Star Market
1275 S. Main St., Salinas, (831) 422‑3651, starmkt.com
Don’t trust John Steinbeck’s knife skills – his characters are often eating out of a can (pork and beans, spaghetti, the list goes on). Instead, trust the experts at Star Market’s butcher counter. This locally owned grocery store is the kind of place Steinbeck might have shopped. After all, he loved to tend the backyard grill. You can get custom cuts of any USDA‑choice meat you want, and grass‑fed, organic offerings. Questions about portion size or whether that’s good for the grill versus the slow cooker? Ask the experts here for guidance.