You have to have a very good and honest carniceria. But my wife can spot it. Grass fed is different color compared to the really bright pink of grain fed beef. Grass fed has less marbling than grain fed.
Grass fed beef will have less fat and less marbling, and is a deeper red (almost burgundy) color. Not always foolproof, but if it's bright red it's probably corn fed.
Yes this is what the chef at Don Julio's told me. One night I had the opportunity to ask him and he was showing me and he said exactly what Dave and Vince are saying. I wonder why Kobe beef has so much marbling.
Kobe beef's marbling is from it's unique genetics. Wagyu cattle where Kobe beef come from have a lot of marbling that is very intense. The muscles of the cow have a lot of fat. This has been like this for centuries. They have a special diet that is rich in grains that make them get fat. They don't let them them run around much.
Kobe cattle are kept in pens, fed corn, rice, sake and get daily massages.😀
Interesting. I have had Kobe beef many times but had no idea it was genetic. I also did not know they are kept in pens. No wonder they are so fatty. But it is delicious!
I went to a ton of steak places and I thought Don Julio was the best and it wasn't close. I met some friends that buy meat there and it is also expensive but quality is super high end.
I agree on quality. This is where my local friends buy beef when they do asados. I asked them if the price difference was worth it and they said it is night and day vs. others. All grass fed and their own ranches. I didn't know about genetics but they say that has a big part of quality in the beef. Had no clue.
