Early valentines day dinner..

[brewmaster15]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

I did!
Had to wait about 20 minutes, but that actually wasn't too bad. The place was PACKED. It's actually good to see as this city is where restaurants go to die unless it's a terrible chain place like Applebees. We always joke that if they opened another Applebees across the street from our current one, they'd both be packed all the time.

The first week that the sushi place opened I went. Some random old guy came in and was yelling at the hostess because she wasn't Japanese and he didn't think it was probably a real sushi place because of that. Of course he had zero intent on eating their either way... just dropped in to be an, well... you know what he was being. Anyway, that's the kind of headwinds places like this have here, unfortunately. But it's doing very well, thankfully. They've even taken out some of the half walls and stuff to make room for a few additional tables. They've been around for awhile now and even survived through COVID.

Not much of Sushi Guy However, Sake, now that I like. alot.

[jwcarlson]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

Did you remember?

I did!
Had to wait about 20 minutes, but that actually wasn't too bad. The place was PACKED. It's actually good to see as this city is where restaurants go to die unless it's a terrible chain place like Applebees. We always joke that if they opened another Applebees across the street from our current one, they'd both be packed all the time.

The first week that the sushi place opened I went. Some random old guy came in and was yelling at the hostess because she wasn't Japanese and he didn't think it was probably a real sushi place because of that. Of course he had zero intent on eating their either way... just dropped in to be an, well... you know what he was being. Anyway, that's the kind of headwinds places like this have here, unfortunately. But it's doing very well, thankfully. They've even taken out some of the half walls and stuff to make room for a few additional tables. They've been around for awhile now and even survived through COVID.

[brewmaster15]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

No photos here, unfortunately. The wife and I couldn't wait to dig in to the meal yesterday that I forgot all about it! I'm fortunate enough to have a custom butcher about half a mile from where we live. I can get all sorts of custom cuts, etc. They're much pricier than the big chain groceries, so we usually only go there to get meat for special occasions.

I've also floated the idea of doing something similar with a chest freezer, except buying the meat from costco or other bulk "grocery" store. Haven't pulled the trigger yet though

If you get one, research the benefits of a manual Freeze thaw, vs Frost free freezers. I've had both kinds now and have to say the manual freeze thaw stores meats better long term.. The Frost free freezers are easier but go through mini-freeze thaw cycles that can cause freezer burns. I take conventional internet wisdom with a grain of salt but this time what is posted about these two freezer types has been accurate for me. It used to be manual freezers that you had to turn off and thaw to remove built ice were a PITA but the ones now rarely do. I haven't had to thaw mine in 3 years now.

al

[AquaticNerd]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

Photos? Sounds delicious! Dry-Aged Prime Rib eye? Do you have a good custom butcher/meat market near you Jake? My best local option is our Big Y grocery store but we dont get much out of the ordinary cuts. The meat is fresh at least and reasonably priced quality cuts.

I've thought it might be cool to get a half cow from a free range farm one day to fill our chest freezer... only problem is its filled with film and fishfood.

No photos here, unfortunately. The wife and I couldn't wait to dig in to the meal yesterday that I forgot all about it! I'm fortunate enough to have a custom butcher about half a mile from where we live. I can get all sorts of custom cuts, etc. They're much pricier than the big chain groceries, so we usually only go there to get meat for special occasions.

I've also floated the idea of doing something similar with a chest freezer, except buying the meat from costco or other bulk "grocery" store. Haven't pulled the trigger yet though

[brewmaster15]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

My wife and I are also big on spluring for really nice steaks for occasions like this. Today I'll be making a dry-aged prime ribeye complete with baked potato and roasted broccoli.

Photos? Sounds delicious! Dry-Aged Prime Rib eye? Do you have a good custom butcher/meat market near you Jake? My best local option is our Big Y grocery store but we dont get much out of the ordinary cuts. The meat is fresh at least and reasonably priced quality cuts.

I've thought it might be cool to get a half cow from a free range farm one day to fill our chest freezer... only problem is its filled with film and fishfood.

[brewmaster15]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

Looks like a good dinner. We don't really do anything for Valentine's Day, but I did make a heart shaped card and left it in wife's car this morning. And one for each of the kids too. Our favorite dinner as a family is sushi, so I already ordered that to pick up on my way home from work. But I worry that there's a good chance I'm going to forget to pick it up!

Did you remember?

[jwcarlson]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

Looks like a good dinner. We don't really do anything for Valentine's Day, but I did make a heart shaped card and left it in wife's car this morning. And one for each of the kids too. Our favorite dinner as a family is sushi, so I already ordered that to pick up on my way home from work. But I worry that there's a good chance I'm going to forget to pick it up!

[AquaticNerd]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

My wife and I are also big on spluring for really nice steaks for occasions like this. Today I'll be making a dry-aged prime ribeye complete with baked potato and roasted broccoli.

[Second Hand Pat]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

That looks so yummy Al. Tom had me buy five pounds of large shell-on shrimp yesterday and we will be making my most favorite dish, boiled shrimp using my grandmothers recipe and it's totally different then all shrimp recipes. I had to recall this recipe from childhood so I am sure it's not quite the same but it works for me
Pat

[brewmaster15]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

Looks delicious Al, I'm starving now. I'm a steak fiend, my favorite food for sure. I've been really honing my technique over the last few years and more often than not would MUCH rather eat a steak cooked at home than a steak cooked in a restaurant....those professionals just can't do it like me you know? haha

Thanks Matt,
Steaks are my favorite as well. Professional chefs can do a wonderful job of cooking meals but when it comes to my steak..no one does it better than me..lol. For what a good steak costs in a restaurant there are quite a few chefs out there that probably should hone their skills on steaks a bit more. I have had some very disappointing restaurant steaks.

The only thing I wish I could have done different on these steaks was I used our gas grill. We got 10-12 inches of snow yesterday... My firepit was not an option and I much prefer steak cooked over wood coals than gas. .. it has more flavor. These steaks were pretty darn good though!

Al

[brewmaster15]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

Yum Yum
We went out for Italian today I will never go to a restaurant on Valentines day again. Had a bad one years ago in LI with grumpy friend and his wife(RIP). Today was awesome with leftovers for tomorrow.

We do the same Chuck.. Going on to dinnner on Valentines Day in the past was always an under whelming experience.Restaurants are Crowded . People range from high strung to nasty, and the food is seldom as good as other days. It was nice when I was young as nothing tells someone you are interested as much as a date night on Valentine's day unless you own your home or apartment, in which case a private and special dinner for two beats a crowded restaurant.

[Discus-n00b]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

Looks delicious Al, I'm starving now. I'm a steak fiend, my favorite food for sure. I've been really honing my technique over the last few years and more often than not would MUCH rather eat a steak cooked at home than a steak cooked in a restaurant....those professionals just can't do it like me you know? haha

[Charlyc11]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

Yum Yum
We went out for Italian today I will never go to a restaurant on Valentines day again. Had a bad one years ago in LI with grumpy friend and his wife(RIP). Today was awesome with leftovers for tomorrow.

[Vanman]

Re: Early valentines day dinner..

That looks real good!

[brewmaster15]

Had a nice Valentines day dinner tonight..

Porter house steak was a special.. A real splurge here.









Twice baked taters with pepperoni



And another Splurge.. Expensive vino.




HOPE YOUR Valentines Day is Happy as well!
Al