Michelin-trained chefs launch meat snack brand nationwide
Meat snack brand Carnal showcases its current lineup at Fancy Food Show 2025.
Umami Cut Beef Jerky
Photo courtesy of Carnal
Chef-driven meat snack brand Carnal is officially launching nationwide with its two meat snacks: its signature Beef Sticks and newly released Umami Cut Beef Jerky.
Founded by Michelin-trained chefs James Zamory, Aaron Saurer and Sean McDermott, Carnal first made waves in 2014 at Brooklyn's Smorgasburg. In 2020, they brought that same primal, flavor-forward philosophy across the country to Bellingham, Wash., opening the Carnal restaurant. In 2025, the team launched Carnal's gourmet meat snack line as a portable extension of their culinary roots, beginning with Black Truffle & Black Garlic Beef Sticks and followed by the new Umami Cut Jerky.
"Carnal started as a fire-lit stall at Smorgasburg, driven by a shared obsession for bold, primal flavor," said partner Skip Williamson. "We carried that same spirit into our restaurant and now are bringing that Michelin-level craft to everyday snacking."
Carnal's hero product, the Black Truffle & Black Garlic Beef Stick features a smoky flavor, clean snap and zero-sugar formulation. The new Umami Cut Jerky builds on that formulation, featuring high-quality cuts of beef infused with aged soy, fermented black garlic and spring black truffle.
"With our Beef Sticks, we reimagined the everyday snack. With the Jerky, we pushed even further," said Zamory "We treated it like any dish we'd create in our kitchen – balanced, deeply flavored, and texturally memorable. Working with Aaron and Sean, we harnessed the umami punch of black garlic and black truffle and lifted them to new heights with a unique supporting cast of flavors not found in other meat snacks."
Carnal has more product innovations on the horizon and will be showcasing their current lineup at the Fancy Food Show in New York City, set for June 29-July 1, 2025, at booth #5547B.
Source: Carnal
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