If you’ve ever tasted aged pasture-fed beef hot off the grill, you know how hard it is to go back to eating any other kind of beef. The marbled flavour is incomparable, and the versatility of various cuts simply cannot be matched. Serve it to your guests and your dinner parties will be legendary.
That’s the level of passion at work at McMaster’s Muskoka Fine Foods, a fine foods paradise in Bracebridge. Helmed by owner Melanie Carter, a Red Seal chef who trained with a Master Butcher, the shop’s commitment to sustainable, high-quality meats, poultry, seafood and produce is notable from the moment you walk in.
“Our team is made up of professional chefs and cooks,” says Melanie, who purchased the business in 2019 and has enjoyed solid success and well-paced expansion ever since. She selects her products with the care she gives her own family’s menu. “If I wouldn’t eat it myself, I’m not going to offer it to my customers.”
If you’re feeling anxious about trying something new on the grill, this is the place to stop and get expert advice on cooking techniques, custom cuts, and flavourful accompaniments. It’s like the old school butcher shop meets artisanal food boutique, and there’s something for everyone.
If it’s been a busy week or you have company dropping by, there’s no need to spend time at the stove or grill. “Prepared foods are another of our house specialties,” Melanie notes. “One difference is that ours are made using the same free-range poultry or meat, fresh veggies, and from-scratch sauces.” The team prepares pot pies, lasagna, marinated meats, fresh salads and soups, ribs, wings, “cottage pie” and more.
The store is also well stocked with local baked goods, fine cheeses, and carefully curated pantry items. The selection is amazing, and everything looks incredible.
The new location just west of Bracebridge, which opened its doors last May, offers Melanie and her experienced team the opportunity to expand and explore menu possibilities as the seasons change. The year-round business brims with enthusiasm for two things we all need in a hectic world: quality food and community.
