Steak Enthusiast

For a person who obsesses about steaks (what type of steak to cook for what occasion, how to season a steak for maximum flavor, how to tell if the steak is medium rare, etc.), cooking surf and turf can be a real conundrum.

You see, I’ve got lots of practice with the turf part. No problemo. But the surf? Not so much.

I absolutely love the contrast of the light, delicious seafood with a gorgeous steak. But I definitely need help in preparing just the right meal. I don’t want to mess this up. My dinner’s riding on it.

That’s why I turn to some great seafood recipes to help me out. I can’t just wing it (that’s for poultry anyway). I’ve got to follow some instructions word for word or my “surf” will be all washed up.

Take this recipe for Baked Lobster, for instance. It’s the perfect complement to, say, a Kansas City strip steak. Steak and lobster is a staple. It’s in the Surf and Turf Hall of Fame (there is one, isn’t there?) so I’ve got to get this right.

The recipe tells me exactly how to cut the lobster shell, lift the meat out properly for cooking AND for creating a beautiful presentation. Not to mention ease of eating. It even tells me how to create the butter that is a must for dipping.

This is uncharted territory for me. I’ve got to get my sea legs going and do this seafood some justice. All good steak lovers know that surf and turf is part of the deal.

Want to stick with the KC strip but change up the seafood? We can try this recipe for Sweet and Sour Shrimp Sauce for Kansas City Strip Steaks. It puts the shrimp right in the sauce! Genius!

You simply serve it OVER your steak. Well played.

How about you? Got any amazing surf and turf creations you love? Share them in the comments!

Don’t you just love the changing of seasons? We get to shift our palate’s focus on food that satisfies us in the current season. And when a chill is in the air and great food is on the table it’s time to focus on wine pairings with a fall flair!

My family lives for this time. They can’t get enough football, sweaters and hoodies – and beef. Can you tell I live with all boys?

But I love this time of year, too. We’re forced to huddle around the dinner table and reconnect. Food does that. And I am thankful for it. It’s why I’m obsessed with it. It’s not just about eating.

At this time of year, hearty food begins to dominate my menus and there are some amazing wines that bring out the flavors of fall beautifully. That’s only for the 21-and-over crowd, but we are educating our sons on the finer side of life for when they are adults themselves.

Steaks are always on the menu around here no matter what time of year it is. So what types of steak make the autumn grade?

Let’s start with filet mignon. A delicious, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir works perfectly. Check out this selection of wines and a wine pairing guide to help you make this all-important decision. Then try this recipe for Spicy Bourbon Filets. The bourbon recipe is warm and hearty and spicy. Plus, you use bacon-wrapped filet mignons in this recipe – a perfect way to bring some heat to your table.

Want to serve a Bone-in Ribeye steak? So amazing. A Bodegas Puig Priorat Dominicus, Priorat will go nicely with that. Add some twice-baked potatoes, a salad and cheesecake for dessert and that’s one fall meal to really write home about.

So what are your favorite fall meals? Consult the wine pairing guide and you’ll find the perfect wine to go with that!

I like tailgating. You like tailgating. Everybody likes tailgating!

So, besides the steaks, what are the funnest parts of tailgating? (For our purposes here, “funnest” is, indeed, a word.)

Picture this: You’re in the parking lot of your home stadium. Your best buddy is manning the steak on the grill (he’s got all types of steak from strips to filets to ribeyes), the tent man got there early to pick a primo spot and set up the shade, a group is playing cornhole, another is flipping cups, the DJ has the perfect game-time music blasting and your truck is providing the perfect seating for all the festivities.

This is shaping up to be the best tailgate ever. It’s a tradition that has some murky beginnings – no one really knows for sure where and when it started. But tailgating has swept the country over the years and we’re all getting in on the fun.

So where is it the funnest? (See? I did it again.) Well, inthenation.com says the top 5 best cities for NFL tailgating today are:

1. Baltimore
2. Denver
3. Houston
4. San Diego
5. Cincinnati

And, as you can see from this list, it doesn’t even matter how good the teams are. Sorry, Chargers. It’s all about the food and party. Sweet!

So, no matter the outcome of the game, your goal is to win the pre-party. And win it, you will!

That same site says that there are an estimated 50 million tailgaters in the U.S. Now that’s a lot of burgers! And up to $12 billion is spent on the revelry every year. I mean, what a huge industry.

Plus, up to 35% of those tailgaters are so dedicated to the art of the tailgate that they don’t even set foot inside the stadium. So it makes perfect sense that that party in the parking lot better be a good one!

What are your favorite tailgating traditions?