Veal bones/breast, neck, etc.?

Hello all, First post, wanted to say hello and to make a veal query. Longtime Chicagoan, former chef, just coming back into the kitchen after close to a decade away. My family and I now live in Madison, though there's a ton we miss about Chicago (esp. the food!). So, hello!

I also posted on eG about this. I know this has been covered here as well, but was hoping for some perhaps more current information. Make a lot of stock, and looking for a source for veal bones/breast, etc. I can get veal bones from one local store, but they're just the osso trim and a couple other trims, and they come in at $3.99 per pound. With some notice, I can get breast at $3.79 a pound. I am years out, and hadn't known of this general price increase on veal. Used to go to Andy's for bones of all types (and a crazy amount of other goodies, even make the trek from here on occasion), but as I understand it, the no longer do this. Paulina Meat Market sells bones as well, but close to $4.00 per pound as well.

Anyone have any thoughts on sourcing? Thanks very much, and would like to say, nice to be here.

-Paul

Bones especially beef and veal have risen dramatically over the last few decades as individual cooks increased thier cooking skills and local establishments seek to return more money on thier product.
I suspect that the big packing houses sell bones to processors who make meal out of them and sell to feed manufacturers.
Local meat markets now price bones in the $3-$5 range making them much less attractive.
I usually purchase primal cuts and reserve the bones when breaking down the primal cut.
I know of no source for 'cheap' bones at this time.-Richard

Thanks Richard. I've been out for close to 10 years now and don't recall them being this expensive let's say, 2004-2007 or so, but I very well may have simply forgotten. Wish I had the storage space (and consumption rate) to break whole animals down, but looks like so far anyway, I'm stuck with breasts and bones at this cost.

Thanks again for the information. Happy spring.

Paul

I was able to find beef marrow and neck bones (with a lot of meat on them)at Gepperth's for a reasonable price this last winter. I think I paid under $2 a lb. Can't remember exactly. This was after much searching, even after checking my favorite butcher (other than Gepperth's) Joseph's who was charging $4 per. Don't know about veal though I'm sure they have it or can get it. If I could afford it though I wouldn't hesitate to order ready to go demi-glace from Bonewerks in Wis. Price shot up dramatically from a couple years ago it seems.

Gepperths! Yep, thanks BigDCD, Gepperth's was one of my 3 regular sources, and you've reminded me, many thanks! (Other two were Paulina, and Bornhofen's). I seem to recall Gepperth's having a few stocks he'd made in his cooler?

Anyway, thanks - brings back some nice memories of Chicago, its little communities and neighborhoods, what I loved about it more than any other city I've lived in.

Thanks on the beef bones, don't use them very often and can get them here pretty decently, but always nice to have another source.

Thanks, too, on Bonewerks - had heard of them and have heard many people are very pleased with their products. I'm really persnickety about making my own stocks, really do so they as the fond , the very base of all that follows, so have always had to make everything on my own, I'm afraid. But nice to know they're there if I need it.

I'll give Gepperth's a shout when they open today. Thanks again, for more reason than one!

Here in St. Louis, the most economical source for all cuts of veal is a Bosnian butcher. You might try the Chicago equivalent - in Lincoln Square perhaps?

Great idea, Josephine. When we lived in the area we used to love Lincoln Square (we were fairly close), and it would be great just to head back for a visit. Ravenswood Books, Old Towne, and the host of restaurants up that way are all sorely missed. Many thanks.

ps: Just a short note - don't know if you know the Bosnian writer Alexsander Hemon, but admire him quite a bit, his story and his work. One day many years ago now, I'd literally been on kind of a Hemon bender and had stuffed that particular morning reading some newer reviews of his work, needed a walk and decided to head up to the Square. Passing by the Book Cellar, lo and behold, there he was giving a talk and signing his latest. Was not aware until then he lived in Lincoln Square. Quite a guy.