Day: 13 January 2015

American beef is very popular locally, in fact by value Hong Kong is the world’s 4th largest importer of American beef. Recently the US Meat Export Federation and the Texas Beef Council were in town to promote US beef and raise awareness among supermarkets and butchers about how to best cut, trim and prepare raw beef for their customers. As well as an effort to encourage shops to help advise and inform customers on the best way to cook different cuts and to buy their meat based on how they’re planning to cook it.

While they were in Hong Kong bc spoke to Tom McDonald (Chairman, Texas Cattle Feeders Association; VP of Environmental Affairs, JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding LLC), Ross Wilson (President & CEO, Texas Cattle Feeders Association), Austin Brown III (Vice Chairman, Texas Beef Council; Vice Chairman, Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas), Jason Bagley (Sr. Manager, Beef Resources at Texas Beef Council).

With the concerns locally about counterfeit meat, what should Hong Kong customers look for when buying American Beef to know that it’s authentic and the real thing?
Hong Kong requires country of origin labelling for meat sold at retail. We would assume most follow that. The US Meat Export Federation also supports importers and distributors for promoting US red meat and their stickers often appear on packages of US beef.

Texas is renowned for it’s BBQ, for non-Americans what is it that makes Texas BBQ so special?
It takes the right cut of beef, time and a low cooking temperature. It can be done on the smoker/grill or even in the oven. Texas BBQ uses mainly salt and pepper as a dry rub and then cooks the beef at a low temperature, about 120C.

What are good cuts of beef to use when BBQing, and what should customers look for in their meat when shopping?
Some good cuts are steaks from the ribeye or loin, or thicker roasts like the strip, sirloin cap, brisket or shoulder. It’s best to look for a little fat on the outside to protect from the heat while cooking, but more importantly to look for marbling in the steak or roast.

HK flats tend to the small size with limited ovens – are there ways to Texas BBQ at home?
Absolutely, the same cuts Texans cook on a BBQ pit can be cooked in the oven with the same spices. For a little smoke flavour you can even include some liquid smoke if it’s available. Use the same salt and pepper seasoning.

We love our outdoor BBQs, can HongKonger’s get a Texas flavour from these open pit style BBQs?
Yes, choose wood or charcoal that will enhance the flavour and season as usual. It’s best to BBQ with indirect heat so move the meat away from the coals to decrease the temp and slow the cooking process.

‘Organic’ and ‘Natural’ are increasingly popular words locally, what is the Texas beef industry doing to improve sustainability?
The beef industry has done many things to improve the sustainability over the years. One of the things cattle ranchers in Texas and across the US have done is to use the best genetics when selecting bulls and cows to use in their herd. This can ensure that cattle have higher quality meat, at the same time as decreasing the amount of water, food and resources needed to grow an animal to a given weight. In short, they breed efficient growing cattle that produce a quality product.

The drought has driven US beef prices to an all time high, and made beef from other countries attractive on a price point. What does the future hold for the price of US beef?
I think the future will continue to see US beef prices stay high. Until the cattle herd is able to rebuild and supply increases. However, we continue to see demand stay at high levels due to the high quality meat being produced compared and the great eating experience that you get each time. The “value” is still very good.

Many people think of Texas and cowboys + big cattle drives. How has the life of the cowboy changed? What impact is technology having on our romantic movie driven view of the cowboy?
The days of cattle drives are long gone. Although today’s cowboys still wear the same hats and boots, they also use lots of technology, from the smart phones used to check emails and weather from horseback, to the computer software and RFID ear tags that are used to track cattle birth, growth and sales. Another example would be the computer programming and technology that ensures cattle are getting the exact food ration needed to meet their nutritional needs. As with many businesses, technology has become a major part of being successful and creating a high quality product.

If you don’t fancy or aren’t able to cook your own beef, head down to Great in the basement of Pacifc Place and have your prime US Beef cooked for you.