Retro Rad Recap: Augusta and Athens

By Dallas Duncan, Georgia Cattlemen's Association director of communications

Four burgers down, four to go.

Wednesday, the second day of Georgia Beef Board's Retro Rad Georgia Tour de Beef included stops at Sports Center in Augusta and Stuffed Burger in Athens, two restaurants that were declared "best burger" by their respecitve local publications. After an evening spent at Savannah's Thunderbird Inn, where Next Food Network Star finalist Emily Ellyn enjoyed a retro rad RC Cola and Moonpies, Ellyn and Georgia Beef Board staff were on the road to the Garden City.

"I have to say the Sports Center has been by far one of the best dining experiences I've ever had," Ellyn said. "The people are so amazing, so genuine, I can't say enough about it!"

And the burgers she tried were pretty tasty, too. Ellyn sampled Sports Center's classic cheeseburger and the "jacked up version" that included veggies and grilled onions. Both have been downtown Augusta staples for more than 30 years, owner Sandi Watkins said.

"They're made with lots of love. They're never frozen, always fresh. We make them every morning," Watkins said.

In addition to the homemade burgers, fries and onion rings, staff at Sports Center make a special sauce that gives their burgers a little kick -- Jim Hensley's Shotgun Spicy Mustard.

"It's really good. We make it and you have to wait three days to eat it so it will meld," Watkins said.

Ellyn called the burgers some of "the best cheeseburgers I've ever had," citing the classic flavor combinations and the kick of the Shotgun Spicy Mustard as her main reasons.

"You go in there and it's like a big ol' breath of fresh air, a warm hug," Ellyn said. "I am very blessed to have been a part of the burger tour now. We've had one of the best burgers. We've had the most creative, juicy, delicious burgers and we have had one of the most genuinely delicious dining experiences. I cannot wait to see where the fourth place takes us."

Georgia Beef Board staff made a quick pit stop on the way to the Athens restaurant at Double Bridges Farm, a state-of-the-art livestock facility owned by the University of Georgia Animal Science Department. Ellyn, who grew up on a Christmas tree and Texas Longhorn farm in Ohio, enjoyed getting back to her roots and seeing the university's teaching facility.

"I never thought I would see a Food Network chef on the farm," said Tyler Murray, facilities supervisor for Double Bridges and Georgia Cattlemen's Association member. "She was hilarious and I had a great time."

More Georgia Cattlemen's Association members and supporters joined Ellyn at Stuffed Burger for the final tour stop Wednesday evening. Stuffed Burger's concept is based on the Juicy Lucy restaurant featured on a Food Network episode of "Man vs. Food." In just two years of being open, the restaurant became so popular it's already had to move to a bigger location.

"We do all of our burgers stuffed. It keeps the burger very moist and juicy and gives a 'wow' factor," owner Hank Cheatham said. "You bite in and the cheese oozes out. It makes you want to take a picture of it."

Though the menu choices included a tater-tot-stuffed burger and one with a full breakfast inside, Ellyn chose to try the classic bacon-cheese-stuffed burger and one filled with roasted red peppers and pepper jack cheese. She gave them both thumbs-up and enjoyed the tater tots and ooey gooey milkshake as well.

"I loved them," she said of the Stuffed Burgers. "It's like, mindlessly simple. Why don't more people stuff a burger? The way that they do it, by putting a patty down and putting another patty on top of it causes it to not be a meatball. It's perfect."

The two-day tour was a different approach to the usual food events Ellyn attends, but she said she had a blast driving through Georgia and seeing all four of these burger joints.

"I was amazed at the amount of toppings everyone came up with. I really enjoyed seeing it wasn't just like, typical toppings, if you will," she said. "It was more like really tasty, creative, high-quality attention to detail. They were putting caramelized onions and goat cheese and eggs and really specialty farm bacon and pork. It wasn't just a burger. These people took pride in what they were serving and thought it out right to the bun."

See the rest of the tour photos on the Georgia Beef Board Facebook page.

Retro Rad Recap: Macon and Savannah

By Dallas Duncan, Georgia Cattlemen's Association director of communications

This year for Beef Month, Georgia Beef Board is turning back the clock — to the 1950s, to be exact.

"I'm a Food Network chef and I am best known for my Next Food Network Star appearance. I take the retro and make it rad with all kinds of retro redos," said Emily Ellyn, finalist on the show. "There's nothing more retro rad than a classic American burger."

That was reason No. 1 Ellyn — who spent the day dressed in an "I Love Lucy"-esque navy blue polka-dot halter dress and a handmade hamburger fascinator — agreed to partner with Georgia Beef Board and Georgia Cattleman magazine to promote Beef Month on a Retro Rad Georgia Tour de Beef this week. Along with sampling and photographing burgers to feature in the June issue of Georgia Cattleman magazine, Ellyn signed a limited amount of custom recipe cards at each tour stop and took pictures with excited fans.

Ellyn made a quick pit stop Monday night to Nu-Way Weiners in Macon to brainstorm with Georgia Beef Board staff on what burgers to order at each of the restaurants.

"At first it was like, holy moley. It was like a book," Ellyn said, referring to the stack of menus she was presented to look through. "I was a bit overwhelmed at first, thinking, 'Oh my gosh, where am I going to start?'"

The tour visited Macon and Savannah on Tuesday and will tackle Augusta and Athens today. All four restaurants were selected "best of" burger winners in their respective cities by local publications.

The first stop on the tour was Rookery, a restaurant in downtown Macon, Ga., that patrons claim was a key player in revitalizing the city scene back in the 1970s. Recently Rookery staff chose to include a locally-sourced beef product on their menu, ground beef from Rocking Chair Ranch in Forsyth, Ga. Owner Joe Ezzard is a member of Georgia Cattlemen's Association and his beef is well-known in Macon as being the beef served by Rookery and several other area restaurants.

Georgia Beef Board staff and Ellyn tried two offerings on the Rookery menu, the Allman Burger and the Walden Greenback Burger.

The Allman Burger is topped with Swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms, a homage to the Allman Brothers Band logo being a mushroom, said Roger Riddle, marketing director for Moonhanger Group.

"We're proud that we're able to say this is a burger that is definitely a Macon burger," Riddle said.

The Walden Greenback Burger has Macon roots, too. It's named after the Walden family, which included managers for Otis Redding and the Allman Brothers Band.

"It's got a fried green tomato on it, which is such a Southern thing," Riddle said. "This is another burger that screams 'home' when you say, 'Macon.'"

He advises consumers to watch carefully when cooking grass-finished beef, such as that used on Rookery burgers.

"These burgers are leaner. Be sure not to overcook them," Riddle said. "Once you get past medium, the grass-[finished] burger that's really lean starts to get a little dry. You don't want it on there too long to make sure you're getting the juiciest burger you can get."

Ellyn raved about both of Rookery's burger dishes, but proclaimed the Walden Greenback to be her favorite of the two.

"Do you get more Georgia than that? I loved it. It was absolutely divine," she said.

The two burgers she sampled at the next tour stop in Savannah received equally rave reviews. The Retro Rad tour took Green Truck Pub by storm Tuesday evening as Georgia Beef Board staff handed out recipes and freebies during the meat-and-greet. The beef distributors for the restaurant, Del and Debra Ferguson of Hunter Cattle Company, were able to come and promote beef
during the evening as well.

Ellyn dined on The Whole Farm Burger and Blue Ribbon Burger in Savannah. The first, owner Josh Yates said, is aptly named as it contains beef, pork bacon, an egg and cheese, plus vegetables, representing both livestock and crops on a farm.

"That's definitely one of the centerpieces on the menu," he said. "The Blue Ribbon is inspired by sort of a cordon bleu. We have the ham, a nice melty Swiss and a dijon. It's just a great flavor combination."

The secret ingredient to making a true Blue Ribbon burger? Berkshire ham. The Berkshire variety of pig is known for its marbling, similar to a high-choice or even prime grade of beef.

At Green Truck Pub, Ellyn couldn't pick a favorite — she devoured them both, including a veggie patty she added to the plate to make sure she got her vegetable side dish, she said — and even asked if it was possible to get another beef burger for dessert.

"I have to say, Green Truck Pub takes the burger championship when it comes to adorning their burgers in like, creative combos that are so delicious," Ellyn said. "I am full to the brim. It was totally satisfying."

Follow the Retro Rad Georgia Tour de Beef online. Visit the Georgia Beef Board Facebook page and Emily Ellyn's Facebook page for more information. 

Retro Rad Georgia Tour de Beef: You're Invited!

The Georgia Beef Board is teaming up with 2012 Next Food Network Star finalist Emily Ellyn for a Retro Rad Georgia Tour de Beef this week to promote June Beef Month. Four hamburger restaurants in four cities were selected for this inaugural tour and will be featured in the upcoming June issue of Georgia Cattleman magazine.

"I'm looking forward to the Rad Tour de Beef - I know I will have a 'fabMOOlous' time on my quest to find the best burgers in Georgia," Ellyn says. "When asked to eat the best burgers around Georgia with the Georgia Beef Board and Georgia Cattleman magazine I replied, 'This is MOOsic to my ears!' How could I resist such a rad opportunity?"

The tour begins Tuesday, April 23, in Macon with lunch at The Rookery, followed by supper in Savannah at the Green Truck Pub. Wednesday includes lunch in Augusta at Sports Center and supper at Stuffed Burger in Athens. The public is encouraged to attend -- a limited number of autographed recipe cards will be given out at a meet-and-greet with Ellyn at each stop, and there will be plenty of beef recipes and freebies given out as well.

"Georgia Beef Board is excited to team up with Emily Ellyn for this tour," says Josh White, executive vice president of Georgia Beef Board. "Beef is an excellent source of 10 essential nutrients while only contributing 10 percent of your daily caloric intake. We are looking forward to the opportunity to share this and more information with consumers as they visit these burger restaurants with us."

The restaurants chosen are past winners of "best burger" contests put on by local publications.

RETRO RAD GEORGIA TOUR DE BEEF

Official Schedule

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

LUNCH: The Rookery

11:30 a.m.

543 Cherry Street Macon, Ga.

DINNER: Green Truck Pub

5:30 p.m.

2430 Habersham Street Savannah, Ga.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24

LUNCH: Sports Center

11:30 a.m.

594 Broad Street Augusta, Ga.

DINNER: Stuffed Burger

5:30 p.m.

1860 Barnett Shoals Road Athens, Ga.

RSVP on Facebook!

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Georgia Beef Board is one of 45 state beef councils funded by the Beef Checkoff. It is an organization working for Georgia's beef producers in areas of education, promotion and research. It is overseen by an 11-member board of dairy producers, beef producers, livestock market association members and Georgia Farm Bureau members. Georgia Beef Board is funded through the Beef Checkoff, where a mandatory $1 is collected for every head of cattle sold in the state. Visit Georgia Beef Board

Emily Ellyn is a celebrity chef based out of Orlando, Fla. She is the owner of Emily Ellyn Productions, Inc., and is a doctorate student in food service education at Rosen College. Visit Emily Ellyn

Georgia Cattleman magazine is the official monthly publication of Georgia Cattlemen's Association, the membership and policy organization for beef producers in Georgia. Visit the magazine page

Six Beef Cuts Certified Heart Healthy

By Dallas Duncan, Georgia Cattlemen's Association director of communications

Great news, beef eaters -- three more cuts were certified heart-healthy by the American Heart Association this week. Now, in addition to the 29 lean cuts of beef and evidence that beef in an optimal lean diet can lower cholesterol, there are a total of six cuts that have earned the AHA Heart-Check mark.

"Adding more beef cuts to a heart-healthy diet is extremely profitable for the beef industry and a win-win for consumers who love beef," said Tricia Combes, Georgia Beef Board compliance and program coordinator.

The six cuts, all US Department of Agriculture select grade -- meaning they have low intramuscular fat, or marbling -- are the sirloin tip steak, bottom round steak, top sirloin stir-fry, boneless top sirloin petite roast, top sirloin filet and top sirloin kabob, according to a news release from National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

"Having the American Heart Association certify three additional extra-lean beef cuts is yet another important milestone in the Beef Checkoff's efforts to help consumers understand the positive health and nutritional benefits of beef," Jeanne Harland, chair of the Checkoff Nutrition and Health Subcommittee, said in the release. "We will continue to support and apply scientific evidence to show consumers how they can eat healthfully with extra-lean beef."

In order to earn the extra-lean Heart-Check mark, a meat or seafood product must meet rigorous criteria. The total fat must be less than five grams, saturated fat less than two grams, trans fat less than 0.5 grams, less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol and 480 milligrams or less sodium, according to the AHA website. In addition, the product must provide 10 percent or more of the daily value of at least one of the following nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein or dietary fiber.

Beef, according to documents on the Beef Nutrition website, is a good source of iron, providing 14 percent of the recommended daily value, and an excellent source of protein, providing 51 percent of the recommended daily value.

The AHA, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other leading health organizations recognize lean meat as a nutritious food.

Cheryl Hendricks, NCBA registered dietitian and a contractor for the Beef Checkoff, says the independent research and AHA certification confirm the importance of extra-lean beef in an overall heart-healthy diet.

"We know that consumers are looking to retailers as a trusted source of nutrition information. Displaying the American Heart Association Heart-Check mark in the meat case makes it easier for consumers to identify heart-healthy extra-lean beef and as a result, grow beef sales among health-conscious shoppers," Hendricks said in the news release.

In fact, nearly 75 percent of  shoppers say seeing the Heart-Check mark increases the likelihood they'll buy a product, the news release states.

Each of these six cuts is one of the 29 lean cuts of beef. The sirloin tip steak, known also as the knuckle steak, breakfast steak or sandwich steak, is a thin, economical boneless cut great for quick skillet cooking or in a stir-fry. It's a thin cut that is best eaten cooked to medium-rare.

The bottom round steak is also best cooked medium rare and sliced thin, but thicker slices can be cooked in a skillet. It's also known as the Western griller. Top sirloin stir-fry is quick to prepare and is best used in fajitas or stir-fry dishes.

A boneless top sirloin petite roast has "melt-in-your-mouth tenderness" and a robust flavor. Despite being a larger cut, it is easy to prepare and slices into healthy portion sizes. The top sirloin filet is known by many names, including baseball cut, top sirloin butt steak and center-cut top sirloin steak, but no matter what it's called, it's a perfectly portioned cut. These filets are trimmed and ready to cook to "deliver a gourmet experience on a budget." The final cut of the six is the top sirloin steak kebob, derived from the boneless top sirloin steak. This moderately tender cut is affordable, juicy and works well with marinades, rubs and sauces. It's specifically formed to cut into strips or chunks for stir-fry dishes and kebabs.


Josh White, executive vice president for GBB, said he is excited about the increased visibility of these heart-healthy cuts and the different ways they can be incorporated into Americans' diets.

"It seems like the modern consumer is looking for permission to enjoy the great taste of beef they already love," White said. "This is just one more way we can assure them that beef is healthy and contributes to a healthy lifestyle."

Volunteer with us this October!

October is an extremely busy month for Georgia Beef Board and Georgia Cattlemen's Association! This October, volunteer help is absolutely essential as two events fall during the same time frame. Staff will split up to cover both, but we need your help to make these events successful!

Oct. 4 - 14
Georgia National Fair in Perry, Ga.

Volunteer help needed in two to four hour shifts. Two volunteers are requested for each weekday morning interact with school children.
GBB is once again setting up The Beef Story display, which takes visitors from farm to fork. The exhibit includes stations on production, the environment, nutrition, food safety, grading and byproducts. This year, GBB partnered with American National CattleWomen to bring new and exciting programs to the exhibit: Representatives from the National Beef Ambassadors and National Beef Speakers Bureau will join the team to assist with hands-on activities.

 

Oct. 6 and 7
Taste of Atlanta in Atlanta, Ga.
Accommodations will be provided for volunteers who've traveled in from more than 100 miles and who volunteer at least one day.
This is one of GBB's largest consumer events, reaching more than 40,000 people. This year we'll be serving beef brisket samples and handing out recipe and nutritional brochures. The hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. We would like to request volunteers to help grill, assemble and distribute brisket samples.

Oct. 16 - 18
Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga.
GBB and GCA will set up an exhibit table in the Beef Pavillion area from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are looking for volunteers to distribute materials at our booth and talk with farmers, ranchers and youth about our organizations and the beef industry. There is also an opportunity to reach consumers and support the Georgia CattleWomen at their beef promotion booth in the Family Living building.

Volunteer leaders are truly the lifeblood of our organizations, and we could not make events successful and memorable without your help. If you are able to volunteer with us at any of these events, please contact Brooke Williams at brooke@gabeef.org or 877-444-BEEF. Thank you so much for your hard work in the industry!

2012 Georgia Beef Month Update

Georgia Beef Month is half-over, but that doesn't mean Georgia Beef Board isn't busy! Brooke Williams, GBB director of industry information, went all over the state in June to promote the beef community and its beef product.

Beef Month kicked off with several media stops, including these on WTOC-TV in Savannah. Part 1 (top) is a sit-down segment where Williams and Georgia Cattlemen's Association Region 12 Vice President Ray Hicks discuss facts about the beef community, and part 2 is a cooking demonstration.





GBB was also in charge of a tour for dietitians and food service personnel that visited Mid-Georgia Livestock sale barn in Jackson, Ga., Honeywood Farms in Barnesville, Ga., and Buckhead Beef. Participants also ate lunch at LongHorn Steakhouse and had a wonderful time learning about the beef industry from the producer, marketing and retail perspectives.



For two Sundays, GBB and GCA staff and volunteers braved rain and heat to serve nearly 1,500 star-spangled cheeseburgers to hungry Braves fans at Turner Field! We would like to thank our partners for these two Beef Up Your Game Plan events: Big Green Egg, Colavita Olive Oil and Publix! Everyone had rave reviews about the burgers and people were excited to see new recipes and possibly win gift cards to the grocery store.





For more information and the latest updates on the activities of Georgia Beef Board, check out their website or follow them on Facebook!

How to Beef Up Your Beef Month

Georgia Beef Board sponsored a "Beef Up Your Beef Month" promotion and media training for Georgia Cattlemen's Association members on May 19.

Here's some ideas taken from the chapter roundtable discussion on how YOUR association can spread the word about our favorite protein!

• Marquees are great eye-catchers: Use at a local business or farm bureau
• Host a Beef Day for a local summer camp or vacation Bible school where students learn about cooking, nutrition and food safety
• Have a Hamburger Day or ribeye steak sandwich sale
• Visit a local festival: Ring a cowbell as you walk around and hand out recipe brochures!
• Start a local CattleWomen's chapter -- the women will talk more!
• Bring a live calf to a local library or camp to teach about beef
• Send your junior members to senior centers to talk about beef
• Help sponsor a "Cowboys for Jesus" vacation Bible school theme
• Help local Girl Scouts get their Beef badge
• Bring cattlemen to cookouts and other events: People like to put a face with their beef
• Have booths at Farmer's Markets, whether it's to sponsor a specific local farmer's product or the association
• Get at least one member ServSafe certified 
• Give out gummy hamburgers to kids during events
• Do a drawing for a sponsored or donated gift, such as a grill or steakhouse gift certificate
• Utilize members who speak other languages, especially Spanish! They can be great assets if your area has a large Hispanic population at events
• Buy those red Georgia Beef Month shopping bags to give out or sell at grocery stores
• Start a chapter Facebook or Twitter account and share GBB and GCA information on it. Even better, make it a chapter officer or specific junior responsibility to update this regularly.
• Enter local parades with beef floats
• Sponsor a freezer for a local food bank so it an give away fresh meat cuts
• Donate processed beef products, such as beef soup, to food pantries. These are easier for people to prepare than fresh beef at times.
• Sponsor banners and concessions at high school sporting events, and grill hamburgers to sell!

Whatever your chapter does to promote BEEF throughout June Beef Month (or any other time of the year!) be sure to send us pictures and a short write-up so we can include them on our social media pages, website and the Georgia Cattleman magazine.