You read that right, baby! Enter to win a chance to try GRASS FED BEEF* FOR FREE! I alluded to it here… So if you didn’t sign up yet, what are you waiting for? (Put feistyfoodie in the referral box if you like, we can be friends!) All you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your Vote La Cense username and why you’d like to try grass-fed beef. There are a ton of great reasons, so don’t be shy!
I recently had an opportunity to try their product myself free of charge (and wanted to share it with you guys; aren’t I nice?). The above is a picture of the petit sirloin, grilled up nice and simple, with just salt and pepper, and I added some caramelized onions on top (not that it needed it, but I felt like making onions). I have to admit that I was a complete skeptic that the flavor would be different; I thought perhaps texturally it might be softer, leaner even since I’ve read that grass fed animals don’t fatten up quite the same as grain-fed (which is why they feed the cows grain; they fatten up more, equals more meat to sell, equals greater profit, plus grain feeding is, I believe cheaper, even bigger profit margins). But the taste? Since I prepared the steak so simply, with just salt and pepper, I definitely tasted an herbaceous quality, almost like I’d added some fresh herbs to the steak as well. It definitely added an interesting counterpoint to the meat, though admittedly, my boyfriend was not as enamored as I.
I also got to try their burger patties. The above shot is kind of self-serving, since I cooked it, and has less to do with their meat than it does with my skillz at burger cooking. Hah. Anyway, I haven’t been a fan of pre-formed burger patties in ages; these come unseasoned and it just isn’t that satisfying to have to season your patties only externally. I admit that right upfront, these burgers could be better if they came seasoned or if they came as a block of meat for you to form your own patties (though some people probably like the ease of having pre-formed patties, else no one would offer these, right?). But the taste. This was really interesting to me. Simply grilled with sea salt ground on either side, with freshly ground black pepper (do you see a pattern here? I definitely feel that with good meat, the simplest preparations will suffice.). In any case, though I put on what I thought was a ton of salt and a bit of pepper, neither flavor shone through particularly. My mother had a bite and said “What else did you put on this?” I told her nothing but salt and pepper, does it taste grassy? And she laughed at me. My boyfriend had a burger and again, did not like the grassy tones but also laughed when I told him what he was tasting was the grass-fed-ness of the beef. Whatever guys! I’m not the only one who says that about grass-fed beef! You taste it but refuse to admit to something so simple and, well, obvious as “What the cow eats shows in the taste of the meat.” We’re so used to eating grain-fed meat that it becomes, to our tongues, what’s “normal” and how it “should” taste. But it’s not. It should taste grassy, herbaceous, and delicious.
What are you waiting for?
- Sign up here.
- Leave a comment on this post with your username (and why you want to try grass-fed beef)
This will enter you for a chance to win two of your very own grass fed beef patties, and a petit sirloin. They will come straight to your door in special packaging to ensure its absolute freshness!
Contest ends October 27, 2008. A very special day indeed (reasons why will be revealed at a later date)… I will pop the number of comments into a random generator and it will tell me whose comment wins. GOOD LUCK!!!
*This contest is hosted by La Cense and the people behind Vote La Cense. I did not receive any monetary consideration to run this contest, though I did receive a package of grass fed beef free of charge for me to try out before running the contest.
**Winner will be the recipient of 2 grass fed beef burger patties and 1 petit sirloin, sent directly from La Cense. I will not have access to any personal information that you have not chosen to share with me at any time.
***Contest limited to US 48-contiguous state residents only.
Anonymous says
Hey Yvo,
Hook me up with that GRASS fed beef =9
username: cookie10004
johnla says
Sup Yvo,
user: PEZ
Hook up some of that delicious grassy meat. I’m curious.
Jenn says
I obeyed and had signed up as instructed previously.
user: bluefrogj
reason: because you made me curious. then after reading the site, now I really wanna know how it tastes.
Allison says
Bah. I tried signing up, TWICE, but it told me there was an unexpected error both times. Whatever.
I know why that’s a special day! 😀
Nathan says
There is a difference between grass-fed and grass-fed/finished beef, says the guy from Texas.
Yes, there is a difference between grass diet and corn diet beef, in terms of flavor, texture, leanness, etc. Corn-fed cows tend to be rather fatty, to where, yes, the fat lends some great flavor but also masks some of the “beefy” flavor. Think umami. Many grass-fed cows are fed a load of corn just before their “processing” to help fatten them a little more, which doesn’t quite do justice to their previously great diet. However, grass fed AND finished beef has a much better flavor and overall nutritional value. You get a different “umami” quality but it is better tasting overall.
Your boyfriend is used to corn and grain fed beef most likely, which is still good, like from Allen Brothers in Chicago, or not as good, like the cheap grocery store down the street or something. That’s why he doesn’t care for the flavor. It’s like the difference between naturally raised, organic chickens vs. mass-produced chickens. Tell him to open up his mind to the possibility that grass fed beef is MUCH healthier than regular beef.
For a great source of grass fed and finished beef, as well as other meats, go to:
http://www.rehobothranch.com
dumblilbunny says
I heart your eating experiences!
In my mind, I keep thinking that all the cows I’ve eaten are all grass-feed because when I think of cows, i think of cows munching on grasses in the wide open field. =] silly me!
Eric says
gimme some grassy goodness 😀
LMCMC says
I love your blog and have been lurking for months. The grass fed beef has brought me out from hiding! Bring it on! LMCMC
Stanley says
i am thekillerpotato, i love this food.
Stanley says
my username is thekillerpotato
Stanley says
shoutout to hello kitty
Allison says
Woot! The people at Vote La Cense are so friggin awesome… they contacted me through email and worked to get my account working! How cool is that?
Oh, and my username is sushiday, of course. 😀
Amanda says
Hey, I signed up as phidya. I think it went through now.
natis says
username: natis
I’m genuinely curious to see if there is a discernible difference in taste. Seeing that I grind my own beef for hamburgers and meatballs, the quality of the cut is important to me. If there is something in addition to the cut that can affect the taste for the better, I may be swayed to change my purchasing habits.
amy says
amyxshi!
i want me some grass fed goodness….
Anonymous says
user: chianess
Rumors of grass-fed beef’s deliciousness have been circulating for minutes, I’m intrigued.
Kate says
This is the best. contest. ever.
username: khook
Reason I need this delicious beef: My boyfriend is from Scotland and has to go back for a bit, and I want to show him another amazing reason he has to come back very quickly.
Oh, and I love meat…and in today’s economy I can’t afford much of it.
Joon says
ibizajb
yay, ’cause i dont think i’ve never tried grass fed beef before!
Eric says
EnderZero
Gimme some grass fed beef,
why?
Because I love cramming hot juicy meat in my mouth!
MelBus says
Sevikins.
Curious. I’m hungry and curious… more so the latter than the former… though I suppose the latter would fulfill the former. 😀
Mimi says
USER: marimoy
why? Because I like it!
Nichelle says
I love beef!
I love grass!
Sounds yummy
and good for my ass…
username: nichelle_step
Marla Singer says
My username is jakartainflames. I like grass fed beef because it’s healthier, lower in calories and is less harmful to the environemnt.
Reeva says
where’s the beef!?! 🙂 Grass fed beef is 100% better.
My username is the same here Reeva 🙂
Anonymous says
this is a random drawing, right? I’ve heard it was completely random and just want to make sure that everyone knows that…
oinkoink says
username: oink
reason: the picture convinced me. you made it look so delicious how can anyone not want to try it? /drool. then i read the actual entry and became very curious to try it…
Danielle says
username: asphericalcow
I haven’t had any good beef in awhile, and I’m curious!
Alex says
Got your link from Not Exactly Bento – digging your site!
My username is arosey, and I hope I win some tasty beef!
Reeni says
I love their burgers!!! Yum. My username is CinnamonGirl.
ifyrnice2me says
user name: ifyrnice2me
We would love to try the beef. This year we have been making the switch to more organic eating. This would complement that nicely.
Eli says
My Grass Fed Beef username?: Eli
Gimme some of that grass-feddy-goodness. Can I bribe you?
Emily says
user name: Emily
Now that I have a chest freezer, I’d like to try it to see if I’d like to invest in a 1/4 beef
Anonymous says
We grew up on grass fed beef….YUMMY!
So I would love a walk down memory lane…mmmmmm
username: SkippyMom
Ruth says
my username is rbh1000
I would love to try some grass fed meet. I love to cook and have never cooked grass fed meat so I would love to taste the difference
Marc says
Username: simurgh
bspire says
username: bspire4
I can’t wait to try grass fed beef.
Lizz says
Yvo!
username: p3bbz
I’ve never tried grass-fed beef before!