It’s been quite the journey! We first heard about the local butcher shop’s plans to move into The Baffert at Five Points three years ago (June 2021) and the day has finally come for Forbes Meat Company.
On Sunday, July 28, Ben Forbes and the team behind Forbes Meat Company opened its doors at 747 S. Sixth Ave.
“Today, we begin the journey of running a successful business,” said Forbes. “It’s not unlike raising a kid. The amount of work that will go into the day-to-day work of keeping this place healthy for years to come is a true labor of love. That said, I have to thank all of you who came out to support us by washing dishes, serving customers, and volunteering in so many ways.
At the moment, Forbes Meat Company is open from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily. The shop offers sausages, steaks, seafood, grill/oven-ready meats, and more to go, but they’re also serving a lunch and dinner menu.
Lunch is served from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and the dinner menu runs from 5 – 9 p.m. (stay tuned for the full menu).
Lunch Menu (subject to change)
SALADS
- BITTERSWEET SALAD $13 – Kale, roasted red beets, pistachios, goat cheese, herb tallow croutons, port wine vinaigrette
- ROASTED VEGETABLE SALAD $13 – Mesclun mix, Aleppo rubbed squash, red onion, Brussels chips, Parmesan, toasted pepitas, dried cranberries, house vinaigrette
- SUMMER SALAD $13 – Frisée, peaches, shallot, burrata, prosciutto, lemon, hot honey
- Additions: Chicken $6, Skirt Steak $9, Atlantic Salmon $9
SANDWICHES
- SPICY CHICKEN SANDWICH $14 – Chiltepín chili crunch marinated chicken thigh, cold pickled Asian cucumber, roasted garlic mayo, hot honey glaze, brioche bun
- ITALIAN $14 – Mortadella, prosciutto, mozzarella, pesto, cherry peppers, shredded lettuce, balsamic vinegar, baguette
- FORBES BURGER $12 – House minced beef, shredded lettuce, tomato, American cheese, creamy Dijon, brioche bun
SIDES
- Seasonal House Salad $6
- Oyster Mushrooms $7
- Marinated Asparagus $6
FRITES $8
- With a choice of sauce (Additional sauce $2 each)
- Chimichurri, Pepper Demi, Gravy, Curry, Aji Verde, Wasabi Cream, Creamy Dijon, or Roasted Garlic Aioli
Plus, they’re serving beer and wine from 3 – 5 p.m. with smaller bites.
“We thank all our customers/friends who sat at our tables, ate our food, and purchased meats to go,” said Forbes. “You all made this happen and we will continue to work very hard to serve you. Thank you again and we hope to see you all soon.”
Ben Forbes began his food industry career with his shop in Portland, Maine 20+ years ago.
The local whole-animal butcher, which specializes in charcuterie and custom butchery, has been supporting local ranchers and serving the community for years now. Less than a year ago, Forbes moved inside Flora’s Market Run — moving out of the former downtown location at 220 E. Broadway Blvd.
The home base for the local butcher shop is now at The Baffter at Five Points, but they’re planning to keep a small inventory of products at Flora’s Market Run.
Forbes Meat Company is located at 747 S. Sixth Ave. For more information and to keep up with the latest, follow Forbes Meat Company on Instagram and visit forbesmeatcompany.com.
To keep up with what else is happening at The Baffert, visit bafferttucson.info.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
