Grove Market
242 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove
(831) 375-9581, www.grovemarketpg.com
A man once asked a Grove Market butcher for exactly two slices of thick-cut European bacon and was met with a logical reply: “You gotta have more than two slices of this bacon.” Indeed, you do. Unless you are saving room in the shopping basket for the other bundles of blissful butchery that Grove Market will wrap up for you – sirloin and tri-tip steak, stuffed pork chops, ground beef and turkey, rack of lamb, chickens and kabobs. Any of it can be cut to order, and the guys and gals behind the counter know their meat well enough to answer any cooking questions that arise. As an added bonus, this butcher shop is located in the best neighborhood market in the county according to Weekly readers, so once that pound of pork shoulder is all wrapped up, head over to the Grove Market’s lush produce section for the fresh ingredients needed to make that pig squeal with flavor.