I first tried bison while out to dinner at Lucas Park Grille in Downtown St. Louis with some girlfriends last year. It was the menu special that night, complete with a side of potatoes and broccoli, and it was delicious. However, you can only imagine my surprise when my tab came and I had to fork over $28 for my “special” cut of meat. Talk about a hefty sum to come out of my college-budget wallet.Bison isn’t a common meat to find on the menu at most restaurants, and you can’t just find it in any ol’ supermarket.

So when I discovered that the Whole Foods in my area carried ground bison, I bought a pound and made burgers for my family. No one else really liked them, but I found the bison to be just as good as I remembered. Maybe it’s because I have never been a huge fan of red meat, but I thought that the burgers tasted better than any I had made before.

Since finding bison meat at Whole Foods, I have bought it multiple times. I have found bison to have a more vibrant flavor than beef does.It also has fewer calories, less fat, and more protein than its beef counterparts. Since I don’t eat red meat very often, I am more than willing to fork over the $9.99/pound for its deliciousness.

Bison Burger

I encourage you to try out bison. Start with the ground meat and work your way to other cuts. Bison cooks a bit differently than beef does, so use a lower heat and a shorter cook time. I personally like mine with a little more pink in the middle since it’s such a lean meat and my favorite way to eat it is wrapped up in lettuce with tomatoes, onions, quinoa and mustard – yum!!

Have you tried bison? What’s your favorite way to eat it?