If you’ve ever eaten at one of Justin Brunson’s restaurants, you know the beloved local chef and restaurateur is a fan of meat. After all, there’s the three-pound pork chop on the menu at Old Major; a lunch spot devoted to fried chicken; a meat-and-cheese-centric venture; and the forthcoming Rocky Mountain Charcuterie.

So when Food Network wanted to know what kind of show Brunson would be interested in filming, the answer was simple: “[I told them] it’d be cool if you had a show about meat—not just barbecue, but burgers, steaks, charcuterie, sausages. I’d go and talk to the chefs or the farmers or the ranchers—get the whole story,” Brunson says.

Old Major
A charcuterie spread at Old Major. Photo courtesy of Dave Torri

The network went for the idea.

SEARious Meats premieres Wednesday, October 18 at 8 p.m. on the Cooking Channel; the Food Network premiere is on Friday, October 20 at 4:30 p.m. The half-hour pilot—“Cowtown to Chowtown”—was shot entirely in Denver over the summer. “Everybody wants to eat food with a story,” Brunson says. “I want to showcase as many people that are doing it right.”

More episodes will come if audiences respond to the premiere. Brunson would love to eventually expand the concept to focus more on sustainability, meat quality, and animal husbandry. Tune in next week to support his efforts—and maybe find a new local spot for your next dinner date.

Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.