News

A few reasons why our mouthwatering meats are so dang good

Our mission is to handcraft premium, artisanal smoked meats with a relentless focus on flavor, exceptional animal care standards, and respect for the land. When it comes to choosing ingredient partners for our products, only the highest quality will do.

Sourcing locally is a more sustainable way of doing business because it encourages biodiversity, contributes fewer carbon emissions, and helps support our local economy. Plus, it always comes back to finding ingredient partners that care about flavor and standards as much as we do. 

Lucky for us, New England is rich with authentic flavors and food practices. Take a gander at some of our local ingredient partnerships.  

Mac’s Maple

There’s something about cold weather that makes a person crave hearty dishes full of savory ingredients and satisfying hunks of flavorful meat. The urge to hunker down and fortify your defense against the cold with a tasty homemade meal is relentless and pressing. You want something simple, but gratifying; a recipe that doesn’t take hours to make or involve too many ingredients. 

We have three recipes that you can whip up without much to-do when what you really want is to huddle up by the fireplace after an active winter day. We’re talking slow-smoked, handcrafted, bursting with flavor meats that are certified humane and get-in-my-belly good. 

duBreton President, Vincent Breton, Promotes Former Chief Operating Officer

Vincent Breton, President of duBreton, has appointed Aaron Corbett as Chief Executive Officer of duBreton USA and its subsidiary, North Country Smokehouse. In his new role, Aaron will  contribute to the strategic planning and development of both companies, as well as oversee daily operations, sales, marketing and management of the smokehouse in Claremont, NH.  Prior to accepting the role of COO at North Country Smokehouse in 2015, Corbett held the Director of Operations title for Boulder Organic Foods, and received an MBA from the University of Southern California.

duBreton, the leading organic and certified humane pork producer in North America, acquired North Country Smokehouse in 2015.  Aaron was tasked with scaling efficiencies at the new, 62,000 sq. foot facility, maintaining exceptional quality standards and

Taking the Hassle Out of Keto Meal Prep with Three Easy Meals

Whether your goal is to feel good in your body or lead the pack at your next CrossFit class, eating keto is the current king of diets. From weight loss to managing various health conditions, keto has many proven benefits. Before you dive into that bacon-filled can of worms, hang on! Keto eating can be time-consuming -  first ask yourself, is this way of eating right for you? 

Keto, aka, the ketogenic diet, is a low-carb, high-fat diet that’s designed to help you burn fat more effectively.  The goal is to put your body into a metabolic state called ketosis where your body burns fat - not carbs - for energy. This way of eating may not be right for everybody, though, and it’s advisable to talk to your doctor before trying.

He

Up here in Claremont, New Hampshire, we roll steadily through the year with four very distinct seasons: Short green summers, even shorter autumns, long white winters, and unpredictable springtimes. Given how long our winters can be, we tend to treat “the holidays” as an unofficial fifth season when we dig out candles and hang lights pretty much everywhere.

Straight out of a storybook, the holidays in New England are jolly and jammed with sights, smells, and tastes that cannot be imitated during any other time of year. When it comes to home cooking, you can’t beat the tried-and-true recipes of the season. 

Unless, you add bacon.

Call us predictable, but here at the smokehouse we’re dreaming up ways to make our holiday feasts just a smidge tastier and that exploration led us right here, to three smoky spins on our favorite holiday side dishes.

Here’s hoping tha

As trends towards better-for-you foods continue, foodservice professionals are responding by adding antibiotic-free proteins to their menu. Whether replacing traditionally cured meats entirely or peppering their plate with alternative options, North Country Smokehouse is here to help customers leverage the sustainable food movement by offering savory, smoked meats that are free from antibiotics, added growth hormones, nitrates, and nitrites. 

According to a recent Consumer Reports survey the “no antibiotics” claim has become a selling point for many restaurant brands—and for good reason. Nearly 6 out of 10 people surveyed said they would be more likely to eat at a restaurant if the meat is raised without antibiotics, and would pay more for an “antibiotic-free” option.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Football Season. What’s not to love? You get to invite family & friends over and fill up on snacks. But that bowl of greasy chips and jar of queso dip just isn’t going to cut it if you’re a true flavor guru, and you don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen because, hello, the game is ON!

Upping your munchie game doesn’t have to require much effort. We spend hours handcrafting our meats and smoking them low and slow for big, intense flavor, so you can spend more time cheering on your favorite team. Our ideas all pass the Sports Snacking Golden Rule: Easy to grab, share, and savor. Check out some of our favorite ways to take Football Sunday classics and make them bold, smoky MVPs. 

Pizza with a Punch

There’s nothing better than a well-made sandwich, loaded up with all the good stuff. The perfect condiment, maybe a slice or two of cheese, and most importantly, stacked high with delicious ham or turkey.  We believe in going beyond “good” and stand behind our commitment to quality by crafting the best tasting organic deli meats available, in the best possible way.

Label claims can be confusing and make picking the best for your family a real challenge. Our advice to you? Look for third-party certifications on your labels - they substantiate the claims being made. When you see them, you know the farms are being audited for things like GMOs and animal welfare, and you can be confident that you’re bringing the best taste and quality into your kitchen. 

Certified Organic

The certified organic s

It happens every year. Back-to-School season sneaks up and brings with it lots of time-consuming activities, like forms for filling, clothes for buying, and sports practices for shuttling to and from. After the slower days of summer, it can be hard to adjust. When it comes to  question, “What’s for dinner?” are you fighting off the temptation to yell “Every man for himself!” in response? The answer is simple: Snack Dinner.

You heard right. Here’s our take: 

Step 1: Prepare a few simple snacks. Make them delicious. Ingredients are the key here. 

Step 2: Set everyone loose to fill their plates with what they want. 

Step 3: Bask in the bit of extra time you have from no cooking and way fewer dishes.

The beauty of snack dinner is