Lovin’ Meat: Where to get it

OUR REGION OFFERS some of the most flavorful steaks, barbecue and burgers anywhere. There are also abundant supplies of local beef, pork and lamb. California has more certified organic beef cows than any other state.

For do-it-yourself BBQ, try the organic pork ribs from Llano Seco Ranch in Chico, carried at BriarPatch Co-op. For beef, we like Nevada County Free Range Beef. And for lamb, a favorite is Sinclair Family Farm in Penryn.

For barbeque supplies, we’ve been visiting the expanded Tess’ Kitchen Store in downtown Grass Valley. The all-natural Lazzari wood chunks are excellent, better than any wood chips we’ve used. If you don’t want to cook, here are some choices for grilled beef dishes and barbecue:

TOFANELLI’S A mouth-watering “Q” on one of the most attractive patios around. Ribs, chicken and Tri-tip steak are cooked slowly on “The Legend” BBQ smoker. The pulled pork is slow cooked for 14 hours. Orders include baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and jalapeno corn bread. Tofanellis.com,
Grass Valley

KANE’S The steaks and chops are exceptional. There’s a char-broiled rib-eye steak, a New York strip and petit filet mignon. Specials include grilled lamb Porterhouse chops and a “Brooklyn-style” New York steak smothered in blue cheese. KanesRestaurant.com, Grass Valley

MONKEY CAT Enjoy a 16-ounce, bone-in ribeye rubbed with cracked black pepper and served with balsamic rosemary maitre d’butter, or topped with gorgonzola chive maitre d’butter and carmalized onions. The filet is topped with Cabernet Sauvignon and mushroom demi-glace. MonkeyCat.com, Auburn

SMILEY GUYS SMOKEHOUSE Features slow cooked Tri-tip, chicken or pulled pork on a sandwich, platter or salad with homemade sauces and sides. Also slow-cooked pork spare ribs and handmade sausage. Locally sourced meats. Try their hand-cut french fries and fried sweet potato chips. SmileyGuysSmokehouse.com, Grass Valley

BURGER ME One of the best burgers we’ve tasted. Burgers feature Meyer all-natural beef. There’s also a BBQ bison burger, with smoked cheddar and jalapenos. Truckee and now Reno, just off I-80. BurgerMeTruckee.com

GOLD RUSH BURGERS & BBQ Pulled pork and ribs are house specialties. The St. Louis-style ribs come with fries, coleslaw or pasta salad. An aged New York strip steak is charbroiled. Try the smoked burger. Dine on the new patio, with handsome stone pavers. GoldRushBurgers-BBQ.com, Grass Valley

NEVADA COUNTY FREE RANGE BEEF Their cattle are grass fed and grass finished. They range freely over hundreds of acres of lush green pasture. No hormones or antibiotics. Beef is available at BriarPatch Co-op or directly from the ranch from knowledgeable owner Jim Gates. Beef is sold by the eighth, quarter, half or whole animal. Grass Valley, NevadaCountyFreeRangeBeef.com