Every other Friday, Ballard native Keith Swanson of Thundering Hooves delivers his grass-fed meat to restaurants, stores and “buying clubs” around the area. One of his stops is at Ray’s Boathouse, who, for more than a year, has been serving their burgers and steaks.
Thundering Hooves used to set up at the Ballard Farmers Market, but it’s transformed from the stationary tent to a mobile “buying club,” which is a club by name only. Clients don’t actually join or pay membership fees. “They just place their order, show up at the right time, pay for their meats, and go home happy,” Swanson says. Recently Swanson decided to start up a club at Ray’s.
This morning Lisa McConnachie is picking up her first order in the Ray’s parking lot. “It’s a belated Father’s day gift for my husband,” she says, whose husband is off playing on the dock with their son. She said she’s known about Thundering Hooves for a few years, and now she’s trying out their service. Swanson says that only a few families are using the club at Ray’s, which is at 8 a.m. every other Friday morning. The largest club is on Phinney Ridge at St. John United Lutheran where he delivers every other Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Meat buying club in Ray’s parking lot
Ever since the highlife stopped useing Thundering Hooves, their fomerly SUPER burger became marginal, dull, and not worth it.
Anyone here purchase meat from thundering hooves? I have been interested in buying from a grass fed producer for sometime but would like to hear some feedback before ordering.
This is great! I've been thinking a lot lately about upgrading my meat-eating to only animals raised humanely on small local farms… but I don't really know many options. I will most certainly be trying this out.
How many years has it been since Thundering Hooves was at the Ballard Farmer's Market?
Why not hit the farmer's market and get some from other vendors to try? Skagit River Ranch is good, as is Olsen's and the beef that Sea Breeze has been selling is phenomenal.
Their meats are really excellent. Well worth the price.
as a local foodblogger, I hosted a “eat Local” special dinner this last New Year's Eve for friends with the sponsorship of foodbuzz.com. The main dish featured Thundering Hooves leg of lamb, which I found on the web after quite a difficult search to find local lamb. Ordering was incredibly easy, delivery was great, the price was right… And the lamb was delicious! I was quite impressed with Thundering Hooves. They're also a local item if you use the food delivery service, SPUD.
The raise turkeys, too, available for purchase come holiday time. Some are heritage types that are delicious.
We buy beef and pork from Thundering Hooves. Their bacon is fabulous. We like them because they are reasonably priced, friendly and the meat is very good. The website makes it easy to order too. We pick up at the Phinney site on Saturdays. I toured their farm once and they are really committed to the whole sustainable, grass-fed concept.
those heritage turkeys sell out FAST! i'm hoping to be lucky enough to get one this year.