Tired of paying high prices for marginal jerky products, Chef Pierre Mesa started refining his technique and jerky recipes. A local hardware store asked him to sell his jerky, eventually leading to Chef Pierre building a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) production kitchen. Vermont’s Farmhouse Jerky was launched in 2013.
Chef Pierre’s culinary journey began in his childhood in Telluride, Colorado, and was influenced by his French Canadian and Colombian heritage. He pursued formal culinary education, graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and working with renowned chefs nationwide. His passion for American cuisine, particularly BBQ and jerky, was inspired by his father’s traditional BBQ techniques using natural wood.
Vermont’s Farmhouse Jerky uses high-quality, humanely-raised beef, hand-cuts the meat, and marinates it for no less than 24 hours with organic ingredients like Tamari soy sauce and Worcestershire. Their jerky is soy and gluten-free, with no artificial additives, MSG, or nitrates. The company also offers custom jerky processing for game meats. Chef Pierre and his devoted wife Laura remain committed to quality and continue to be hands-on in his family’s business. This Vermont’s Farmhouse Jerky brand is distributed under the name of Vermont’s Farmhouse Jerky, and it is located in Essex Junction, Vermont.
The first review on Vermont’s Farmhouse Jerky will focus on a 1.5 ounce/42 gram bag of their 4 Pepper flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as using arbol chile, black pepper, white pepper, and Mexican red chile pepper, resulting in lingering heat with their signature tenderness and snap. The jerky was kindly submitted for review by Owner/Chef/CEO Chef Pierra Mesa.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Natural Liquid Smoke (Water, Natural Liquid Smoke), Tamari (Water, Soy Beans, Salt, Sugar), Maple Syrup, Pineapple Juice (Vitamin C – Ascorbic Acid), House Made Worcestershire (Garlic, Apple Cider Vinegar, Honey, Molasses, Tamarind Paste, Spices, Onion Powder), Brown Sugar, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Spices. Allergen Warnings: Soy
This 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. Chef Pierre personally inspects all facilities and checks every eye-round for quality and marbling. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade used here is comprised of natural liquid smoke, a good brand of tamari, healthy maple syrup, healthy pineapple juice, and a very interesting homemade brand of Worcestershire sauce.
Some healthy ingredients added are garlic powder, onion powder, and spices.
There is no nutrition facts table. As a result, the sugar and salt quantities are unknown.
This jerky is confirmed as having no sodium nitrite. Instead, salt is the main preservative used. Admirably, this jerky has no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
VERMONT’S FARMHOUSE JERKY – 4 PEPPER BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell what I believe to be vinegar and possibly some kind of juice, could it be pineapple? The hue of the jerky is very dark, which tells me it is drenched with marinade. The strips of jerky are medium in size, and they are sliced to a medium thickness. The jerky is extremely oily, and it leaves a significant amount of oily residue all over your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky I am met with a myriad of flavors. I taste salt, at a good level, next to no sweet, also a good thing. I taste pepper, also at a good level. So far so good. I see a few chili flakes on the jerky. I am now picking up on the spice. Not too intense, but definitely noticeable. As I consume more I am picking up on more and more of the heat from the 4 spices.
I cannot honestly tell you which spices I am tasting, but they are all tasty. I also like the fact that the jerky is not soft, it has some character.
Now I am starting to sweat, the four peppers are ramping up in the heat.
This has been a very favorable review. I have enjoyed it immensely. I would highly recommend this flavor to anyone who enjoys tasty and spicy snacks or treats. This is definitely a treat. A very well deserved 10/10. Gentlemen?
Hats off!!!😋👍
Here is what Mark had to say about this 4 Pepper beef jerky flavor from Vermont’s Farmhouse Jerky: “Thanks Paul for the glowing taste review. To my dismay, our mascot Lexi ate my portion, a first to the best of my recollection of the past ten years. Paul’s dogs have eaten his portion at least half a dozen times. Since my trip to California, Lexi has eaten three bags and now the portion from Vermont’s Farmhouse Jerky. I will be much more careful going forward. Not all is lost as I ate a small strip immediately after photographing the bag and jerky strips.”
“Based on the small strip that I did taste, it was bursting with flavor. Before this review, I wondered if I should classify this 4 Pepper flavor as spicy or hot. Even with my small amount, I was inclined to classify it as hot, and Paul’s taste review cemented that. With this jerky being vacuum sealed, it was still saturated in marinade as if it had just come out of the dehydrator or smoker. We favor bold tasting flavors, and this 4 Pepper flavor hits it out of the park.”
“I wanted to focus more on the spices, especially the homemade Worcestershire sauce, which we always appreciate in a taste review. Unfortunately, I did not realize I was doing the taste review then. As always, we appreciate minimal sweetness, which delivers an abundance of natural beef flavor. Obviously, a unanimous Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded. Take a bow Chef Pierre, you knocked this flavor out of the park. Two thumbs way up!! 👍👍”
This 1.5 ounce/42 gram bag of jerky sells online for $7.00. That works out to $4.67 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This non-resealable clear plastic bag has labels affixed on the front and back. This bag is vacuum sealed, the best way to keep jerky fresh tasting.
A slogan printed on this bag could be from Chef Pierre, “You Can’t Beat His Meat!’. Some facts printed on this bag are “Gluten Free”, “No Nitrates, MSG or Preservatives”, “House Made Worcestershire”, “Hand Cut, With Chef Passion and Love Hermetically Sealed For Freshness”, and “Family Owned and Operated Since 2013”. A “Made in Vermont Marketplace” stamp is displayed.
Some missing bag categories are a best before date, a nutrition facts table, the jerky weight stated in grams, a soy allergen alert, and no blurb printed about Vermont’s Farmhouse Jerky or this flavor. To the credit of Vermont’s Farmhouse Jerky, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
Order their jerky online: www.vtjerky.co
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