Reviving Local Food Through Fire, Simplicity, and Tradition w/ Jesse Griffiths | MMP #379

The Meat Mafia Podcast

Jesse Griffiths is a celebrated chef, hunter, and storyteller reshaping the culinary landscape of Texas. As the visionary behind Dai Due, a restaurant that champions sustainable, locally sourced, and seasonally inspired cooking, Jesse has mastered the art of connecting people to their food. With a deep respect for nature and tradition, he’s also an author and educator who inspires others to embrace the beauty of wild game, foraging, and the flavors of Texas.

In this episode, we sit down with Jesse Griffiths, the culinary mind behind Dai Due. Jesse takes us on a journey from his early days as a supper club pioneer to running a restaurant that’s a beacon for sustainability and authenticity in Austin’s food scene. We dive into his passion for hunting, his respect for nature’s ingredients, and how he’s inspiring a new generation to reconnect with their food. Whether it’s rendering beef tallow for fries or crafting the perfect peach pie with lard, Jesse’s insights will make you rethink what it means to eat well.

What we cover:
- Dai Due’s Origins: From supper club to Austin culinary landmark.
- Building menus around seasonal, local ingredients.
- Grass-fed beef and beef tallow resurgence.
- How European simplicity and respect for ingredients shaped Jesse’s approach
- Overcoming hurdles to create a transparent and healthy kitchen.

Timestamps:
(00:00) Evolution of Dai Due Restaurant
(14:25) Culinary Journey and Italian Inspiration
(24:44) Revolutionizing Food Sourcing and Education
(33:50) Culinary Traditions and Ingredients
(48:04) Financial Sustainability and Culinary Transparency
(55:11) Local Food Sourcing and Humility
(59:06) Mutual Inspiration Among Austin Chefs
(01:04:51) Hunting Influence on Dai Due
(01:15:37) Influences and Future Culinary Concepts
(01:27:25) Salt and Time's Departure and Evolution

*** LINKS***

Check out our Newsletter - Food for Thought - to dramatically improve your health this year!

Join The Meat Mafia community Telegram group for daily conversations to keep up with what’s happening between episodes of the show.

Connect with Jesse:
Instagram
Dai Due
Jesse's Books

Connect with Brett:

Instagram
X

Connect with Harry:

Instagram
X

Connect with Meat Mafia:

Instagram - Meat Mafia
X - Meat Mafia
YouTube - Meat Mafia

Connect with Noble Protein:

Website - Noble Protein
X - Noble Protein
Instagram - Noble Protein

AFFILIATES

1. LMNT - Electrolyte salts to supplement minerals on low-carb diet
2. The Carnivore Bar - Use Code 'MEATMAFIA' for 10% OFF - Delicious & convenient Pemmican Bar
3. Perennial Pastures - Use CODE 'MEATMAFIA' 10% OFF - Regeneratively raised, grass-fed & grass-finished beef from California & Montana
4. Farrow Skincare - Use CODE 'MEATMAFIA' at checkout for 20% OFF
5. Heart & Soil - CODE ‘MEATMAFIA’ for 10% OFF - enhanced nutrition to replace daily vitamins!
6. Carnivore Snax - Use CODE 'MEATMAFIA' Crispy, airy meat chips that melt in your mouth. Regeneratively raised in the USA.
7. Pluck Seasoning - 15% OFF - Nutrient-dense seasoning with INSANE flavor! Use CODE: MEATMAFIA
8. We Feed Raw 25% OFF your first order - ancestrally consistent food for your dog! Use CODE 'MEATMAFIA'
9. Fond Bone Broth - 15% OFF - REAL bone broth with HIGH-QUALITY ingredients! It’s a daily product for us! Use CODE: MAFIA
10. Maui Nui- 15% OFF. Use CODE: MEATMAFIA