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'Meat' The Local Families Behind Ranch Brand Meat Co.

this Chippewa Falls meat processor, retailer offers black label steak cuts and more with 'no middlemen and no question marks'

Family values and complete sovereignty over their products remain at the core of Ranch Brand Meat Company, a new processed meats purveyor serving the Chippewa Valley. At “The Barn,” Ranch Brand’s Chippewa Falls location (11728 County Hwy S), tradition meets innovation, according to co-founders...

Hectic Holiday Happenings & 'The Meat'

sometimes stress can be a seasoning for the annual prime rib

My family is filled with passionate people. At many gatherings, you will find us ramping each other up, and disagreeing, seemingly just for the fun of it. The traditional holiday prime rib roast is the ultimate expression of this passion. An expensive cut, even for the most wealthy among us – but even so...

THEN & NOW: Duffenbach's Meat Market in Eau Claire

let's dive into a former Wisconsin Street staple, with the help of our friends at the Chippewa Valley Museum

Picture this scene, as we step back into the mid 1990s. Chippewa Valley locals enter the neighborhood grocer and meat market, ready to select the finest cuts for their next family dinner. Within it, they find barrels of lutefisk, boxes of cake mix – waiting for the next birthday celebration – and jars of pickled goods stacked high from floor to ceiling. These happenings were all too familiar at the former Duffenbach’s Meat Market, located at...

SMOKE, SIZZLE & SUMMER VIBES: BBQ Fest Is Back

Second annual BBQ Fest is bringing backyard grilling glory to Chippewa Falls' Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds

Whether you're a seasoned pitmaster or a curious foodie, you'll want to mark your calendars for the Northern Wisconsin State Faigrounds’ (NWSF) second annual BBQ Fest. Slated for Saturday, May 16, BBQ Fest will kick off its feast-for-the-senses event at 11am over at the NWSF ...

Wolf River Forge Crafts Custom Blades For Culinary Use, Hunting, and More

Wisconsinite's hand-forged business creates high quality, custom knives for hunting, fishing, and home use

Tyler Hackbarth, owner and artisan of Wolf River Forge, has always been drawn to hands-on work and the characteristics that define makers and artisans. In 2018, Hackbarth's passion and skills culminated in the founding of Wolf River Forge, specializing in custom Damascus and high carbon steel blades ...

Don't Get Bored With Your Board: New Charcuterie Ideas

spice up your spread with these creative twists on a traditional charcuterie

Charcuterie remains a popular staple for dinner parties, restaurants, and gatherings — these spreads clearly show no signs of decline and aren't going anywhere. Here are a couple of new ideas to freshen up your board ...

HOT (PINK) TO GO: Downtown E.C. Meat Raffle Series Dishes Up Local Goods

whether you go for the meat or the locally-designed merch, you'll be in good hands at this fundraiser raffle series

If the phrase “meat raffle” isn’t enough to grab your attention, this local raffle series’ bright pink Tees will! While the event logo and merchandise designs for Downtown Eau Claire, Inc.’s (DECI) meat raffle event series plays on small-town nostalgia with a playful twist, the goal of the series is a bit more serious: raising money for DECI ...

Fresh Trout, Salmon, and More In Our Neck of the Woods

it's true: you can get your hands on regional and local fresh filets right in the Chippewa Valley

If you're a seafood-lover like me, you might be torn on how to eat local and regional while enjoying fish, and not having the time to harvest your own. Rest assured, the Chippewa Valley region offers several readily accessible, high-quality fish producers ...

WHEEL OF MEAT: Scorch’s PFG-TV Segment Showcases Local Meat

radio, YouTube personality has been running versions of the game since 1995

Putting a literal spin on meat raffles and other giveaways, local media personality Scorch has created a unique way for his viewers to win some meat. The “Wheel of Meat” segment has garnered popularity over several iterations of Scorch’s show, and is now part of ...

BRAT THOUGHTS: People Pleasers, Personal Faves, and Wacky Wursts

local bratwurst aficionado rates some of the best examples of this ‘robust sausage’ in the Valley

According to legend, and Wikipedia, nearly 800 years ago in Franconia, Germany, culinary perfection was developed - the bratwurst was created. Today, over 4,400 miles away thanks to immigration and problematic land policy, this robust sausage has found itself as a staple in the summertime diet of many Wisconsinites...