steakman55's Profile
Best/cheapest mail order dry aged steaks
Believe me, I have ordered from just about everyone. First, Costco, while they do sell prime beef some time, is NOT dry aged. Best prices and best steaks, I have found, are from Lobel or Bryan's. Not cheap, but they taste great. My current favorite is Bryan's. Try their "helluva deal" section....
Weekend in Gainesville
Not ethnic, but try Paramount Grill and Mildred's Big City Food. Google them and Go Gators!
In N Out Burger question for a newbie
Okay, I have heard of these burgers for years and understand their cult following. They just don't make'em here in Florida. I will be in California this October and will have at least one. I have heard there are lots of ways that are not listed on the menu. What would you recommend on how to order it? Thanks
One night in San Francisco...a Sunday....where should we go?
Staying at Stanford Court...no sushi, but otherwise something that screams San Francisco at its best. Where would you recommend? Thanks
Best Steakhouse in Orlando?
Not from Orlando, but I have been to all the steakhouses there. I would say #1 in Orlando is Del Frisco. After that, I would rank Flemings or Cap Grille. Interesting comments about Bern's....I have been going there 2-3 times a year since early 70's, and I have to drive 5 hours to get there. As a matter of fact, I am driving to Tampa next weekend just to have dinner at Bern's for my 63rd birthday. If he likes dry aged beef like Luger (as do I) then a side trip to Bern's is worthwhile!!!
Tell me about the state of food in Gainesville
Paramount Grill.....Mildred's Big City Food.....Mark's Prime......some of my favorites when visiting my daughter who is a sophomore at UF
Best food in Tallahassee: Marie Livingstons
Surely you jest. Then again, there is not a lot of great food from which to choose in the restaurant-forsaken town. But ML's? The blue cheese dressing, rolls, and lunchtime BBQ are good indeed, but their steaks are choice at best and marinated to a fare-the-well in a worcestershire type salt bath. If this is great steak, then I shall opt to be a vegetarian. For truly good food in Tallahassee, try Kool Beanz, Provence, Sahara, and Whataburger.
Chez Pierre, Tallahassee, R.I.P.
Another Tallahassee institution bites the dust with long time popular Chez Pierre , which entered Chapter 11 last year, finally announcing its closing. An un-named new owner will change things.
Cooking Prime Steak the Right Way
I have grilled steaks at home for 50 years and here is what works for me ....buy USDA Prime meat if available. It is not widely available in lots of grocery stores, but Costco and Whole Foods regularly carry it. I like dry aged, which tenderizes and gives the meat a rich flavor, but some prefer wet aged. Dry aged is more expensive and usually served in top steak houses.
I take the meat out an hour before grilling, and let it warm a little. I also trim lots of fat since the meat is heavily marbled. I used to salt an hour before, but lately have switched to just before grilling. Use kosher salt and put more on than you think. Also coarsely ground black pepper.
Grill that works for me is a Weber, with real charcoal, not briquets, and certainly not gas. Build fire and let coals get hot, with grey ash.
Sear steaks on each side and don't worry about grill marks. I sear with a brown/mahogany crust. Put lid on steak to finish cooking, which will slow the fire. You can also move steak off the direct coals to the edge of the fire. I use a fork, which does not hurt a thing. When the steak starts to firm up, it is approaching done. I take it up and put a pat of garlic butter on sometimes. It will continue to cook. Let rest at least 5 minutes for juices to recirculate. Dry aged meat will not bleed a lot when you cut into it.
As for cut, I love ribeyes and NY strips. With or without bones. Filets lack taste to me. Enjoy!
What's the best thick-bottomed heavy pot?
We made a big batch of chili in a thin (aluminum) pan and of course it burned on the bottom. With all the different pots out there, what is the best heavy duty one for cooking without burning on bottom?
Morton's Sells Out....again
Morton's as a chain has gone public/private about three times in the last ten years. Now it is selling itself again to Landry's chain. Price for this gem, about $116 million. I don't understand why a chain that sells its basic strip for $57 and a baked potato for $11 can't make money. Maybe because it charges way too much for wet aged beef unless you are on a corporate platinum card.
Best Sweet Potato Recipe?
I have long felt that the best sweet potato was a simply baked one, long and slow, but here is how I have improved it: SMOKED SWEET POTATOES. Simply scrube sweet potatoes and put on the grill when smoking a ham or boston butt. Not over the fire, but off the fire. Cook for about an hour and half, while smoking. The skin slides off, and the potato is heavenly. I don't even add butter or salt or anything.
Cuban Sandwich at Tallahassee Habana Boardwalk: ADIOS!
No; I didn't even bother to mention that it was not authentic Cuban bread
Better cheddar?
Well, I was going to suggest Cabot Seriously Sharp, but see that you already use it! I don't think that it can be improved upon for supermarket cheese.
Cuban Sandwich at Tallahassee Habana Boardwalk: ADIOS!
After several okay meals at Habana Boardwalk, I had a Cuban sandwich today that was just a poor ham sandwich. It was barely pressed, and each half had a measly one inch x three inch piece of roast pork. The ham tasted and looked like the kind that comes in a plastic sandwich size package. When pointed out to server, he agreed...."yeah, next time tell him (cook) you want more roast pork." That should not be necessary.
Rice with black beans brought bland rice with a paltry mix of black beans, and garbanzo soup had uncooked beans in it. OTOH, maduros and diet Coke were great.
Restaurant doesn't change tablecloths between seatings -- Ewww! Or are you okay with that?
You should go to Spark's Steak House in New York next time you are there. They are famous for three things: 1) their sirloin strip is the best in town, 2) it is where the Mafia Boss got wiped out years ago, and 3) they have a fresh tablecloth on each table AND they change it after the main course so you can have desert and coffee on a new cloth. Even if you are dining solo.
Help! I Need A Traditional Southern Cornbread Recipe for My Cast Iron Skillet
My wife makes it and is at the grocery store right now, but I can tell you the two most important things: no sugar, and make sure the grease in the skillet is hot enough to make the batter sizzle when poured in. That ensures a great crust. Enjoy.
High Tide Seafood in Tallahassee, R.I.P.
It didn't take long for this town, so seemingly hostile to new restaurants, to whack another one. High Tide Seafood, in the old Pizza Hut building on Apalachee Parkway has closed after just a few months. They had really good and reasonably priced North Florida seafood and were an offshoot of Crystal River.
Ranking of steak cooking methods?
Default method, after grilling steaks at home for more than 50 years: get good prime dry aged NY strip or ribeye and cook over real charcoal, not briquets. For a change of pace, place a cast iron frying pan directly onto the hot coals and put a well salted ribeye in and cook for 5 minutes each side. Perfection
Kres Chophouse in Orlando
What's the word? Have been to Del Frisco and the chains but never Kres. (I don't live in Orlando)
Cooking steaks
Me four. I have been grilling steaks for more than 50 years outside on a Weber. While I am not a professional chef, everything I have ever read or heard said to salt them before. I heartily agree. Season liberally with kosher salt and let them rest at room temp for an hour before hitting the grill. Works like a charm and does not draw a drop of juice out of the meat that I can tell. No complaints from my eaters.
Looking for a good Saturday lunch spot in Somerville
Help....passing through and taking a nephew at Brandeis to lunch Saturday. Any good suggestions? Any type of food is OK....just as long as it is good. Price does not matter, but not extra fancy. Thanks
Jazzing up Beef Stew
Sounds similar to a recipe that my wife cooked last night for stifado, a Greek beef stew that has pickling spice added. Recipe will be posted if anyone wants it. Delicious
VISTING ST. PETE BEACH LOOKING FOR GREAT SEAFOOD & STEAK
For steak, drive across the bridge to Bern's Steak House in Tampa. Largest wine list in the world. Outstanding prime dry aged beef. worth the trip....I routinely drive 5 hours each way and have to spend night in hotel several times a year for my fix. Believe me.
Tallahassee - Up In Smoke
Lunch there yesterday with a friend who was buying and did not have my glasses (could not read menu), so just ordered what I thought was a good test of a BBQ joint: a pulled pork sandwich and cole slaw. The meat was good, but stringy and had no smoky bbq taste that I could discern. Served on garlic bread.
The sauces that I tasted were all sweetish,, and I did NOT taste the actual sweet sauce. Not to my liking. Cole slaw was dry and I did not finish it, which is unusual.
Friend had sweet potato fries, and I tried one; pretty good. We split a half order of onion rings and they were indeed crunchy but I would not order again.
As a final note, I asked the server what was the best thing for lunch and he mentioned a brisket sandwich covered with gouda cheese. BBQ joints should not even have gouda cheese on the premises, much less smother a brisket sandwich with it.
Chipotle steps in it again
Lighten up, Francis. Their food is great, reasonably priced, fresh, and local. Enjoy!!!!
Tallahassee - Up In Smoke
Went by the first week at 12:45 for lunch with a group of 4 or 5. Even though there were tables available, we were told it would be at least a 45 minute wait for a table as they were backed up. Chalked it up to first week snafu. Friend later went by and said it was mediocre at best and the sauce was not good. It is a shame since Tallahassee, as a southern town, has such a BBQ deficiency. It showed promise. I will give it a chance later. Right now, best BBQ is at Piggy's (Crewsweeper is usually right) and Marie Livingston's lunch only.
Did our server do anything 'wrong'?
If you thought the waitress was trying to trick you into ordering something extra, and I think the waitress was guilty. then I would have skipped the tip without an ounce of guilt
Football Weekend in Tallahassee - Suggestions?
My first pick would be Kool Beanz in midtown, www.koolbeanz-cafe.com
For Florida fresh seafood, panhandle syle (fried), High Tide on Apalachee Parkway www.lifeathightide.com or the Seineyard off North Monroe, www.theseineyard.com Be aware that the website is for their Woodville restaurant, but the sister one is in a Publix Center off North Monroe, behind a Patient;s First doc in box. You can't see it from the road. For finer dining, La Provence or Sage should do it. www.aprovence.com or www.sagetallahassee.com
You will need reservations at the latter two. Enjoy, and go Noles!
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Kool Beanz Cafe
921 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32303
