Stories
River Ranch Diary – August 2023
Lately my thoughts have run toward the origin story of the buffalo as told by the Indigenous tribes of the Great Plains of North America. In that story, when both the two-legged and the four-legged beings emerged from their cave into the light, they pledged, one to the other, to care and provide for one another forever. And thus, they prospered until the invasion of and movement across their land of the Anglo-Europeans began.
Food Lessons From A Box of Bison Meat
Twenty-five years ago, Dan brought a box of Wild Idea buffalo cuts into my restaurant and asked if I would create some “how-to” cooking instructions and recipes to include in the first boxes of meat that would soon be shipped out to family and friends. Over the years, as a chef and restaurateur...
The Hidden Power Beneath Our Feet
Join Wild Idea on a journey to uncover the hidden power of healthy soil and its profound impact on our planet.
Prairie Flowers
The winter of 2022-23 was a tough one on the Northern Plains. We were hit with three notable blizzards, temperatures in the minus 20s, and wind that made the world shudder. It came after four years of withering drought that gave me nightmares of The Grapes of Wrath. It seemed quite possible that another dust bowl was just around the corner.
River Ranch Diary, cont'd
The story is one of a writer, born with a love of falconry, wildlife of all kinds (especially birds), prairie grasslands, and a vague sense of building and inhabiting something—call it sustainable—that could serve as a beacon in a discernibly damaged world.
Baby Bison Calves!
The prairie is awakened in all of its Spring glory, complete with the songs of the returning migratory birds, the now lush green grass, peppered with wild flowers, and new baby bison calves!
Wish You Were Here
Last fall, we had the great pleasure of hosting singers-songwriters Eliza Blue and Chuck Suchy for filming the PBS show Wish you Were Here.
Sous Vide Lessons
Lately, I've been receiving emails for tips on using the sous-vide cooking method. I will admit that I am a novice user, but in an effort to better guide you, I dove back in, so I could provide you with tried & true sous vide cooking tips, using Wild Idea's 100% grass-fed/finished bison meat.
Humane Harvests—Part Two
No tears were shed by any little boys on that day. Bonds were built. Friendship prevailed. Gratitude was given by all. Death was beautiful.
Health & Wellness Trends 2023
At the turn of each new year, I reevaluate my personal health and make a resolution to try a little harder, do a little better. And turning 60 this year has me taking an even closer look. Being healthy has always been a roller coaster for me...
Why Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished?
Ruminant stomachs are not designed by nature to digest high volumes of starch and grains. As grazers, buffalo and beef cattle are unable to safely consume and metabolize grains and corn feed.
Meat With a Side of Cortisol
The process of shipping and inhumanely confining these animals creates adrenaline and cortisol stress hormones, which negatively impact the quality of the meat for human consumption.