Hutto meat market seeks to gain a foothold

In a time when meat markets are becoming a remnant of the past, a Hutto business is working to buck that trend, Beau's Specialty Meats & Deli co-owner Beau Bartlett said.

Beau and his father, Gary, opened Beau's in February. The meat market and restaurant on East Front Street off Hwy. 79 might appear to be an underdog as supermarkets often have an advantage in terms of price and convenience. But Beau said he prides himself on having products customers cannot find at a supermarket, and many of the meats have a Cajun flair.

"There's only a few places in the state of Texas that do the meats we do," Beau said.

The specialty meats are prepared in-house. Among them are stuffed chicken, turducken–which is a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken–and specialty items such as boudin and roasted green chili sausage.

In addition to its meats, Beau's also has lunch offerings. Menu items include deli sandwiches, chicken and sausage gumbo, etouffee, and red beans and rice. On weekends the Bartletts serve brisket plates and fried boudin balls.

After four years in the Coast Guard followed by schooling at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin, Beau said he job-hopped at different food service establishments. He discovered a passion for working in meat markets.

"It's just the stuff that I used to like to do in my spare time just at my house, but now we just try and make money doing it," Beau said.

Beau is a first-time business owner. Gary said he would encourage Beau to open his own business only if the drive was there.

"I see the drive in him now," Gary said.

Beau said his main objective is to "make that door spin as fast as possible."

"There are two things–customer service and food–in this business," Beau said. "There are a lot of people that can't figure that out."

109 E. Front St., Hutto, www.beausspecialtymeats.com, Hours: Mon.–Sun. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., 512-846-1515