Meet New Neighborhood Butcher, The Heart and Trotter

Two meat men with a passion for sustainable food are using their talents to help San Diego eat better. Ocean Beach residents and college friends James Holtslag and Trey Nichols are gearing up for a series of dinners around town that'll build up to the launch of a Kickstarter campaign on September 15.

The campaign will help to fund The Heart and Trotter, Holtslag and Nichols' new whole animal butcher shop that will focus on humanely-raised animals from farms and ranches within a 250-mile radius of San Diego. A location has yet to be determined, but the partners are looking at either North County or the North Park area.

Holtslag honed his butchery skills during an internship with West Hollywood's buzzed-about Lindy & Grundy Meats; he plans to conduct meat education classes at the shop, and make and sell fresh sausages, charcuterie and stocks.

The Heart and Trotter's first event is on Thursday, August 15 in collaboration with Alchemy Cultural Fare and Cocktails in South Park. Following a live butchering demonstration of a beef hind quarter, Alchemy's chef Ricardo Heredia will prepare a six course beef tasting paired with Societe Brewing Co. beers. The event starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are $48.

[Courtesy photo]

Another dinner, entitled "Turf by the Surf", is planned for Monday, September 16 at Matt Gordon's Sea & Smoke, and The Heart and Trotter's also in talks with Carnitas' Snack Shack to partner on a pork-centric picnic.

The Heart and Trotter Kickstarter Video from Mike Zorger on Vimeo.