Can't believe I've never written a review for Mark.....but then, I rarely write reviews for anything. Regardless, I can say unequivocally that Mark is the best butcher I've ever used.
Going back to Blueridge (over a decade ago, I suppose) whose facility was always rank and disgusting.....once was all it took to run from that place. Then there was Lynthicum's in Manassas. While they struck me as clean, I never liked them....they struck me as surly, irritated and whiny; there always seemed to be some issue they'd be bitching about. Last straw was when I heard (an unsubstantiated claim, of course) they'd started charging a fee for processing deer for Hunters For The Hungry. Not that I was ever going to find out since I'd long since written them off.....but I wouldn't have put it past them.
Dealing with Mark, on the other hand, has always been like dealing with your next door neighbor and friend. Having retired from a career as a professional butcher, the guy turns deer like a racing pit crew turns tires. But he's rarely too busy to take a break for a short, friendly chat (first few weeks of gun season excepted).....and, he loves hunting as much as any of his customers.
Prices are reasonable (even though I'm too cheap to ever let him process my deer....except what I donate for H4H; hey, I do my own) and Mark does the whole gamut of processing, from basic cuts to breakfast and Summer sausage.
So, about now, you're reading this novel and thinking, "Oh, hell....this is one of this guy's friends or family."
Well, yeah, I like to think we're friends.....so the hell what?
It's not as if I knew the guy before I showed up at his doorstep a few years ago, like anyone else looking for a decent butcher I could trust.
And the guy was open, friendly and as forthright and honest as anyone you ever grew up with.
He'll draw you right in with that big grin...
Ask anyone who knows him (except maybe a woman or two....hehe).
If you haven't already, give Mark a try......you'll be glad you did.