Dickson's Farmstand Meats

75 9th Ave. (Chelsea Market), New York, NY 10011

Mon-Fri, 10am–8pm; Sat-Sun, 10am–7pm

Yeah, we know: Sustainable, organic, farm-raised, hormone-free meats are the only animal products you should eat. If you're of that mindset, then Dickson's is the place to shop, as owner Jake Dickson goes one step further: he investigate what the animals eat, ensures that the supply chain from slaughterhouse to point-of-sale is less than 400 miles long, and he visits each farm to be sure that the animals have good lives so they make good meals.

In other words, the butchers here probably know the name of the pig that was sacrificed to become your pork chop dinner.

Bonus: The roast chickens are among the best pre-made meal you can get in New York. The delish Red Cockerel birds come in each day from Amish farms in Lancaster, PA, and are roasted and ready by 5PM. Since they only cook up 20 a day, best to call ahead to reserve.

Second Bonus: If you're really meat mad, try a class on meat and butchering.

-Joe Dolce