Saturday, January 19, 2008

Meat Market - Third World Style

Occasionally when we go to town on Friday to shop for our groceries, we run into the "outdoor" butcher.

The first time I came upon a scene such as the one pictured, I was totally shocked! Surely they could not be butchering this cow for resale to humans! I was quite certain that the table upon which the hacking was taking place had not been thoroughly cleaned and/or inspected by any organization protecting the public from unsafe meat handling practices! Plus, this was all done in the out-of-doors, flies included.

But, this is something that goes on all over Honduras, not just on Guanaja. On the island, however, the machete is the knife of choice for butchering. I don't know what is used on the mainland, but there is no finesse in the cutting up of meat here. Because of the use of the machete, any choice cuts one would come to expect from a side of beef, are non-existant. Beef here, as on the mainland, is not aged nor butchered in refrigerated conditions. The cows are not grain-fed and graze on whatever is handy on the island. This tends to produce a tough, stringy, strong tasting meat which can only be cooked to tenderness by using a pressure cooker.
I never buy beef from these "outdoor" markets. The little beef I do buy is generally hamburger from a local market, wrapped in cellophane on a styrofoam tray. The hamburger here has very little fat, if any, and one must add oil to the mix tossing in a few bread crumbs to help keep the patty together.

Usually the meat butchered in the outdoor markets is bought up quickly by the locals who occasionally they bring their own plastic bags or just carry their purchase home in their hands, which lends a whole new meaning to the cash and carry process.
Many of the fishing boats are owned by islanders who also have land where they "raise" cattle. Before the boats go out for the season, one becomes accustomed to the sound of shooting as the slaughter of the cows begins to provide the fishermen with food while out at sea.
I have been to markets on the mainland where the stench is overpowering. Here, with the open air butchering, there is much less smell but it hardly encourages one to remain a carnivore!

1 comment:

  1. Hi Sharon,

    I have been reading your blog with fascination. My husband and I have been thinking of coming down to Guanaja. Possibly to retire there. You make it seem to come alive!

    There are so many questions that I would like to ask you. Perhaps you could email me back and I could pick your brain!

    I also blog. If you would like to check me out: http://www.winefoodpairing.blogspot.com

    My email address is: dclarke112@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete