about

bridging the gap between local farms and your table

whole animal butchery

Maine Meat is a whole animal butchery that provides a consistent outlet for farmers who need to move product regularly in order to continue to thrive. In turn, Maine Meat will also eliminate the bottleneck that occurs between producers and consumers by offering Seacoast residents the convenience of a storefront with regular business hours.

What’s a whole animal butchery? Great question! We bring in the entire animal directly from the farmer. Because of this, we have to work within the confines that practicing business this way may create. For example, did you know that there are only 2 Flank steaks per steer? Once someone purchases them, we don’t have any left until the next steer comes in the following week. But, not to worry! There are plenty of steaks similar to a Flank that are equally as delicious and we can tell you how to prepare it.

video: inspired by old world traditions

After time spent in Italy running a butcher shop and studying the art of old world butchery and charcuterie, Jarrod Spangler dreamed of bringing a community focused whole animal butcher shop to Maine.

watch video

locally sourced

Farms are an integral part of a community and we are extremely fortunate to live in an area where this dying art is still being practiced. We’re going to bridge the gap between these farms and your table. We will suggest a cut of meat, how to prepare it and the best ways to enjoy it. Maine Meat is focused on 100% locally and humanely raised animals. No hormones, no antibiotics, all naturally raised animals without cages. All of our products are raised by local farmers throughout Maine and New Hampshire who take pride in their work and who care about the well being of their animals.

our team

Jarrod Spangler

Jarrod Spangler is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has worked in kitchens from Boston to San Francisco prior to relocating to Italy to open a restaurant, La Pecora Nera, in Piedmonte. On days off and holidays, he worked with well-known butchers and salumi makers where he began to study the art of old world butchery and charcuterie. His mentor, Giuseppe Dho, was instrumental in building Jarrod’s skill and confidence. Upon his return to the states, Jarrod established the butcher department at the Rosemont Market in Portland while putting the pieces into place to open his own establishment. Jarrod spent time in Connecticut helping his friends at Fleisher’s Craft Butchery prior to opening Maine Meat in June 2014. When he gets a free moment away from the shop, Jarrod creates amazing meals for his family and friends and spends as much time romping around disc golf courses with his best buddy, Phinn, and his fiancé, the MEat Maven, Shannon.

Shannon is a, “Jackie-of-all-trades” of sorts. She graduated with a BA in English from Illinois State University and moved to the Seacoast in 2003. Over the past decade she has worked as the Program Director for the Women’s Business Center in Portsmouth where she helped women start, build and grow their own business. She left the WBC to work as a Publicist for a budding PR firm which, in-turn, lead her to become the first employee of Simply Green Biofuels where she became the Director of Business Development. Shannon has always had a passion for working with, and for, small businesses including local bars and restaurants. You may recognize her from her years at The Press Room in Portsmouth, The Barley Pub in Dover or Pepperland Café in South Berwick. When she’s not being the, “MEat Maven” at the shop, you can find her playing disc golf, hiking and generally exploring the beautiful outdoors with MEat’s Mascot, Phinn, and her partner in crime, Jarrod.

During the warmer spring and summer months you will find our mascot, Phinn, “stoopin’ it” in front of our shop. We adopted him on June 13, 2010 (4 years to the day before we opened MEat) and he is the sweetest pooch in the world. He loves swimming, long hikes and belly rubs. Please feel free to give him some love when you come by!

Phinn

*Phinn had a procedure under sedation (not general anesthesia) on October 25th, 2018 to remove a small cancerous growth on his eyelid. The procedure went well and his vitals were perfect the entire time, but he suffered a heart attack while in recovery and they were unable to revive him.

Phinn was so much more than a dog to so many people and the outpouring of love we have received is overwhelming. He had the best life. We gave him that… YOU gave him that. We will forever be thankful. RIP, sweet boy.