I've recently been interested in new trending vegan options, and I happened to stumble across the Herbivorous Butcher online. Based out out Minneapolis, Minnesota, it's a brother-sister duo who began at the Minneapolis Farmers Market in 2014. Not only have they hosted pop-ups and have an online store, but they now have a brick-and-mortar vegan butcher shop open six days a week. The best part is that all of their offerings are made fresh. Despite neither being a vegetarian nor a vegan, I decided to give it a go. Why not? I planned a vegan dinner party around this little package and it was a complete hit.
The Process
When you order, your items will ship between nine and 15 days from your purchase. Orders placed Monday through Sunday are produced over the following week, then ship the next Monday. Once your order is placed, you will receive follow-up emails letting you know that your order is in production. You'll also be given tracking information once it's available. Last but not least, it's imperative that someone is available to receive and refrigerate your package to ensure complete freshness.
Cheddar Cheese a la Carte (5oz)
Both cheeses came in a block and looked like any other normal cheese. The cheddar had a soft texture and was not as smooth as the smoked gouda. It surprised me how creamy a non-dairy cheese can be, and completely threw me for a loop. I've tried vegan cheese in the past, and it tasted like styrofoam. If you have any sort of dairy sensitivity, I would recommend this as a substitute.
Smoked Gouda a la Carte (5oz)
The smoked gouda was my favorite of the two cheeses. It was sweet, smooth, and creamy, all at the same time, and was firmer than the cheddar. The smoke enhanced its flavor, and like the cheddar, it was very smooth and creamy – I could eat it every single day!
Sriracha Brats a la Carte (13oz)
These were my least favorite out of the three meats. The brats came in a pack of four sausage links. I cut them into bite-size pieces, added olive oil, and warmed them up on the stove. As far as taste goes, you can tell there are beans in it and the textures was similar to cooked tofu. The seasoning was good with a little kick, but as I previously mentioned, it wasn't my favorite and I probably wouldn't order this a second time.
Shredded Chicken a la Carte (7.5oz)
This chicken was pretty tasty! It was seasoned well, but the texture was more coarse due to the jackfruit. I can't believe how delicious this was for being without any animal by-products. This was definitely a close runner-up for being my favorite "meat" of the night.
Korean BBQ Ribs a la Carte (12oz)
Now this Korean BBQ was so good that I was genuinely shook. The texture was comparable to a well-done beef. Some people at the party described it as similar to the consistency of a firmer mushroom. This was my favorite meat substitute of the night, well-seasoned to perfection with serious meat flavor, and it was the party favorite of the night.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I'm happy my curiosity got the best of me and I tried something completely new. The Herbivorous Butcher did a fantastic job with seasoning, texture, and creativity. I enjoyed not feeling bloated or gross from any dairy or meat products since I'm all too familiar with those feelings. When taking into consideration sustainability, the Herbivorous Butcher puts the biggest emphasis behind being cruelty-free. They even started Herbivorous Acres, their very own non-profit farmed animal sanctuary. If you're feeling adventurous or simply looking for healthy alternatives, give the Herbivorous Butcher a try.