Dardenne Prairie has a new destination for carnivores. The Quarter Butcher, a whole animal butcher shop focused on locally sourced, pasture-raised meats, opened at the beginning of July. The family-owned shop, run by husband-and-wife team Ryan and Eleni Sommerkamp, aims to bring education and exceptional quality to the community.
The Quarter Butcher sources entire animals directly from area farms, breaking them down in-house to offer everything from premium steaks to house-made sausages, tallow, broth and under-the-radar cuts rarely found at grocery store meat counters.
“We believe meat that’s raised better truly tastes better,” said co-owner Eleni Sommerkamp. “Our goal is to connect customers with where their food comes from and provide an experience that’s both approachable and educational.”
Customers can expect a rotating selection of beef, pork, chicken and more, as well as a glimpse into the butchering process through a window into the cut room, and offerings will be expanded in the coming months. Questions are encouraged, whether they’re about how the animal was raised or the best way to cook a lesser-known cut.
Ryan Sommerkamp brings years of experience in the St. Louis culinary world to the new shop, with time spent at several Niche Food Group restaurants and Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions in Maplewood. “This has been a dream in the making,” he said. “We want to offer something truly special: meat that’s responsibly sourced, broken down with care, and sold with the knowledge to back it up.”
This article appears in July 2025.