November 6 at Lincoln South Rotary - Joe Finegan

At Lincoln South Rotary Club on November 6 we learned about Piedmontese Beef and their new company campus from Joe Finegan.

Certified Piedmontese is a healthier beef option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor or tenderness. The cattle are raised responsibly on family ranches in York, Seward, Broken Bow, Oshkosh and Cherry County north of Mullen.

The Piedmontese breed originated in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, where it was first discovered over 100 years ago. Piedmontese breed has a unique genetic makeup that means they naturally develop more muscle, quicker than other cattle. Certified Piedmontese beef has fewer calories, less fat, and higher protein per ounce than beef from other breeds. A serving of Certified Piedmontese beef has even fewer calories ounce-for-ounce than salmon. They have about half the fat, less connective tissue which means it is very tender and can be cut with a butter knife.

Originally about 1300 head of Piedmontese were brought here from Italy. There are now more than 2500 pure Piedmontese on the ranches.

The cattle are corn fed and grain finished. They do not rush the finish, which is typical in cattle raising to get them to market. Instead, since Piedmontese tend to grow fast due to putting on muscle rather than fat, they use the normal finishing phase as more of a staging phase and take their time to finish.

RETAIL STORE AND BUTCHER SHOP
The Mercato is a retail store and butcher shop featuring fresh hand-cut Certified Piedmontese beef, as well as other quality meats. Orders can be placed through Piedmontese.com and shipped.

RESTAURANT
The Casa Bovina was opened to provide a fine dining experience - probably the best in Lincoln.

Their specialty is a 6 course tasting, plus desert which can be purchased with a wine pairing. The menu changes every week. This is a full 2 hour high-end meal and dining experience. You can learn more about the menu at www.casabovina.com. Reservations are required.

They have built an exceptional kitchen, including a wood burning grill, which has drawn in some notable chefs. 

To learn more about the Piedmontese story, and the Piedmontese campus consult the internet. There are a number of stories published about the company.

 

BIO:

Joe Finegan has been with Certified Piedmontese for six years, assisting in the development and growth of the direct-to-consumer segment of the business. Certified Piedmontese beef comes from the Piedmontese breed of cattle that is now raised in central and western Nebraska. Known for their extreme muscular stature, the finished beef product produces an exquisitely tender beef product while also being extraordinarily lean. USDA Prime-grade like tenderness with the nutritional profile of Atlantic Salmon or chicken –raised right here in the state of Nebraska!