We welcomed the brisk fall air this weekend with a sizzle . . .

. . . and it turned into this . . .

Pure greatness.

We grilled up some thin-cut ribeyes and this beauty above is a thick Kansas City strip steak. Oh, the joy.

The smells of the grill, the steaks and the fall air were absolutely divine.

Welcome, autumn. You can stop by my house any time.

8 of the Most Expensive Cuts of Beef You Never Knew You HAD to Have!

You love steak, and even in a recession you want the best that money can buy.  But how much money are you really willing to drop to buy the “perfect” steak?

Let’s say you have an unlimited budget…what would be the best steak that your money could buy?  Here’s a list of the 8 most expensive types of beef.  Prices will vary according to your geographic location, the portion size, and grade of beef selected.

Not all beef is created equal.  If you want to eat the best steak of your life, it’s gonna cost you…and it’ll be worth every penny.

The Best of the Best

1)    Kobe Beef

This beef comes only from Kobe, Japan; therefore, costs more the further you travel from Japan.  What makes it so special?  Well, it comes from Wagyu cows that have been massaged with sake-fed grain fodder and given one beer a day.  This makes the beef tender, flavorful and wonderfully marbled.

2)    American Style Wagyu Kobe Beef

This type of beef comes from a cross of Black Angus and Wagyu cows and are raised here in the U.S.  They are rare (there aren’t very many of them) so they are expensive.  They, too, are tender and very flavorful.

3)    Tenderloin

Typically, the most expensive cuts of beef are taken from the most tender parts of the cow.  These are the parts that don’t get “overworked” in the animal’s lifetime.  Therefore, they’re tender.  Tenderloin is an amazing example of this. This is the Filet Mignon in roast form.

4)    Filet Mignon

Now, this is exquisite.  Filet mignon is taken from the small end of the tenderloin (called the short loin) and is known as the “king of steaks.”  It can often be cut with a fork, it’s so tender.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  You can find delectable filet mignon at most any upscale steakhouse, but I prefer an at-home version delivered by The Kansas City Steak Company.  They’re widely known for their corn-fed beef – especially the filet mignon.

5)    Kansas City Strip

Strip steaks, taken from the short loin, are particularly tender, but not as tender as the tenderloin.  They can, however, but cut into thicker portions which is appealing to lovers of more rare beef.

Sometimes called New York Strip, you can find strip steaks just about everywhere!

6)    Porterhouse

Ahhh, the Porterhouse!  Part tenderloin and part strip steak, this hefty favorite divides the two with a bone that helps provide amazing flavor.  The Porterhouse has a larger side of tenderloin than on a T-bone.  Yum!

7)    T Bone

The yin to the Porterhouse’s yang, the T-bone is a more conventional favorite, yet still pricey in upscale restaurants.  The fact that this type of steak comes from the short loin section of the cow (and, thus, the most tender) makes it expensive.  A good bet.

8)    Bone-in Ribeye (Cote de Boeuf)

It’s the bone that gives this cut its flavor.  Leave the bone in and you leave the rich flavor intact.  The ribeye comes from the prime rib, which gives it its hearty flavor.

Good morning, class. Today we’re going to discuss what in heaven’s name a Delmonico is.

You may know it as a bone-in top loin, a boneless ribeye or a New York Strip, Kansas City Strip or strip loin.

Those strip steaks are what I’ve always heard substitute for a Delmonico, but there seems to be some difference in opinion.

Delmonico’s Restaurant in NYC is credited with making this steak meal world famous with a baked mashed potato dish topped with grated cheese and buttered bread crumbs. Oh. Yum.

History is always being rewritten, so we may never know which exact cut was the REAL Delmonico. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s a strip.

Read more about Delmonico steaks at Wikipedia here. Then, let me know what YOU believe a Delmonico is!

Illustration courtesy of Wikipedia.org.