Yet another reason to shun commercially processed meats

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The recall announced in the news release from the Department of Agriculture below may be a low health risk, but it shows how easily someone with impure intentions can introduce products of questionable quality into the U.S. food chain. In this case, a company that makes bulk supplies of frozen pre-formed hamburger patties was found to have repackaged meat that had been returned. The problem was discovered after institutions that had received some of the bad meat complained about off-odors and discoloration. More details below or at www.fsis.usda.gov.

Personally, I'm going to stick to buying meat directly from farmers or from a local butcher I can trust. In the San Francisco area, my favorite is Woodland's Market in Kentfield, whose owner has been in the meat business most of his life. John can tell you everything you might want to know about any of the meats in his store. In San Francisco, Dave the Butcher at the Marina Market, Avedano's, and Prather Ranch are good picks. Also, Marin Sun Farms meats are sold at farmers markets in SF and Marin. In New York, I have been buying meat from an Amish farmer who sells at the Thursday Greenmarket in Morningside Heights (115th and Broadway) and from Fresh Direct. I would welcome other suggestions.

Also worth noting that even if the burgers from One Great Burger were fresh, I would not want to eat them. These quarter-pound patties have 27% fat. Although some of the flavor of a burger comes from the fat, ground meat with 15% fat or less tastes just fine - and is considerably healthier.

New Jersey Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Possible Adulteration

Recall Release CLASS II RECALL FSIS-RC-003-2011 HEALTH RISK: LOW Congressional and Public Affairs (202) 720-9113 Adrian Gianforti WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2011 - One Great Burger, an Elizabeth, N.J., establishment, is recalling approximately 226,400 pounds of ground beef products that may have become spoiled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.  The problem was discovered by FSIS during an investigation into customer complaints of discoloration and off-odors in the products. The review uncovered evidence to show that the establishment repackaged and recoded returned products and sent them out for further distribution to institutional customers. Therefore, FSIS must consider the products to be adulterated and has acted to remove the products from commerce. FSIS is continuing to investigate the product subject to recall in commerce. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.  The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels(PDF Only)]  20 lbs. boxes of "ONEGREAT HAMBURGERS" with "ITEM #02044" labeled on the front as well as "KEEP FROZEN." Each box bears establishment number "EST. 34575" within the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced between Jan. 2010 and May 2010 and contain "PACKED ON" dates ranging from July 2010 to Nov. 2010. The products were distributed to institutions in California and Oregon.  FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.  Media with questions about the recall should contact the company's public relations representative, Frank Tobin, at (323) 661-3720. Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company's Director of Technical Services, John Haug, at (973) 477-9039.  Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day atAskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. # www.fsis.usda.gov Food Safety Questions? Ask Karen!  FSIS' automated response system can provide food safety information 24/7 Follow FSIS on Twitter attwitter.com/usdafoodsafety

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Recently Opened "Co". Brings a New Style Pizza to New York

My culinary exploration of New York city took me this week to Chelsea, a neighborhood nestled between Greenwich Village and the Meat-Packing District to the south and Hell's Kitchen to the north. Historically home to artists both rising and falling, Chelsea is an eclectic area now experiencing some of the general upsurge that seems to be occurring citywide. In fact, today's New York Times says that a couple of new buildings going up in the area are going to house condos that will sell for well over $1 million each. Ouch.

Our destination was a medium-sized casual restaurant at the corner of 24th Street and Ninth Avenue, called Company, or "Co." to those more familiar. Known for pizzas, the pies here are not New York, Chicago or any other familiar style. The crusts have a slight sourdough flavor and a great balance of crispness on the bottom and a just-right sponginess once you bite into it.

The choices range from the leafy Popeye (spinach, gruyere, Pecorino, and mozzarella) to the Meatball (tomato, veal meatballs, caramelized onions, olives, Pecorino.) The simple Rosa has bright tomato sauce coating the crust, dotted with slices of fresh garlic and spiced with a little red chili and fresh oregano. The Leek & Sausage is more complex, with chili flakes, sausage pieces, leek and cheese cushioned with a layer of bechamel sauce that created a surprisingly light background flavor.

Each pizza has four generous slices - two slices a person seems like a decent portion. (My friends and I went ahead with a more encompassing sampling, each of us tasting six different pies - and none was leftover. We were doing research, after all.)

Of the pizzas we tried, my favorite was the vegetarian Popeye, though the Leek & Sausage was interesting, flavorful, and maybe a little quirky - in a good way.

Co. has six craft beers on tap and a modest but well rounded wine list. Interestingly, the wine list includes only wines with screw-tops - no corks. The cheerful server, Brenna, had great descriptions of each of the beers and was able to guide us skillfully through both the beverage and comestibles parts of our meal.

Dinner for two with a round of wine or beer runs between around $30-$50, depending on your selections.

Co. is located at 230 9th Ave; New York, NY 10001; www.co-pane.com or (212) 243-1105.

This item is cross-posted from Doug's other blog, http://wineandfoodworld.com. 

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