Let me tell you about me and Jerky. I started making my own about 25 years ago and I have to tell…read moreyou, it's pretty damn amazing. Problem is, I use a dehydrator. So despite the flavor being a 10, the texture and smoke flavor suffer.
In addition to making a jerky that friends and family love, I have purchased jerky from about every possible website, and local butcher, so when I tell you I know quality jerky, I am certified. I passed this place last summer on my way to a concert at Remlinger Farms. I said I would double back and today was that day.
Small shop, but enough space to have a reasonable selection of meats. I was extremely impressed with their exotic meats. Can't say I'd be a customer for ground rabbit, but I do know people that love to make pet food or snacks from exotic offerings. Being a fan of heat, I checked for hot links and spicy smoked offerings, but the selection there was limited.
I think I saw about 6 people behind the counter. And besides myself there was one customer who was being helped. For some reason I was ignored for a few minutes, but once I made eye contact with someone it because clear, ignoring me was no longer an option.
Once served, I have to say the service improved. The main person I spoke with might have been an owner, if not, he had to be a manger. He provided me with sample of the jerky's and pepperoni. I tried the Colorado and Spicy Jerky. The spicy jerky had a tiny kick, not nearly as much as advertised, but I didn't dig the flavor. The Colorado, which was just a standard smoked jerky was the winner. It was salty and savory and reminded of the jerky that Hickory Farms used to sell in store. Not the bagged retail stuff, they used to have a large jar with smoked jerky for sale. It reminded me of another favorite. There is a place in Shelton called Home Meat Service, that has a jerky that is well worth the drive.
The pepperoni, was a little dry, lacked snap and salt, but still had promise. I got Jerky, pepperoni and Hot Italian Sausage. I cooked the sausage for breakfast, it was ok, but nothing special.
This could have been a 5-star experience, but the slow recognition really bothered me. I don't believe that would have been the case had I looked more like the common customer. I read the reviews before coning here and several spoke about the warm welcome they got, so again it's clear to me, when comfortable, they treat customers like family.