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Gunpowder Bison & Trading Company
Last night, we feasted on Bison Osso Buco. The thick slices of shanks were deeply browned, then braised
for a couple of hours in white wine and dry vermouth, broth, a bit of tomato paste, sautéed aromatic vegetables and
a bouquet garni. At the last minute, I added steamed spinach. A friend made a creamy risotto to serve alongside. It was heavenly. Long, appreciative silences hung in the air while we ate — punctuated, once or twice by “Bison is delicious.”
About Bison Meat The bison at Gunpowder take about 18 to 24 months to mature. That’s a bit longer than grain-fed beef. And speaking of feed, their bison can feed on a combination of grass and grain. Inevitably, the bison nuzzle down to find the kernels of corn amidst the grass. Fully dressed, a mature bison will provide about 500 to 600 pounds
of meat. The cuts at Gunpowder Bison are very similar to the cuts you’re used to finding at the grocery store. Exception:
the dramatic “Tomahawk Rib Eye Steak” – a rib-eye attached to a rib bone that’s more than twelve inches
long. “Makes for an impressive presentation,” says Trey, drily. Yes.
The meat is much leaner than cornfed beef and perhaps slightly leaner than pastured beef. It is sweeter,
with none of the gameyness you might expect from a wild animal. Bison also cooks faster than beef, so for steaks and grilling,
Angela recommends a quick sear and then a short finish on a medium heat. For roasts, turn the temperature down, and cook for
the same amount of time. At Gunpowder Bison, there’s a terrific store inside the barn-like
home that Trey built. You can find all things bison there: horns, sweatshirts, objets d’art and now — bison dog
food. But most importantly, in the freezer, you can also find about twenty cuts of frozen bison including flank steaks, tenderloin
and filet. Plus bison hotdogs, bison “grillers” and bison burger.
If you can’t get to Monkton, stores around the area carry Gunpowder Bison including most Graul’s
Supermarket, farmers markets, and more restaurants are offering it all the time. You’ll find a list of stores here.
One final thing. Bison are ENORMOUS. and not necessarily friendly. People can die in close quarters with bison. They have not exactly taken to domestication, even when raised from calves. You should visit Gunpowder Bison if only to see these beasts up close.
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