Meat market Wednesday at Rose Park
“What the f---is he waiting for? Sorry, buddy. You can aim, but at some point you have to pull the trigger.” Jamie Stachowski was not talking about hunting. Without pausing, “If Hillary was in there, she wouldn’t have let this happen.”
In Washington, even the local butcher feels strongly about politics -- in this case, the debt ceiling.
But the ‘Maestro of Meat’ at Rose Park Farmers’ Market is no ordinary butcher. He is hoping to return a classic and essential service to Georgetown that, across America, has largely been replaced by frozen and cellophane covered stacks under florescent lights in supermarkets.
That not only means grass fed, antibiotic- and hormone-free beef, but also pork, lamb and chicken. Some say it's the best pork tenderloin they have ever had.
Stachowski appreciates Georgetown for its warm welcome of his offerings. "The people here appreciate this product. They’re sophisticated. They travel. They know it’s authentic.” Continuing, “What’s sorely lacking is a [daily] local meat purveyor. And I’m going to think about how I’m going to remedy that.”
As we were talking, former senator John and the late Elizabeth Edwards' eldest daughter Kate stopped by, lovely and smiling.
With his 23-year-old son, Joseph (“he's 6’4” and takes after his uncle”) running much of the family charcuterie business, Jamie has time to contemplate his next ventures and adventures.
While squab is his "all-time favorite," the Stachowski Brand Charcuterie, Jamie explained, "includes meats fresh, cured, smoked, and prepared, from sandwiches, galantines, to meatballs and meat loafs."
He’s been in Washington for almost 20 years with a couple of years break living in the Middle East, and now, ruminates about living in Portugal. Jamie is planning a visit there shortly with his wife, Carolyn.
But today, his thoughts were on the regular customers he knows by name and the new ones who easily recognize him. “Thank you, thank you.” Jamie responded to numerous compliments about his appearance in last week’s airing of “MEAT AMERICA!" on the History Channel.
A light rain did not deter the shoppers.
Rose Park Farmers' Market, open every Wednesday through October 26, is at the corner of 26th and O Streets.