Chef Shane Spencer’s culinary journey began with classical training, culminating in graduating as the top student from Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2002. He then embarked on a career at some of San Diego, California’s most esteemed restaurants, dedicating 16 years to refining his skills as an Executive Chef. However, his culinary path changed when he ventured into catering and offered a more intimate dining experience as a private chef. Chef Shane allows his creations to speak for themselves, reflecting his genuine passion for every dish he prepares.
In a serendipitous twist, Chef Shane crossed paths with Chef Sean Readman in the early 2000s. At the same time, both were involved in opening a restaurant called The Farm in Redlands, California and later, coincidentally, The State in the exact location. Their partnership led to a great friendship and a decision to combine their extensive culinary backgrounds across various southern California restaurants. In 2018, they officially joined forces.
Initially operating under Spencer Readman, they later felt it resembled a law firm or Wall Street company more than their culinary venture. In 2021, they rebranded themselves as Wild Javelina Private Chef & Catering Services, marking the beginning of their successful journey throughout California. Despite their flourishing catering business, Chef Shane remains cooking for high-profile clients in Orange County and San Diego. Meanwhile, Chef Sean holds the position of Executive Chef at La Volata in Redlands, California.
Chef Shane’s unexpected foray into beef jerky sales began in early 2020 when the world faced lockdowns. What initially started as a lighthearted hobby, born out of his 20 years of culinary experience, soon transformed into a passion as he discovered the overwhelming appreciation from his gym’s patrons. Three years later, he continues to serve his private clients and cater events, all while managing a thriving beef jerky startup known as Wild Javelina. This Wild Javelina brand is distributed under the same name as Wild Javelina, and it is located in Redlands, California.
The first review on Wild Javelina will focus on a 2.5 ounce/71 gram bag of their Kimchi Lemongrass flavored beef brisket jerky. This jerky was kindly submitted for review by co-founder Chef Shane Spencer.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Cane Sugar*, Brown Sugar*, Onions*, Tangerines*, Red Curry Paste – Thai Kitchen, Apple Cider, Ginger*, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Fish Sauce, Vegan Worcestershire Sauce*, Lemongrass*, Garlic*, Chili Paste, Sambal, Liquid Amino Acids, Black Pepper*, Kimchi Base, Rice Vinegar, Cilantro*, Bay Leaf*. *=Organic Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat, Anchovy
This brisket cut of beef is ethically raised, meaning it is guaranteed to be free of growth hormones and additional antibiotics. The cattle are guaranteed to have some free range access to roam about and graze on grass the way nature intended. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
This super interesting liquid marinade used here is comprised of healthy red curry paste, super healthy apple cider, a decent soy sauce, fish sauce, organic vegan Worcestershire sauce, chili paste, healthy sambal, and healthy rice vinegar.
There are some healthy ingredients added, such as organic onions, organic tangerines, organic ginger, organic lemongrass, organic garlic, organic black pepper, kimchi base, organic cilantro, and organic bay leaf.
The sugar level is high at 6 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or less. The salt level is on the low side at 240mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky is confirmed as having no sodium nitrite. Instead, salt is the main preservative used, and apple cider and rice vinegar to a lesser extent. Admirably, this jerky has no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
WILD JAVELINA – KIMICHI LEMONGRASS BEEF BRISKET JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell lemon. The pieces are small in size and thin. The jerky is somewhat moist and leaves a bit of residue on your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky I immediately pick up on the lemongrass flavor. I also taste an alien flavor, which I am guessing is the kimchi. I also pick up on salt, pepper, light garlic, and natural beef. There is no shortage of flavors coming out of this jerky. Every bite presents a smorgasbord of different taste experiences.
I’m not sure what kimchi actually tastes like by itself, but mixed in with this jerky, it is proving to be a new tasty explosion. I also pick up on a noticeable Zing!! to the jerky flavor. It never escalates to heat, but there is definitely some Zing!!
In conclusion, I am quite confident this flavor of jerky deserves a 10/10. Gentlemen?
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
Wild Javelina – Kimchi Lemongrass Beef Brisket Jerky – a lot is going on with this flavor, and surprisingly, it works. The aroma and texture are simply amazing. I was quite surprised, and after tasting this jerky a few times, I really enjoyed its flavor. There are a lot of flavors going on, and many remain distinct and easily identifiable, which makes this jerky stand out. The ginger takes center stage with other flavors like lemongrass, fish sauce, soya sauce, cilantro, black pepper, and some sweetness in the background. This medley of great flavors certainly hits the spot.
The Wild Javelina – Kimchi Lemongrass Beef Brisket Jerky is quite tasty and certainly a little gem of wonderful flavors. I don’t know if I can really taste the kimchi, however, I am tasting a whole slew of flavors. Several of the elements in kimchi are present without the taste of fermentation. I really enjoyed this flavor, and it’s a well deserved 10\10 Taste Rating. Godspeed!
Here is what Mark had to say about this Kimchi Lemongrass beef brisket jerky flavor from Wild Javelina: “Thanks Stéphane and Paul for the glowing taste reviews. I 100% agree with both of you. There is an explosion of flavors. At first, I thought the sweetness would be too much, but it turns out the sweetness was a non-factor. As for kimchi, it has been exactly a year this week since I first tried kimchi. I weirdly found this flavor to taste reminiscent of kimchi, an unusual flavor for beef jerky. Paul is right in that this flavor has a certain zing, but not heat.”
“The overall taste profile is unique and bold. The flavor starts a certain way, then transforms to another flavor. There is an array of bold tasting flavors that do not disappoint. This Kimchi Lemongrass flavor was an absolute treat to review and addictive as heck. It is a slam dunk unanimous Excellent (10/10) taste rating. Take a bow Wild Javelina. A very enthusiastic two thumbs up!!👍👍”
This 2.5 ounce/71 gram bag of jerky sells online for $10. That works out to $4.00 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has a label affixed on the front and nothing on the back. The Wild Javelina logo features a wild javelina, which resembles a pig from the peccary family. This bag is vacuum sealed, the best way to keep jerky fresh tasting.
A slogan on this bag could be “Chef Crafted Brisket Beef Jerky”. There are no facts printed on this bag.
Some missing bag categories are a best before date, a USDA stamp, the jerky weight stated in grams, a barcode, and no blurb printed about Wild Javelina or this flavor. Instagram handles are provided. To the credit of Wild Javelina, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
Order their jerky online: www.chefshanespencer.com
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