A few weeks ago, G and I attended the book release party for Beyond Bacon, the excellent cookbook by our friends Matt and Stacy of Paleo Parents. We were visiting G’s parents in Ocean City, Maryland, and after leaving the boys with their grandparents we drove across the Chesapeake Bay to Virginia. Our destination was the Red Apron Butchery for the book celebration.
Red Apron is one of the most unique butcher shops I’ve seen, stocked with a wide selection of pastured meats and gourmet items. The atmosphere perfectly suited the release party — lots of pastured pork offerings and other tasty treats.
G and I enjoyed the meat-focused décor and sampling the refreshments. We tried the “Original Sin” hard cider and sampled pastries and desserts inspired by Beyond Bacon, many prepared with pastured lard. (A little indulgence is worth it.) We also noticed some playful album cover recreations that added a touch of humor to the event.
After waiting in a long line to congratulate Matt and Stacy, I finally had a chance to chat with them. Stacy was radiant, and Matt looked fit and proud of the book. They had every reason to be — the cookbook is a thoughtful collection of recipes and beautiful photography.
Once we had our copies signed, we dug into the food. Appetizers included tallow fries and head cheese paired with heirloom carrots — the name might sound odd, but it was a flavorful, meaty bite. Desserts from Beyond Bacon were plentiful and rich, showcasing the kind of traditional fats the cookbook celebrates.
We also caught up with fellow Paleo bloggers, including George from Civilized Caveman Cooking Creations, Russ from The Domestic Man, and Sarah from The Paleo Mom. Later, at the after-party at Matt and Stacy’s house, we spent time with Heather and Brent of Virginia is for Hunter Gatherers and Aimee Buxton of Aimee Buxton Photography. We were sorry to miss Hayley and Bill from The Food Lovers Kitchen — we thought they would stop by the house but the timing didn’t work out. Hopefully we’ll meet them another time.
The drive from Maryland was worthwhile. On our way home we stopped for some antiquing — which G actually enjoyed more than he expected — and found some retro glassware and mid-1800s blue plates that will be lovely props for food photography. The scenery along the drive was beautiful and it was a pleasant day spent together.
If you’d like to read my full review of Beyond Bacon, you can find it on my site. I enjoyed the recipes and the way the book showcases traditional cooking techniques and high-quality ingredients.
Thanks for stopping by!
Note: This was my first time driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and I was unexpectedly anxious. The bridge allows views down to the water that made me uncomfortable. A few days later, a news story about a serious accident on the bridge made me even more uneasy, though I was relieved to learn the driver survived.
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