When you buy meat at the grocery store, does the butcher know which ranch supplied the beef? Is it free of chemicals, hormones, steroids, and antibiotics? Presumably, the meat is from numerous ranches, all over the country or possibly foreign countries, and full of chemicals and hormones.
Fortunately, Texoma has a healthier, better choice: Heritage Butchery and Barbecue in Denison. Heritage Butchery and Barbecue opened in November 2022 offering food from local ranches in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma, within 250 miles of the Texoma region. The artisan butchery lists their sources on its website so you can constantly see where their meat, poultry, vegetables, and products come from and are located. True transparency supporting Texas small businesses.
The meat is clean, meaning hormone (no steroids, no antibiotics) and pesticide free, and grass fed. Heritage offers a plethora of meat, not just beef, like pork, chicken, lamb on occasion, eggs, and even sometimes duck, seafood, and alligator sausage.
Texoma residents, Brad and Stephanie Hammett worked with Pete Gonzales to bring this concept to the area. Gonzales is “an old school butcher” who had knowledge, years of expertise, plus an expansive network of local farmers and ranchers. Besides the exceptional, wholesome meat, the Hammetts focused on regenerative ranchers and farmers who replace the soil and land, not destroy it.
According to Valerie Hiberd, Market Director for Heritage Butchery, the business is affordable to all people. Valerie states, “We have varying cuts of meat to accommodate any budget from high end like wagyu to homemade deli meats.” She continues that the emphasis is to have clean, organic food from a sustainable local farm and ranch. In fact, the butchery uses the entire animal with very little waste. They “honor the animal” by using as much as possible from bone broth, tallow, to the cuts of meat. Heritage Butchery prides itself on being a “nose-to-tail” shop, using every part of the animal.
As mentioned, the deli meats are made in house including sliced ham, canadian bacon, beef pepperoni to homemade sausages. The handcrafted sausages range from traditional to unique like Pork Fried Rice or Spaghetti and Meatball sausage. Valerie exclaims, “They sound crazy but are delicious!”
What if you don’t feel like cooking but want some of the best barbecue in the area? In addition to the butcher shop, Heritage Butchery and Barbecue is also a restaurant featuring award winning barbecue. The menu comes direct from the butchery, so you know it is fresh, organic, and delicious.
Heritage offers slow-smoked barbecue as well as the popular cooked-to-order hamburgers from the butchery’s made-from-scratch ground beef. The breakfast items include “BBQ Butchers Breakfast” consisting of a pancake, meat of choice, and hashbrown. You’ll want to order the Pitmaster Burrito, their biggest seller, or the Brisket Sandwich, another popular dish. When you see the food in the market, it will be on the menu at the restaurant.
The restaurant has quickly gained notoriety, catching the eye of Texas Monthly magazine. It named Heritage as one of “The 25 Best New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas” in 2023 noting “the restaurant does not skimp on quality” praising the fresh meat market and smoked meats, side dishes, and handcrafted desserts. This is partially due to the talents of Executive Chef Marco and BBQ Pitmaster Garrett Nickols who create unique lip-smacking burgers of the week and exceptional specials based on the items available in the butchery like Smoked Bacon Jalapeno Brats, Spicy Italian Chicken Sandwich, Sloppy Joe’s, and Elote Cream Style Corn.
While that is a great honor, Valerie declares the goal is to make the magazine’s Top 50 overall BBQ list. “We believe we can make it happen," she says. “We want people to know the quality and health benefits of the clean meats in our butchery and how delicious it tastes in our restaurant food.”
Heritage Butchery and Barbecue also caters and supports fundraisers for area schools where a portion goes back to the charity. They also continually participate in various festivals and community events.
Being a part of the community is something both Valerie and The Hammetts serve with passion. After all, they live and have lived in the Texoma area for decades. While they are not technically related, Valerie brags, “It is definitely a family here.” It is their ambition to educate the people of Texoma plus provide nourishing, clean meats to your family.
Valerie reiterates, “We want to educate people as to why you should buy your meat from a butcher, not the grocery store. We explain why our meats are different, and where they come from.” Heritage’s website concurs stating, “We are passionate about fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between local producers and consumers that will last for generations to come. Whether prepared in your home or in our kitchen, our food is from our community, for our community. Come be a part of our heritage.”
Heritage Butchery and Barbecue provides food you take pride in buying for your family. Whether it’s purchasing the meat from the butcher market or enjoying tasty barbecue at the restaurant, Heritage Butchery provides a better, healthier, and clean alternative to the store.
211 N. Hwy. 75
Denison, TX
HeritageButchery.com