Authentic Texan
By J Carol Richards
Texas is known for its neighborhood businesses that characterize our small towns and villages. These local shops transport us to a time when life was slower and everyone knew the local butcher. That fact has not changed at Hudson Meat Market in Austin and Marble Falls. It is a place that remembers your name, how you like your meat cut, and which cuts are your favorites. In addition, Hudson Meat Market can also customize your cut for special events or a backyard BBQ.
Hudson Meat Market owner Thomas Gardner began his career as a chef and spent time in Colorado, Dallas, and finally at the famous Carlyle Hotel in New York City. Thomas and his wife Barbara grew up in Texas, one mile from each other, and they never met until they moved back to Texas. So, it was ironic that his wife Barbara was accepted at NYU when he took a position as Executive Sou Chef at the Carlyle Hotel, thus beginning a courtship that would eventually end in a marriage and another move back to Texas. Thomas’s long-term goal, however, was to open a restaurant. He had grown up smoking meats for Texas BBQ, but “I knew that was not going to happen in New York.” Thomas worked for a time at Whole Foods after returning to Austin before he opened his sandwich shop, Republic of Sandwich. He butchered his meat and smoked it himself in the 600 sq ft retail space. Soon, he was so successful that he had people lined up on weekends. Thomas’s desire to offer only quality meats on his sandwiches led him to Hudson Meats, long an Austin staple, to produce his bacon and pastrami, which eventually led to the purchase of the company and the sale of the Republic of Sandwich.
Hudson Meat Market in Austin and Marble Falls upholds the traditions and reputation for quality that Hudson Meats has enjoyed since 1967. They offer a full-service butcher-led market and trusted deer processing where USDA-inspected facilities meet the art of traditional German butchering. Choose from a large variety of sausages that range from the old-time classics such as bratwurst and kielbasa to more exotic offerings like wild boar, smoked alligator, and pork links or “Jackalope” smoked links made with venison, rabbit, and pork. For a spicy experience, try a sample pack with smoked Hot Links, Red Hots, Hatch Green Chili Sausage, Jalapeno Kielbasa, Beef Jalapeno, and Hudson’s famous Jalapeno Cheese Links. Hudson Meat Market is known for the best Texas Angus beef, which is Texas-sized and thick-cut to perfection. Thomas recommends Hardcore Carnivore Black seasoning, the ultimate rub for enhancing the flavor of the meat without overpowering it. With Hudson Meat Market, it is all about sourcing. The wild boar is live trapped in Waco, and their beef is true Texas Angus, incredibly flavorful, grain-fed and hormone-free. In addition, you can find spatchcocked chickens ready for grilling, other pre-marinated meats, and occasionally ostrich jerky or ground ostrich, known for its leanness.
If you don’t see what you want at Hudson Meats, just ask. Many items are available by special order. All products are processed on-site in Hudson’s USDA-inspected facility, and many are available for shipping. Shopping at a smaller, locally owned store like Hudson Meat Market in Austin or Marble Falls is a treat we should never take for granted. Hudson Meat Market is open in Austin Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. In Marble Falls, shop Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Hudson Meat Market is located at 1800 S Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 512-881-6658, and at 1405 State Street Marble Falls, Texas 830.693.7024
