Japan Premium Beef, 57 Great Jones St. (at the Bowery)
As the last few days of grilling are upon us, take this opportunity to enjoy wagyu-style beef from Japan Premium, a minimalist butcher shop where Eiichi Yamamoto and Daigo Irifune offer prime cuts of their Oregon raised cattle labeled washugyu. Wagyu refers to several breeds of cattle whose intense marbling and high fat content enhance flavor and tenderness of the beef.
Most of the ruby red beef cuts are displayed in a glass case for your marble viewing pleasure. Prices skyrocket according to cut, but it is well worth it. From porterhouse to ribeye to sirloin to tongue, each has a signature super fatty and extraordinarily rich flavor.
Most cuts cook very quickly and are best eaten rare. Both sukiyaki and shabu shabu requires barely a pan flash. Buy a little each and experiment different cooking mediums at home. The freshly ground beef makes a sublime burger for the grill.
