Joseph Mason, founder and owner of Mason Hills Farm in Grand Bay, Alabama, is taking Ocean Springs by storm with his new approach to the beloved 4-Bulls butcher shop brand. Mason recently reopened 4-Bulls in a new spot near downtown and it’s been nonstop excitement since he took over the helm of this already established eatery.
Four short years ago, Mason started out on a new journey of raising cattle and pork on his newly-purchased farm in Grand Bay, and before he knew it his farm had evolved into the only local USDA-approved processing facility. When the opportunity to purchase the 4-Bulls brand became available, Mason jumped on it and hasn’t looked back.
There is so much to love about 4-Bulls and what Mason and his team are doing. Mason enjoys hosting events, parties and even couples nights at the restaurant where he works with his team to provide a fun and delicious culinary experience. Immersive experiences are all the rage and showing others how to not only cook meats, but to love the entire process is a passion of his. He offers various types of “meat boards” highlighting all of their in-house meats and these boards are next-level incredible. Imagine a steakhouse and a charcuterie board having a baby and the result would be one of Mason’s epic meat boards. It’s basically raining meat.
The Mini Prime Rib is slathered in house butter, rosemary, garlic, and thyme and served with rendered juices. The Smoked Boston Butt is a product of Mason Hills farm and tossed in 4-Bulls’ house Ranch Juice, Mason’s take on a rich, sweet barbecue sauce. The Beef Brisket and House Pork Sausage are delicious, but the star of the show is the 4-Bulls Tomahawk Ribeye, served bone-in, smoked, and seared to pure perfection.
Stuffed mushrooms, bacon-wrapped asparagus, and even housemade focaccia aren’t simply “sides.” No, ma’am. They are the perfect accompaniment to an incredible well-rounded meal. Even the salted pretzel, caramel, and dark chocolate chip cookies are next level good. These events can be scheduled in advance and are the perfect way to hang out with friends while letting someone else do most of the work.
That being said, maybe you want to do all of the work? 4-Bulls has you covered on that end. Their fresh cut meats are amazing, and they have just about all of the basic and specialty cuts that you can imagine. One of my personal favorites was the house queso dip because it’s a great way to start off your cooking process with a snack while you get everything else ready. This is one of those no-brainer options that features cheese, jalapeños, diced tomatoes and house ground sausage in a easy-to-cook pan. Simply set it on the grill, stir and enjoy!
We decided to go big or go home and try our hands at the Tomahawk. We smoked this beauty for a little over two hours and seasoned it with Mason’s signature Cowboy Butter seasoning. A quick sear on both sides finished off this delicious meat. While it rested, we warmed up some 4-Bulls Big Back Snacks to serve as sides and while we loved them all, the twice-baked potato was truly a standout.
I cannot say enough great things about 4-Bulls, Mason, and his team. Everyone is eager to help you, answer any and all questions, and truly make you feel like a friend. When you think “shop/support local,” there’s no better example of a place that truly embraces that mantra. Eating clean and eating healthy is important to Mason and he believes that after one trip to 4-Bulls, you’ll be right there with him, embracing the farm all the way to the table.
4-Bulls
1108 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs
228.910.6328
www.4bullsbutchershop.com
Facebook @4-bulls
Hours: Mon. & Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
