Ethical Meats and Eats at Darke Pines and Downtowner
JC Foodies have been obsessed with downtown butcher shop Darke Pines since they opened in 2018. Besides being lovely people, owners Erica and Will Messmer quickly carved out a name for themselves as socially and ethically conscious business owners. They source, cut, and serve 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, free-range poultry and pastured pork that come from local farms and are free of antibiotics and hormones. The Messmers aim to use the entire animal to honor both them and customers concerned with sustainability issues like climate change and how meat production plays into that.
In 2019, Darke Pines added 4 to-go sandwiches to the menu. Those offerings got put on hold during the early days of quarantine, but no more. This July, they opened Downtowner on Erie St. While open weekends only for now, the sandwich menu is extensive and sublime, complemented by salads, sides and homemade goodies.
Most of the heartily stuffed sandwiches are served on sourdough from Balthazar Bakery. These include the Roast Beef, served with shallot confit, horseradish cream and basil and the Smoked Ham, with pimento cheese and dill pickle. Vegetarians and vegans order up the Sweet Potato sandwich, with shallots, sprouts, and mustard seeds. Salads and spreads include the Kale Salad – served with toasted pepita, golden raisins, shallots, and tahini dressing. Sweets include the yummy House Granola and Rice Crispy Treat, made with sprouted brown rice, browned butter, marshmallow, and sea salt.
Note: The Messmers and their team are taking a well-earned break during the first week of August to relax, reboot and get ready to serve you once again. Check them out on @https://www.instagram.com/p/CDMLf0aDuC1/ to find their reopening hours.
Darke Pines – 332 2nd St.
Downtowner – 9 Erie St.