Good beef, as in tender, has to have some marbling. That marbling is fat and fat makes the cut more tender. Too much fat, of course, is no good but none or very little is also no good. If there is blood in the packaging it is a sign that the meat has been in that package for at least a few hours. Many grocers use red food coloring to brighten the color of beef. My preference is to shop where the meat looks almost brownish because they don't use food color. It's really ok to ask to smell your selection before they wrap it; how else will you know how fresh it is? Hope this helps and enjoy your cooking adventures!