The art of the local butcher shop is a rarity these days.
The rise of veganism should not be to blame here, but rather the onslaught of big box stores moving in and shoving out the mom-and-pop stands during the wild consumerism flood of the 1980s. That idealistic Mayberryian notion of knowing your local butcher who supplies fresh cuts and choices has been relegated to grabbing discounted slabs and grinds.
Tucson is no exception to all of that. Although, we do have some fine butcher shops dotting our desert landscape and for that, we can all applaud with butcher-papered hands for those needful outlets.
One such shop is Davison Meats, located near the corner of Ina and Thornydale Road. It was a boon to that neighborhood when it opened in November of 2021 by the namesake ranching family. Davison Meats was embraced for offering not just fresh cuts of beef, but also carrying veal, lamb, chicken, and homemade sausages and brats.
The quality of the product Davison provides is easily noticed not just by sight but in taste and overall all sensory bliss. For those that know and imbibe, you can totally tell the difference between a real “ranch steak” and a “big box store steak.”
At the helm of the Davison Meats market is a man that is no stranger to working with his hands as he has been a chef and butcher since 1986. Brett Sippy got his start at a small butcher shop/deli/bakery in Indiana at the age of 17 and hasn’t stopped since.
After graduating with honors from the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute up in Phoenix, Sippy decided to stay there for a while as he immediately got a position as a butcher’s assistant for AJ’s Market. After working in the gourmet supermarket for a few years, Sippy found himself owning and running Hobe Meats Butcher Shop before moving to Tucson.
He worked in various upscale kitchens, either as a sous or executive chef, for over 15 years. During that time, Sippy trained under Janice Dickman, of Dickman Meats, learning how to break down game meats such as elk, buffalo, and deer.
The life of a chef is a trial at best, usually made for young upstarts with stars and stock reductions in their eyes. When word got out that Reb, Vicki, and Tyler Davison were going to open their own meat emporium, Sippy came aboard as a consultant, which eventually morphed into the role of head butcher and shop supervisor.
Davison Meats is celebrating almost two years of being in business and has expanded its offerings just beyond the best cuts you’ll find in and around Tucson. Sippy has introduced staple snack items such as chicharrón and bacon-wrapped jalapeño.
One thing you will always find at Davison Meats is a selection of delicious and inventive sausages and bratwurst. Now that it is officially grilling season, do yourself a favor and bypass any tube-shaped pork, chicken, or beef product and pick up a handmade, hand-ground beauty from a real butcher with a chef’s pedigree. You, your friends, and your family will never go back once you’ve had a humanely raised sausage made with local ingredients.
Speaking of grilling season, Davison Meats has Butcher Boxes, such as the Weekend Griller which features four rib eyes, four house burger patties, four brats of your choice, and a full rack of baby back ribs for a decent price. There is also a selection of rubs, seasonings, and spices for sale, all of which are made right here in Arizona.
As with any meat shop, there are always scraps that usually get scrapped, but Sippy being the mindful butcher that he is utilizes those throwaways to make dog treats. The same goes for the bones. You’ve gotta think about the pooch if you’re shopping for the meats. The pet treats could be served to a cat as well but that would have to be one carnivorous feline. Although a certain lasagna-loving cartoon cat would probably appreciate the gesture.
Get this, Sippy and Davison Meats are now doing home-crafted jerky.
It’s the kind of gnaw feast you all need in your immediate grab status. Keep it in your backpack, the car, purse, pocket, or hat — doesn’t matter. Each variety is meaty, spicy, chewy, and downright yummy.
Davison Meats is located at 3840 W. Ina Rd. and is open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit davisonmeatstucson.com, follow Davison Meats on Facebook, or call (520) 579-6283.
