Cut & Dried Gourmet - Biltong

Cut & Dried Gourmet was founded by Stephen Kerford in 2014, based out of San Francisco, CA. Kerford had been managing the e-commerce businesses of Hearst Ranch and Niman Ranch.

He had been making "private reserve" batches of biltong while at both ranches. Stephen extended the practice of making biltong into his new company, Cut & Dried Gourmet.

The company currently offers three varieties of biltong, a "Natural Beef Biltong", a "Peri Peri Biltong" described as spicy, and a "Cajun Biltong".

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Pap's Beef Jerky - Blazin Cajun Thin Cut

Note: Pap's Foods is a sponsor of this website, but has no effect on our ratings and reviews.

Pap's Beef Jerky, introduced a revised line of jerky, with a new line of recipes. See our previous reviews of their jerky.

Four new varieties now anchor their beef jerky lineup, Mild, Hot, Blazin Cajun, and Pitmasters BBQ. Pitmasters BBQ is the only variety carrying over from the previous lineup. The words "Thin Cut" now grace Pap's beef jerky packaging, which is considerably more thin than their previous cut.

Pap's Beef Jerky originally grew from Pap's Genuine Beef Sticks. Pap's is a creation of Rick Waldon, based out of Junction City, KY. Pap's Beef Jerky is made using USDA inspected beef in a USDA inspected facility.

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Astig Jerky - Tocino

Astig Beef Jerky is a brand founded in August 2012 by Michael J Robin based out of Thousand Oaks, CA. We had review two of their flavors over a year ago, and recently they sent in this third flavor.

Making the claim that it's the first beef jerky company made with traditional Filipino recipes sold in the United States, Astig Beef Jerky is made with USDA approved grain fed beef. The name "Astig" is a Tagalog word meaning "cool", "badass" or "kickass".

This Tocino variety is actually the mild version of its Spicy Tocino that I reviewed earlier. It's described the company as "Traditional Philippine Tocino, with a light touch of spice", taking the traditional tocino style cooking, and moving it into beef jerky form.

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Two Brothers Jerky - Cackalacky

Two Brothers Jerky is a brand of jerky originally launched by two brothers who had been separated at birth, and raised by two different families. When they finally reunited in 2010, they did what most reunited brothers do, celebrate with jerky.

Based out of Columbia, SC, brothers Paul Brock and Eddie Wales, started Two Brothers Jerky in 2013 using Paul's secret recipes. Both brothers, coincidentally, attended the same state colleges, and each ran successful restaurants. The jerky is made by the brothers at Eddie's restaurant, Motor Supply Company Bistro in Columbia.

This Cackalacky is made using the famous sauce of the same name. It's a special edition jerky, not part of the company's main varities. Cackalacky is a brand of sweet & spicy sauce made from sweet potatoes, and has become popular in the Carolinas.

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K.O. Jerky

KO Jerky is a new brand of jerky based out of Madera, CA. Describing itself as the "Best BJ Ever!", it's the product of Randall and Michelle Kelch.

The startup business prides itself on making 100% homemade beef jerky right from the Kelch's home. They use no preservatives, no additives. Vacuumed sealed within minutes of being dehydrated, KO Jerky claims to offer the freshest jerky anyone will ever eat.

Currently, they offer two flavors, this Original and Peppered.

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Red Truck Beef Jerky - Teriyaki

Red Truck Beef Jerky is a brand of Red Truck Beef Jerky, LLC, based out of St. Petersburg, FL. According to the company, they've been doing business for over 15 years.

Red Truck says their jerky is made from 100% Grade A sliced shoulder beef from USA cattle, naturally seasoned with, "a touch of nature's honey and dried slowly". The company currently ships their jerky to Cracker Barrel, MAPCO Express, Lowes Foods, Schnucks Markets, Western Convenience Stores, and Green Top Sporting Goods. They also claim their jerky to be gluten-free.

The company offers three flavors, Original, Teriyaki, and Peppered. We only have the first two for review.

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Bayou Blend - Luziana Bonfire

Bayou Blend Meat Snacks is a brand of beef jerky based out of Napoleonville, LA. The company was started by Milton Hock in January 2013.

Hock had been making jerky for some 20 years before launching Bayou Blend. He started the business after seeing an opportunity to offer meat snacks with more unique cajun-style flavor than competing brands.

This Luziana Bonfire is claimed to be similar to the Melange Original we reviewed last month, but adding a touch of "bite" to the back end.

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Two Brothers Jerky - Sweet Ninja Teriyaki

Two Brothers Jerky is a brand of jerky originally launched by two brothers who had been separated at birth, and raised by two different families. When they finally reunited in 2010, they did what most reunited brothers do, celebrate with jerky.

Based out of Columbia, SC, brothers Paul Brock and Eddie Wales, started Two Brothers Jerky in 2013 using Paul's secret recipes. Both brothers, coincidentally, attended the same state colleges, and each ran successful restaurants. The jerky is made by the brothers at Eddie's restaurant, Motor Supply Company Bistro in Columbia.

This Sweet Ninja Teriyaki is said to be a "sweet flavor that hails from faraway shores". The company claims, "fresh ginger is the star ingredient along with brown sugar and soy in this sweet and tangy jerky which will have the whole family clamoring for more."

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Mantell's Cowboy Caviar - Beef Jerky

Mantell's Cowboy Caviar is a line of beef jerky produced by Mantell's Cowboy Creations of Bowie, TX. Mantell is better known as "Cowboy Johnny Mantell", or, "The Pride of Montague County", of professional wrestling fame, and currently runs wrestling training and seminars at his "Mantell's Corral".

The Mantell's Cowboy Creations brand produces all natural and farm fresh foods from Mantell's own ranch, including farm fresh eggs, fresh produce, and special order dog treats. He currently sells his products at Bowie's Farmers Market, wrestling shows, as well as through his website.

Mantell's Cowboy Caviar is a thin sliced, dry jerky made from 100% beef rump roast. According to Mantell, he originally made this jerky thin so that his dad could eat it with false teeth.

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Pure Provisions - Orange Ginger Turkey Jerky

Pure Provisions is a brand of jerky that launched in 2013. It was founded by three college buddies, Matthew Gosselin, John Padlo, and Greg Stahl, who call Portola Valley, CA their company headquarters.

The company was conceived when the three guys did a road trip from San Francisco to Boston, hopping from one national park after another and spending their nights in tents. They became accustomed to jerky for its long shelf life, easy packing, and high protein. So, they agreed to start a company focused on jerky for active outdoorsmen.

This Orange Ginger Turkey Jerky is their debut flavor. They describe as "Subtly flavored with the tang of orange and ginger", and as "a new twist on an old classic".

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Red Truck Beef Jerky

Red Truck Beef Jerky is a brand of Red Truck Beef Jerky, LLC, based out of St. Petersburg, FL. According to the company, they've been doing business for over 15 years.

Red Truck says their jerky is made from 100% Grade A sliced shoulder beef from USA cattle, naturally seasoned with, "a touch of nature's honey and dried slowly". The company currently ships their jerky to Cracker Barrel, MAPCO Express, Lowes Foods, Schnucks Markets, Western Convenience Stores, and Green Top Sporting Goods. They also claim their jerky to be gluten-free.

The company offers three flavors, Original, Teriyaki, and Peppered. We only have the first two for review.

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