PLEASE HELP re-instate my sanity with beef cuts

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smokinhusker

Legendary Pitmaster
Original poster
Seriously I considered posting this under "Jokes".

Here's why: I went to Safeway at 5:30 PM, asked the meat cutter if they carried Tri Tip and he handed me a package of boneless NY Strip Steaks.

Now I'm pretty sure, and I have faith that someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the Tri Tip comes from the Bottom Sirloin Primal  and a NY Strip is cut from the Short Loin.

I very politely (gritting my teeth) asked him if I looked stupid or illiterate. After stammering a minute or two, he told me if I would be back in there tomorrow, because he's shut down for the day, but he'd be happy to cut me some better ones...all for the very low price of $7.99 per pound.

It was all I could do not to lose it, right there in front of the Good Lord and everyone. Keep in mind, some silly woman had already cut me off in the parking lot, not once but twice, so things weren't looking real good for me to be in a satisfactory mood to begin with. 
 
Ouch! Unfortunately, you will run into this sort of thing in certain areas where a particular cut is not a normal part of a meat cutter's routine...not widely known or not a demand for it, so they don't make a habit of knowing it. The cutter may not have intentionally insulted your intelligence, but more likely was unsure of exactly what you meant..maybe thought it was a new name for a new york strip or possibly he did not hear you correctly? Tri-tip or strip? Just guessing here...

Don't lose the faith, there is hope. Tri-tip is available in a few places around here, but not everywhere. And, it is like brisket or a 7-bone whole beef rib eye...only two on an animal, so they're in a bit of a short supply compared to steaks. Check around earlier in the day if you can, maybe a couple hours after the meat cutters start stocking the coolers in the morning...you should have much better chances to find what you want, and get them to special cut what you want if you don't find it.

Eric
 
That's why I HATE to leave home!!!
What a MEATHEAD!
~Martin
To my way of thinking, given his answer he was NOT much of a MEATHEAD 
biggrin.gif
 

Just my sick point of view on life  
 
Oh no he heard me right, because I asked if I was looking up a dead cow's backside in asking for one. His reply was "Oh no, we carry Tri Tip now" and proceeded to look through the meat in the case, then grabbed the strips. I did tell him that I want it for smoking. So I'll go back up there tomorrow morning, bright and early, and bug him to death. Might even take a picture of one with me! But $7.99 lb...that's the price of a good ribeye!

Anyway, I guess it shouldn't have surprised me. I bought a package of center cut pork chops and they were anywhere from 1/4 inch thick (hidden under the pretty ones) to 1 inch thick.  
 
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Uh-oh...must be a newbie with a knife and band saw, I'm guessing. Did you catch the post from Pops called Beef 101? Maybe go back there and print the page describing the Tri-Tip to take with you, if he has any sense about what he's supposed to know, he'll figure it out.

Here's a direct link to the sirloin page: http://www.meatshop101.com/sirloin-cuts

Eric
 
Do you have a butcher in your area? There are only 2 per animal and Safeway might not be able to get them 
 
No butcher here in town worth a salt that I've found, but there's small market 10 miles away that has a very knowledgeable butcher - I've talked to him and he can order me just about anything I want. I'll check with him. 
 
Times change. Tri-tips are a California invention and not that old. Remember, most meatcutters learn in an apprenticeship situation.The old timers can't pass on something of which they are unaware. Take "country ribs" that is a latter day invention, too. One day, you are long on a certain primal and invent a way to move it. My advice would be to arm yourself with a "pocket guide to beef myology" and show him where it comes from. Trying to allay and delay any apoplexy on your behalf. ps. There are quite a few carcass breakdowns on this site.
 
Wow, Safeway has two butchers per animal, and neither one can figure out where the tri tips are??  
th_crybaby2.gif
 I feel your pain with the Safeway thing. I love small town mountain living, and the closest Safeway, and the closest traffic signal are both 40 miles away. (Sams and Costco 130 miles) I hate getting there and running into a stocker that calls themselves a butcher. Luckily, the restaurant suppliers/owners let me order from them and I can get most of the primal and specialty cuts, usually for less $$ and for a better quality meat, DELIVERED close to my place. Oddly, who would of thought that a company that supplies so many different cuts of meat has no idea what a pork belly is or what it's used for. 
 
I've got a chart already printed out to take with me, This Safeway here is an absolute joke when it comes to meat. I buy most of my pork etc from the small market about 10 miles to the west. They don't have a huge selection, but the meat is great and the butcher is most helpful there. I checked Safeway on a whim cause it's close and I was there. I have seen them at Walmart but I'm not overly fond of their meat. When I go to Colorado Springs, I'll check a Whole Foods, Ranch Foods Direct, Costco and Sam's. 

I just knew a Tri Tip was not a NY Strip. Thanks all and I will find one sooner or later.
 
You mean Tri Tips don't come from the Tribeca district of NYC?
wink.gif
 
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Sirloin Tip Ball Tip                                                Sirloin Tip Flap                       Sirloin Tip Tri Tip

71d67bdc_SirloinTipBalltip.jpg
46d7bed9_SirloinTipFlap.jpg
da9f56be_SirloinTipTriTip.jpg
 
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