Thursday 18 February 2010

Not much at steak here

I am utterly exhausted. All I want is 10 minutes to stand still and do nothing. But seeing that's not likely (am typing this post between following up on work emails and filing residents' objections to this stupid store), I will indulge in a random rant instead. About steak.



Yes, steak.



It's just one of those things I don't "get". Seriously, what is the fuss about steak? It's a lump of cooked meat. But people go mad for it (especially South Africans). They search for the perfect steak restaurant, order their massive piece of dead cow and then rave to everyone about how delicious it is.



But it isn't really. It's just plain boring. I would never order steak at a restaurant - there are too many other more exciting things on the menu for me to get stuck with a chunk of meat. I would even pick good old roast chicken over steak any day of the week. Or calamari. Or curry. Or a stirfry. Anything, really. Except tripe. I draw the line there.



People think I feel like this because I haven't had a "proper" or "perfect" steak. I have. My husband is the world's greatest steak snob. I have tasted the steak he orders at restaurants ranging from The Cape Colony to Coco Bongo and many, many places in between. And I'll tell you what... it all tastes like steak.



Yes, some steaks are tender and some are tough. Some are cooked beautifully while others are burnt to a crisp or slapped on your plate while they're practically still moo-ing. TSC actually does a better steak than most of the restuarants we've been to. But even the most delicately spiced, perfectly cooked piece of steak still tastes like a big chunk of beef.



I prefer the taste of fresh coriander, lemon butter, plum sauce, green curry or napolitana sauce to steak. That's just the way it is.



But you wouldn't believe how many people have tried to convince me that I am wrong and that steak is indeed the ultimate meal. Weird.



Anyway, go ahead and take your shot. Tell me how awesome steak is. Or don't. I'm going to pick the roast chicken anyway.

12 comments:

Cam said...

The steaks are high! ;)

Shayne said...

i'm not going to try and convince you as i feel the same way. If i do eat steak i prefer fillet as it is tender, but my husband says rump is the way to go because it far more flavourful.

i'd rather do chicken or calamari anyday!

Glad the cake was a success - i did one last night too.

phillygirl said...

Oh I'm soooo with you on this. I do not get the appeal. Any appeal is really in the sauce or topping it comes along with (in my mind).

I'm so not a blogger said...

Im so not a steak person!

Bagman and Butler said...

Steaks require way too much chewing for my taste.

Anonymous said...

Butcher Boys steak will change you... It's glorious there.

Plum sauce is something I would place above steak too though... completely

Louisa said...

I enjoy steak, and I enjoy chicken and calamari and what not too. I can't imagine anything more boring than always getting the same thing off the menu though - some days are steak days for me and some days just aren't. ;-)

Mel said...

I dont see this as an either or....I am just glad I know where to find a good steak when I need one! But most of the time I am a meditteranean style eater!

po said...

I don't get steak either. It drives me mad when people say I need a steak. Wha?

AngelConradie said...

I love a good steak, but I am just as partial to seafood and salad and chicken and pasta and pizza and… oops. Can you tell I’m on a diet!??!

A Cuban In London said...

Marinate it overnight with plenty of garlic, onions and chillies. Fry it over a medium fire or grill it under a medium grill, your choice. My steak. Great post. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Helen said...

I'm not much of a eat eater, and really don't see the point in paying fortune for a chunk of meat when you could spend that on biltong (which is not meat, it's its own food group). One steak I like is at the place in Rosebank opposite Cinema Nouveau (Cattlebaron?) which makes a steak with pepper sauce which is awesome. There's also one with mustard sauce which is good, but a bit rich for me.