Photo Gallery: NYC's Heritage Meat Shop

After founding Slow Food USA, Patrick Martins turned his gastronomic sights on a rare, but treasured, food product —  heritage meat. Dismayed by the lack of variety (and consquently the lack of sustainability) of America's meats he decided to take action. In 2001, Martins founded Heritage Foods USA, a company that mail orders genetically varied, high-quality meats to consumers around the country.

Last year, he opened a physical shop in the Essex Street Market on Manhattan's Lower East Side, where customers can buy cuts of heritage meats, cured meats (including some by Mario Batali's father Armandino Batali), and sandwiches. Click through for photos by Gabi Porter.

Related: Article: A Guide to Buying Heritage Meats

Photo Gallery: NYC's Heritage Meat Shop

The packed display lures Essex Street Market shoppers

Patrick Martins expounding on his favorite topic — heritage meat

Patrick slicing some of Heritage Shop's petite tender

A closer look at that petite tender

It's what's for dinner!

Patrick Martins with Anne Saxelby, founder of Saxelby Cheesemongers

Patrick and his colleague, Shana Chock-Goldman, pose with some ham

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