When we think of Wagyu, we often think of it as the most expensive beef in the world, requiring a small fortune to enjoy. But there is a local company that is distributing Wagyu at an attainable price, and whose Wagyu products are considered one of the best value in the market.
Did you know that most of the Wagyu served in restaurants in the Philippines are Snake River Farms American Wagyu? Wagyu from American beef brand Snake River Farms has been available in the Philippines for few years now, distributed by Alternatives Food Corporation (AFC).
A few weeks ago, I went to Boracay to attend Snake River Farms’ American Wagyu dinner, where we were able to try their Gold Grade Beef!
Our host, Mr. Kawshik Sehwani from Alternatives Food Corporation, was so down-to-earth and had such a great sense of humor. He was telling us all about the history of American Wagyu, and he told us that the locations of the American Wagyu ranches are still a secret! Apparently, cattle rustling is still a thing. And I thought it only happened back in the days of the wild, wild west. 😀
SNAKE RIVER FARMS AMERICAN WAGYU
So, the story goes that the Japanese wanted to expand their herd. Land in Japan was becoming scarce. They found places in the US that closely resembled the climate that the cattle needed in Japan, and planned to have the animals raised there, and then imported back to Japan. At the time, hardly anyone outside of Japan had heard of Wagyu. Eventually, Japan banned the export of Japanese cattle, but breeders in the US had already started crossing Wagyu and American cattle.
Snake River Farms’ Wagyu Beef comes from purebred Japanese Wagyu bulls crossed with traditional, high-quality beef animals (Angus). While the Japanese prefer buttery beef that melts in the mouth, American consumers preferred their steak with some bite. This mix of breeds produced the “best of both worlds” – beef that has the famous Wagyu buttery marbling, and robust, beefy flavor.
All Snake River Farms cattle are raised without the use of growth promoting hormones. Their marbling is so rich that it goes beyond the USDA’s grading scale. Instead, they have developed their own grading system that is a combination of Japanese and US grading systems:
OUR A5 GOLD GRADE WAGYU DINNER
Dinner was at Forno Osteria in Discovery Shores Boracay, helmed by Chef Anthony Raymond.
This was the menu for the night:
When we think of Wagyu, the first thing that comes to mind is steak. But there are other Wagyu beef cuts that can be used to produce delicious non-steak beef dishes as well.
The Chuck Eye WAGYU Black Beef Arancini and the WAGYU Gold Beef Brisket Ravioli are good examples.
Snake River Farms Chuck Eye WAGYU Black Beef Arancini with Wild Mushroom Emulsion, Petite Greens, Basil Oil
Snake River Farms Gold Beef Brisket Ravioli with Pumpkin Puree, Parmigiano Reggiano, Caper Raisin Brown Butter
The ground chuck and the brisket both give a richer, beefier flavor to the dish than regular beef. I liked the Arancini, because really, what’s not to like about fried rice balls with a hearty ground beef center? 🙂 But I loved the Beef Brisket Ravioli! The ravioli skin was thin but resilient and not doughy, and all the other flavors, especially the Caper Raisin Brown Butter, which was salty, sour and sweet, just paired so well with the delectable beef brisket filling!
As for steak, the Roasted Wagyu Gold Beef Striploin and the Roasted Wagyu Gold Beef Ribeye were both tender but substantial. It is not the melt-in-your-mouth buttery tenderness that we usually associate with Japanese Wagyu, however. Some people like their steaks to have a meatier bite, while still being quite tender, so this Wagyu-Angus blend is well-suited to that preference. I enjoyed them medium rare and they were spectacular – the least done to these steak cuts, the better, in my opinion!
Snake River Farms Roasted WAGYU Gold Beef Striploin served with Smashed Potatoes and Truffle Hollandaise
Snake River Farms Roasted WAGYU Gold Beef Ribeye served with Garlic Haricot Vert, Baby Carrots, Green Peppercorn Brandy
For dessert, we had this beautifully presented and creamy Tiramisu!
Here’s a video compilation of my Boracay trip, including this dinner!
SNAKE RIVER FARMS AMERICAN WAGYU NOW AVAILABLE FOR HOME COOKS!
SRF Wagyu used to be only available for commercial establishments, but they are now available in selected retail stores like S&R. You may also order directly from Alternatives Food Corporation at telephone number 631-7228 and email at [email protected].
Wagyu Ribeye Black and Wagyu Ribeye Gold are available at S&R Warehouses nationwide.
The following cuts are available directly from Alternatives Food Corporation:
This is their latest promo:
So, generally, Snake River Farms’ Wagyu costs 40% less than other Wagyu. For example, a Japanese Wagyu Ribeye usually costs P7,000/kg, while Snake River Farms’ Wagyu Ribeye will only cost around P4,000-P5,000/kg (depending on the grade).
You can now enjoy Wagyu in the comfort of your own home, and elevate your favorite beef dishes to a whole new level of richness! How impressed will your dinner guests be with your Wagyu Beef Stew, Wagyu Caldereta, or Wagyu Woosamgyup? Not to mention a Wagyu steak? The best part is, you can enjoy all this without it costing an arm and a leg!
Alternatives Food Corporation
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afcphils2017/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afcphils
Email: [email protected]
Contact Number: 631-7228
One response to “Snake River Farms Wagyu – Reasonably-Priced Wagyu You Can Cook at Home!”
[…] SRF Wagyu only has P100 OFF, but it’s still P100 savings if you are planning to buy steak anyway […]