New specialty meat supplier offers ‘a much better steak’

TORONTO — His new specialty supply business won’t likely fill the immediate void created by beef producer Lazar Yitzchok’s recent departure from the local kosher market, but Matis Stebben, founder of Hand Made Foods, is relying on Ontario sources for all his meat.

“Our animals are bought and slaughtered here, so we can control the quality,” says Stebben, 33, who started the kosher firm, which is supervised by the Kashruth Council of Canada, in October.

The way an animal tastes, he said, depends on how it is raised and fed, “so by working with local farmers we can be very hands-on.”

A native of San Diego, Ca., Stebben came to Toronto to work at Chabad, and then moved on to the Kashruth Council. His new company offers wholesale and retail beef, lamb and veal.

Stebben said that his is the first glatt kosher company – he is also certified by Adas Yisroel – to offer organic, antibiotic and hormone-free meat, “which can be dry-aged for a minimum of 28 days, or to individual specifications.

“Most meat is wet aged. It sits in a bag, and the enzymes break down. Our dry-aged meat is more tender, so we can offer, for instance, a much better steak.”

His current product line includes pre-packaged steaks, ground beef, roasts, rack of lamb, and shoulder cuts or lamb chops. He is also planning a line of prepared foods such as hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages.

His products are currently available at the Kosher Gourmet at Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue, and through kosher restaurants and caterers.

Also new in Toronto is a hechsher, Badatz Toronto, supervised by Rabbi Amram Assayag.

Moti Bensalmon, spokesperson for Badatz, said it currently supervises a number of local companies, including Pita Pita Bakery, Home Made Quality Foods, Goldstein Bakery and Restaurant, and select products at Krinos Foods. For information, visit www.badatz.ca.