Down to the bone. America’s cattle supply is at its lowest level since 1951, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. That has pushed cattle markets in Chicago to a record high in January, almost 20% higher than they were two years ago. Cattlemen have complained for decades that cheap beef is being dumped on the U.S. mainly by Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. That has made it so difficult for American producers to make profits they have reduced their herds.
Don't let your dogs read this but the latest development in this saga is that U.S. meat companies are embracing “white bone” programs, aiming to pick each bone clean as they move down processing lines. Pricier cattle mean costlier steaks, burger and roasts in the supermarkets, so The Big Beef Boys (Tyson, Cargill, Omaha Beef and JBS) are all-in harvesting every last morsel of salable meat. For a large company, a 1% increase in the amount of meat harvested per carcass could translate to $80 million in annual revenue. That 1% is usually added to burger trim. (WSJ)
Thursday specials
• Ruth's Chris (Ashworth Road at Jordan Creek Parkway) has a Thursday special with their decadent RBAR burgers going for $16.
• Sirloin steak dinners are featured specials today at Sully's Irish Pub (860 First St., West Des Moines), Front Row (9956 Swanson Blvd., Clive), Winn’s Pizza and Steakhouse (122 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola), and Hy-Vee Market Grilles. The Station on Ingersoll (3120 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a ribeye special on Thursdays.
• Thursday nights, Moroccan couscous — lemon chicken, beef keftas, five vegetables, harissa — are $17 at Purveyor (505 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines).
• Sprockets (2314 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a breaded pork tenderloin special on Thursdays for $9.99
• Kids eat free at Scornovacca’s (1930 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) on Thursdays
• Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) offers $2 off all sushi on Thursdays
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) has karaoke tonight from 6 p.m.
• ShortE's BBQ (8505 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) has $1 smoked wings Thursdays.
• Jethro's Thursday special is a pound of boneless "wings" for $8.
• Table 128 (220 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) is running a chef's special poke bowl through Saturday.
• Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special of beef stew and cornbread Thursdays for $13.
• Amruth Indian Grill (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive) offers an all-you-can-eat dosa (gram/rice flour crepes) buffet on Thursdays 5:30-9 p.m. $18.95.
• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a "Comfort Thursday" special chicken fried De Burgo, a "gluten free spin on DSM's classic. $16
• The Dam Pub (2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines) has a throwback Thursday special goulash with garlic toast.
• Red Lobster is celebrating the return of its once signature “Lobster Fest” through April 20. Ten lobster specials are on the menu.
• Table 128 (220 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) has a weekly salmon poke bowl special with cucumber, pickled shallot and carrot, sesame, farro, crispy nori cracker, sweet chili, soy, and seaweed salad.
• Village Inns offer a $5 breakfast on Thursdays with two pancakes, two eggs and two strips of bacon or links of sausage.
• Fresh Thyme (2900 University, West Des Moines) begins a sale on King Crab legs at 10 a.m. at $26.99/pound.
• Aldi is selling Appleton Farms spiral sliced half hams for $1.49/pound and sparkling Brut Rose for $10.99 through Tuesday.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com | 
