Visit your butcher and you quickly discover that not all steaks are created equal. And when the butcher calls out the "now serving" number held in the hand of a novice, the choices can be intimidating.
There is, of course, no simple formula. That high-end tenderloin may be delicious if it is served correctly, but the chuck or round cut can actually make for a better slow-cooked pot roast at a fraction of the cost. The preparation choices are equally dizzying. One thing that every piece of meat behind that butcher's glass has in common, however, is that rising feed and fuel costs have driven up the price of steak from a year ago, with higher-yet prices expected to be on the way. For many steak lovers, that may mean that they should leave it up to the experts and enjoy their favorite meat at a restaurant.
While it is not necessarily cheaper to get it from a restaurant, the experience can provide considerably more value. "It's surprising how close a restaurant can come to beating the price of preparing steak at home," said Glenn Drasher, vice president of marketing Famous Dave's. "Restaurants typically get a better wholesale price on the same cuts of meat due to the quantity they purchase. What's more, the home-cooked steak can be a big disappointment if it's not perfectly prepared."
A case in point is Famous Dave's limited-time Smokehouse Steak promotion which runs through late November. "We are serving Certified Angus Beef flank steak," said Drasher. "The flank cut is considered one of the most flavorful steaks available, but it can be one of the hardest to properly prepare."
In a bizarre side note, Famous Dave's is pondering over a photo of a Famous Dave's restaurant that had apparently been "toilet papered." The perpetrator shown in the photo appears to be an Angus cow, allegedly retaliating against Famous Dave's"Angus With Attitude" marketing campaign for their steak promotion. Drasher said, "It looks like a computer trick to me, but I'm not taking any chances by commenting further. Maybe these Angus cows really do have an attitude."
For more information, visit www.famousdaves.com.
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