I have a crush on a meat shop. There, I’ve said it. Now this wouldn’t be so complicated if I wasn’t a vegetarian. Which isn’t exactly true either. I dabble in seafood, except when it comes to Lobster and then I switch over to GORGE. Like any crush, it may not be the right time to act on it. One does not have a tofu stir-fry one day, and then find oneself standing in front of the meat case at Moccias, admiring the fine marbley cuts of beef the next. Or does one?
Moccias’ is having a strange effect on me lately. The gold font lettering on the window pulling at my eyes as I drive by . The gorgeous antique meat slicer pushed into the window just so. After days of drive-bys’, I decide it’s time . I slink in one hot afternoon pretending it’s the most normal thing in the world for me to be there, trying to decide which cut of meat for my pretend Barbeque.
“Do you know what you’d like?” handsome counter man inquires
I realize then and there that “I’m just looking” is not going to fly.
My eyes dart cross a myriad of fleshy possibilities. Glistening cuts artfully arranged in the cool, glassy case. Animals lovingly refashioned into red slabs. Vittellone, pork steaks, perfect rounds of osso buco. I pick what I think to contain the least amount of blood and guts.
“400 grams of proscuitto please” Safe, dry , possibly years since it walked on its cute little Italian hooves.
Moccias’ is a family business that’s been around since 1968 on a quickly changing strip of East Hastings. Poppa Urbani , his two sons, and the lovely Cory keep this place humming with beautifully packaged, humane meat choices for the conscious consumer.
I have found their risotto balls to be the perfect lazy day, gourmet choice for me. A splash of tomato sauce, a few greens and a glass of pinot grigio have been my idea of perfection a few times now. I keep their mild cacciatori dry cured salami in our deli bin in the fridge for those who may need a little more to satisfy. Apparently, it is capital D, Delicious,like all their meats.
Who knows?, maybe someday I will find myself reaching for pepperoni stick instead of a carrot stick…
Moccias’ Italian Meat Market
2276 East Hastings St.
Vancouver, BC
WWW.MOCCIA.CA
604-255-2032
Mmm… Moccias! Sounds lovely, I shall have to brave my way over to check them out. Well done
Hi Michelle,
Love the latest blog, it was brave of you to go in there! Ha Ha…
Moo.
Lisa (your sis)
You really are suffering for your art, aren’t you?
Great post! I’m going to get over there soon and get me some prosciutto too.
So today I had me some of their all-natural, wood smoked bacon. Fried four pieces to go into some black beans, grabbed one slice out of the pan, popped in my mouth, and instantly wanted to eat the other three. ‘Twas that good. I’ll be back!