1. The Rules
There aren't many rules to Meat Club, but they're pretty damn important.
Talk about Meat Club - You make meat. You share it with your friends. You talk about how easy it is to make your homemade Bratwurst. Remember, it’s up to each of us to spread the religion of Meat Club.
Break bread together - Always cook and eat a family meal together, preferably using the meat made at a previous club gathering. A project will take at least 3 hours, so you gotta fuel up. This is the calm before the storm - a time to de-stress with the boys about your job, and talk through the recipe steps before you get your game face on.
Pay your way - Everybody has to shell out to pay for the meat and spices, so bring some cash and pay your share up front. And bring a six pack.
Respect the meat - This is the real deal. Ain’t no pink slime here. Talk to the guy who chopped that pig into pieces. Talk to the guy who raised and fed it. Your meat will taste amazing because you gave a shit about where it came from, and started with awesome ingredients.
Put on the gloves and reach deep - This is not your 9th grade Biology class. Not only will you be a hero for bringing home the Bacon, you are learning a goddamn survival skill. So quit whining, grab a hunk of pork shoulder, and hack away.
Clean up before you break out the whiskey - "What the hell happened to the kitchen?!" You hear it once, and it’s the end of meat club at your place. The best way to do it is like mom said: Clean as you go. And if you don't, you damn well better have your host's back and help clean up at the end.
Don’t kill anyone - Seriously. Look it up: Trichonosis. Salmonella. Botulism. E-Coli. Staphylococcus. These are serious diseases that will fuck you up if you fuck around. Here's how to stay safe: Wash your hands with hot water and soap between every step or anytime you get meat juice on them. Keep your workspace clean, washed regularly with hot water and soap. Run any equipment through the dishwasher when finished. Never ever EVER leave the meat sitting out. If you're not using it right away, cover it and stick it in the fridge or freezer.