You know it’s true. They know it’s true. Alberta meat is just superior. This superior product will get yet another upgrade when it arrives at The Butchery Block in Cochrane.
Butcher and owner Shane Wolbaum opened this business only a few years ago, pursuing his passion through partnerships with like-minded craftspeople and local ranches.
“It’s superior because of the local ranchers. They’re taking care of these animals properly- they’re not just another number. Plus, everything is local.”
Here, the term “local” is never used loosely. When it comes to sourcing products, The Butchery Block has a strict One Tank/Trip policy- if they can’t get there and back in less than a tank of fuel… it’s not local. This not only supports local farms but also keeps prices competitive. Add that to in-house butcher services and custom products, and there’s really only one place to shop.
“We all want to make a product that’s our own. This way, we can regulate what goes in it. There are certain things we need to do to meet regulations, but we’re not putting in a whole bunch of stuff that doesn’t need to be in there.”
“This is one of the only ranches in Canada that both raises their beef and harvests it.” Wolbaum says. “They’ve been around since 1912, and their products are prizewinning.
"They also take care of a bunch of steakhouses in Calgary, Banff, Canmore, and the Rocky View area- some of these restaurants have won Best Steakhouse of the Year. I’ve very happy to work with them.”
The Butchery Block receives shipments of fresh AAA prime grade beef from a local ranche twice weekly, and fresh pork and chicken every Wednesday, ensuring that their coolers and displays are always full. They’re also proud of their take and bake options- an ideal choice for any Cochranite looking for a satisfying homestyle meal. These meals are prepared in-house from scratch, and options vary from day to day.
“We’ll make a meat sauce or shepherd’s pie,” Wolbaum lists. “Usually, it’s from beef trims. It’s all good meat still- we just have a little bit more than we needed. We try to be a non-wasteful business- we started our take and bake program to use up these bits instead of putting them in the freezer and, to be honest, forgetting about them.”
Wolbaum and his team pride themselves on superior customer service, even going so far as to call suppliers to double check information.
“I had one customer asking about feed and GMO products and stuff like that,” Wolbaum recalls. “You know, it took us a week to get it, but we finally got the answer they needed. We made a customer happy just by answering a few questions. We like questions- it keeps us on our toes!”
The holiday season is fast approaching. Anyone looking to order a bone-in ham or turkey is encouraged to call The Butchery Block as soon as possible. Wolbaum reminds the community that while fresh pork is often readily available, turkeys are only harvested twice a year for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“We’ll start taking Christmas orders in early November- very soon!” Wolbaum assures. “Last year, we sold out of turkeys, hams, AND prime rib. We do always order in a few extra, but definitely don’t wait too long before ordering yours.”
Whether preparing for the holiday season or simply looking for ideas for a family meal, The Butchery Block looks forward to lending a hand. Learn more about what they can do for you on their website.