"Texas is a proverbially, or legendarily, a meat loving state."
So says food writer Josh Ozersky to explain why he's bringing Meatopia to Texas. The two-day event, which takes place Nov. 2 and 3, will bring 32 chefs from across the state and nation to the Pearl Brewery in San Antonio for a festival that celebrates meat in all its forms.
There will be 11 different animals available. One example: a San Antonio chef is preparing hoggid, which is a lamb that's between one and two years old. Ozersky calls it a "pungent, incredible, beautiful animal."
The Beefsteak, an all-you-can-eat ode to Gilded Age excess, kicks things off on Nov. 2. Chefs Tim Byres from Smoke in Dallas, Tim Rattray from The Granary in San Antonio and Mike Toscano from Perla in New York will "collaborate to grill some of the rarest, most celebrated ultra-prime beef in the world." Tickets are $100.
Then on Nov. 3, there's Meatopia, where each chef prepares a different meat dish for attendees to sample. The all-star chef roster includes Underbelly's Chris Shepherd, Austin sensation Paul Qui, former Top Chef contestant John Tesar, Ned Elliott of Austin's Foreign & Domestic and much more. Ozersky describes them as "talented chefs who get meat (and) younger guys at the top of their game." Tickets are $75 for general admission or $125 for VIP, which provides early entrance and access to a special tent with drinks and food.
"I curate the whole menu, so there's no redundancy," Ozersky explains. He says that there will be 11 different animals available. One example: a San Antonio chef is preparing hoggid, which is a lamb that's between one and two years old. Ozersky calls it a "pungent, incredible, beautiful animal" and says that the way Americans eat lamb but not mutton is equivalent to eating veal but not beef.
Ozersky says that another San Antonio chef, Andrew Weissman, is preparing a dish that is "so crazy it might end up in the Meatopia Hall of Fame."
Another way Meatopia stands out is its low chef to attendee ratio. Only 3,000 tickets will be sold. As Ozersky explains, "one of the things that sucks about food events is standing in line . . . It would be easier to have less chefs, but (having so many) gives Meatopia a special character."
The only downside is that it takes place the same day as the Texas Monthly BBQ Festival in Austin. "Texas is big enough for both of us," Ozersky notes. While the BBQ Festival focuses on a specific cuisine, Meatopia is "a tribute to meat cookery" in all its forms.
As for people who are intrigued by both events, Ozersky predicts that "there's probably some hero that will go to both. I will shake that person's hand and buy him or her a beer. That would be the most hard-core, Texan carnivore move imaginable."
"It could well end up as the greatest Meatopia of all time, until next year." If this year's event goes well, San Antonio will be a regular stop on Meatopia's circuit. Get a ticket today.
Austin chef and Top Chef winner Paul Qui will cook at Meatopia.
