Behold... Costco's "Beef Chuck Short Ribs," the greatest stew meat of all, appears to have returned to Costco.
A brief history:
Once upon a time, lo a dozen years ago, I fell upon a package of this magical cut of beef at Costco and took it home. I used it to make some family favorites like Thit Bo Kho, Cognac and Dijon beef stew, been rendang, and more.
What makes this cut so wonderful?
- Relatively inexpensive. It's no $6/lb. stew meat, but it's a midrange cut that plays like premium when slow-cooked.
- It's basically boneless short rib, and it's always well-marbled, meaning that it has some serious flavor and a really juicy, silky texture when it breaks down.
- Costco packs it in these long, 1"x1"x12" strips, which are incredibly quick and convenient to slice into 1" stewing cubes.
BUT, I popped into the Cactus Costco a couple of days ago to pick up some meds, I decided to breeze the butcher case, and lo and behold, there it was. Just one package half-buried among flats of carne asada, but it was my beloved beef chuck short ribs.
I accosted a butcher who was setting out some product and asked. He said that they had suddenly started receiving it again a couple of months ago, and that he knew more was incoming. He couldn't confirm whether or not other stores were getting it too, but I have to believe this kind of distro is done at least on the regional level.
So if anybody is doing a Costco run:
1) I would STRONGLY encourage you to pick some up and make some kind of stew out of it.
2) If you're feeling super helpful, you could post sightings here and help out the rest of us. Just sayin'
P.S. For those PHXfn'ers who recall the Bo Kho Throwdown or the beef rendang from the potluck, this was my chosen cut of beef. It is magical.