Christmas Day, and our meal had other high points that overshadowed mediocre meat as the entree, it doesn't seem "right" of me to insist on a refund. But, I hesitate to accept replacements, because, in all honesty, maybe mail-order meat is not the way to go!

What would your devoted readership choose, were they in my shoes?

And, if it's not overstepping the bounds of "anonymity," can I divulge that the company in question is Niman Ranch of northern California? Despite the disappointment of this first and only order, I must give them credit for being extremely service-oriented and willing to stand behind their reputation of as a purveyor of gourmet meats!

[Gwyn]

I read your wish list for 2008, and I agree with it.
I would also like to see heirloom tomatoes sold in the chain grocery stores.
Trader Joes and Whole foods in Pinellas.
Have Evos, the healthy fast food restaurants in more areas in Pinellas County.
It seems to me that Hillsboroug County has all the great places to shop, compared to Pinellas.

[Dave H]

We dream of a time when ostensibly disinterested food critics include in their reviews pertinent information from state health and safety inspection records.

See http://www.gototell.com/blog/blogpost.cfm?threadid=224&catid=17

[Meaty McRib R. Guzinya]

Y'alls just eatin' the wrong animal and wrong cut! And, y'alls ordering from dang west coast yuppies that feed the beasts god'dern tofu and give 'em yogurt enimas ... and talk new age psycho babble about "how they feel".

Two words: PORK RIBS. Memphis, Kansas City, Korean, Hoisin, hell even Marin County Hippy. Filet Mignon has had its day in the light. Give the little snouted buddy with a corkscrew tail a chance in the limelight! RG

[Hank]

Dave H. illustrates a great topic for additional discussion. I am not convinced that State Health records be included in reviews, but I certainly believe that the State of Florida Inspection process would be worthwhile blog fodder.

[Old Chef Dude]

Smedley!!! Thats 78.50 A lb.
Talk to your favorite restaurant owner or chef first.They should at least be able to point you to the correct source. If not provide the same product to a good client for a great savings!!
P.S.Niman lamb is pretty darn good.

[Cliff]

Smedley! For Xmas dinner, we too ordered a hunk-o-beef from Niman - standing rib, dry aged, (hunks always dry age and taste better than individual steaks done in the same fashion). Cost be damned - it was our holiday dinner. For us, it was the best piece of meat I/we had ever had! Everyone at the dinner devoured it - even the faux vegetarian who only eats fish and chicken. GET A REPLACEMENT but order a hunk if you can. My experience with Publix meat has been abysmal but I keep trying.

My local favorite supplier, Wild Oats in Tampa, has changed purveyors of their beef to meld into the Whole Foods Empire. I have not had the opportunity to try their new supplier as of this writing. I did however get some really good filet (@$20/lb) at Fresh Market. Tasty but not exceptional for the price.

[Jimbo]

There's no debate, Smedley. You should accept their offer. The product did not live up to expectations. And to top it, it was Christmas.

Fire when ready, Smedley.

[A. Smedley]

Cliff, I can update my endless meat saga by telling you that after negotiations with the Niman Ranch CS manager (who bent over backwards to make me a satisfied customer!), I suggested that rather than refund my already consumed filets or send me replacements that might be more of the same, I suggested she pick her favorites of their wares and send me some samples. She arranged to Fedex a "sampler." When it arrived last Friday, it turned out to be 6 more filets ... replacements ... RATS. These look to be slightly larger than the first round, but, yes, more of the same. We await a tasting in the near future, but various family members are still suffering a bit from holiday beef overload. Sorry that I didn't know about the merits of ordering by the hunk. I know Niman also vends good hot dogs. I honestly worried that maybe CS would have been so annoyed by my bitching that the sampler might turn out to be a collection of tube steaks! I'll keep you apprised of our second Niman Ranch experience if there's interest.