Whether it's something as simple as steaks or chicken or more dignified fare such as pork or lamb, there are several awesome shops in the South Sound to stock up at.

Nestled in the heart of the Proctor District in north Tacoma, Metropolitan Market (2420 N. Proctor St., Tacoma) prides itself on being the exclusive local retailer of Snake River Farms American Kobe Beef, which is raised using traditional Japanese methods and results in higher marbling, more flavor and tenderness. If it's chicken you're looking for, Met Market sells its own all-natural, Washington-grown, free-range chicken and air-chilled Sweet Water Creek organic chicken. As for burgers, its premium, all-natural ground beef is ground daily, throughout the day for freshness. It's also made with the same meat the market uses for its premium roasts and steaks. Met Market (www.metropolitan-market.com) also features many hard-to-find items, including leaf lard, buffalo and pheasant. Shoppers can also browse the wide selection of microbrews.

Tacoma Boys (www.tacomaboys.com), also in Tacoma, features a staff of in-house butchers who serve up cowboy steaks, free range chicken, stuffed pork chops and so much more. Tacoma Boys also has fine deli meats and custom sausages. Customers can choose right from the case and get their selection hand wrapped, just like the old fashioned butcher shops of days past. It also is currently carrying a full line of beef from sustainably-raised Long Valley Ranch cattle. This 20,000-acre cattle ranch located in north central Oregon provides only the best care for their animals and land. Their Heritage breeds of cattle are raised in a calm and comfortable environment and have constant access to natural grasses higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E and other antioxidants. The result is a tender, delicious and healthy beef lower in saturated fat and high in essential fatty acids such as Omega-3. Tacoma Boys has two locations in Tacoma (5602 6th Avenue) and H&L Produce (7320 Lakewood Drive West) on the border of Lakewood and Tacoma.

For the die-hards, there's Stewart's Meat Market in Yelm, located at 17821 State Hwy 507. This butcher shop was founded back in the Depression era. Much of the beef sold is from Stewart's own herd and the pork mostly comes from near by. The smoked meats all are made from old secret family recipes. Stewart's (www.stewartsmeatmarket.com) sells everything from everyday meatloaf fixings, hamburgers and smoked meats to fancy foods such as New York and T-Bone steaks, hams and rib roast. For those looking for something much, much different, Stewart's also sells wild boar, crocodile, turtle, rabbit and python meat.