The best steak in the world???
That's a big statement and it would imply that I have visited each and every steakhouse in the world. I haven't. And most likely, I won't. Primarily because I haven't got any desire to get myself afflicted by gout any time soon and also I haven't got any urge to have a Man versus Food type of experience.
So, I admit calling it the best steak in the world is ambitious.
However, if that world is "my world" I definitely can use the superlative and this is my story of a 9 years long quest to finding the best steak I've ever eaten.
So, I admit calling it the best steak in the world is ambitious.
However, if that world is "my world" I definitely can use the superlative and this is my story of a 9 years long quest to finding the best steak I've ever eaten.
The steak quest began 9 years ago
It all started in 2006 when during a worldwide trip we reached Argentina, a country whose gastronomic reputation stands high.
At the time we, Mr Doozy, myself and our friend Patch, were young backpackers strapped for cash, so spoiling ourselves to a real " Argentinean parilla" was a treat. Of course we couldn't leave Argentina without a proper parilla experience and we did this "rite of passage" in San Carlos de Bariloche, a charming town set in the Rio Negro province, in the heart of stunning Patagonia.
"Vacio cut" steak and Pork chops at our recent return visit to El Boliche de Alberto - April 2015
On our last night, together with some of the people we had met at the hostel, we headed to El Boliche de Alberto, a known parilla restaurant in the area and recommended in the travel bible of our times: "South America on a Shoestring" by The Lonely Planet.
El Boliche de Alberto is a parilla that at any given day of the week is full with diners. Seeing this reassured our belief that we were in for a delicious meat treat. Some of us had bife de chorizo, others had costillas de cordero patagonico (lamb rack), or costillas de cerdo (pork chops).
All portions were way above the size we were accustomed to and were also accompanied with humongous portions of fries. The restaurant lived up to the legend.
In 2006, we ate the best steaks of our young lives. It also set the standards for any and every other steak we had from that point onward. The quality, the perfection in cooking it and affordable price, put this steak on a pedestal for a long, long time.
For years, and many meals later we reminisced the steak we had at El Boliche de Alberto almost with an air of romanticism, as it happens when you think of a good time in your life.
Once returned to the United Kingdom, and with the development of social media and mobiles apps, we started our quest in finding a restaurant that could match our Argentinian experience.
In London you often find "Argentinean" restaurants which are essentially designer steakhouses with exorbitant prices serving 1/3 of the size of meat you would get in Argentina.
During the following 3 years the only place that brought us close to the Argentinian experience was THE BOUNTIFUL COW. Located just behind Holborn’s tube station, the Bountiful Cow is devoted to beef. On a few occasions, we gathered our carnivore friends and enjoyed some very fulfilling dinners. Although coming close, even the Bountiful Cow did not manage to knock El Boliche de Alberto off its pedestal.
El Boliche de Alberto is a parilla that at any given day of the week is full with diners. Seeing this reassured our belief that we were in for a delicious meat treat. Some of us had bife de chorizo, others had costillas de cordero patagonico (lamb rack), or costillas de cerdo (pork chops).
All portions were way above the size we were accustomed to and were also accompanied with humongous portions of fries. The restaurant lived up to the legend.
In 2006, we ate the best steaks of our young lives. It also set the standards for any and every other steak we had from that point onward. The quality, the perfection in cooking it and affordable price, put this steak on a pedestal for a long, long time.
For years, and many meals later we reminisced the steak we had at El Boliche de Alberto almost with an air of romanticism, as it happens when you think of a good time in your life.
Once returned to the United Kingdom, and with the development of social media and mobiles apps, we started our quest in finding a restaurant that could match our Argentinian experience.
In London you often find "Argentinean" restaurants which are essentially designer steakhouses with exorbitant prices serving 1/3 of the size of meat you would get in Argentina.
During the following 3 years the only place that brought us close to the Argentinian experience was THE BOUNTIFUL COW. Located just behind Holborn’s tube station, the Bountiful Cow is devoted to beef. On a few occasions, we gathered our carnivore friends and enjoyed some very fulfilling dinners. Although coming close, even the Bountiful Cow did not manage to knock El Boliche de Alberto off its pedestal.
Photo courtesy of Rotana Hotels
After trying out the majority, our favorite steakhouse restaurant in Dubai is RODEO BAR & GRILL at the 5 star Al Bustan Rotana. Perhaps because it's on the way to Dubai's airport and thus, out of the centre, this steakhouse is often overlooked, but in our opinion Rodeo Bar & Grill serves the best steaks in town.
The food is excellent and if you have the Rotana Rewards card, this fine dining steakhouse becomes as affordable as eating at TGI Friday!
During our 5 and half years spent in Dubai, I can honestly say we had more than a fair share of steaks. Yet, none managed to surpass the Argentinean experience.
The food is excellent and if you have the Rotana Rewards card, this fine dining steakhouse becomes as affordable as eating at TGI Friday!
During our 5 and half years spent in Dubai, I can honestly say we had more than a fair share of steaks. Yet, none managed to surpass the Argentinean experience.
I asked myself that question a few times over the last 9 years. After 2006 during our vacations we visited restaurants and steakhouses wherever we went in aid of our goal. Japan, USA, Italy, Denmark...our quest had no geographical boundaries.
In 2009 we moved to Dubai and here we were not short of restaurants. You won't ever be too far away from a steak in Dubai.
You'll find anything from known American restaurants such as Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and Texas Roadhouse, to celebrity chefs' franchises like Marco Pierre White Grill, Rhodes Twenty10 and many more.
In 2009 we moved to Dubai and here we were not short of restaurants. You won't ever be too far away from a steak in Dubai.
You'll find anything from known American restaurants such as Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and Texas Roadhouse, to celebrity chefs' franchises like Marco Pierre White Grill, Rhodes Twenty10 and many more.
Nine years went by...
Did we romanticize El Boliche de Alberto too much?
Year 2015. We are travelling again around the globe. This time on a separate route than the one we did nine years ago.
Our quest hasn't changed though. Gallivanting around South East Asia, we come across some interesting steak houses. El Gaucho Argentinian Grill in Ho Chi Minh City is worth a mention. Juicy steaks, and parilla that reminds South American people living in Vietnam and Thailand of their national comidas.
With a few hit and misses we end our South East Asian tour and head for Australia.
Our quest hasn't changed though. Gallivanting around South East Asia, we come across some interesting steak houses. El Gaucho Argentinian Grill in Ho Chi Minh City is worth a mention. Juicy steaks, and parilla that reminds South American people living in Vietnam and Thailand of their national comidas.
With a few hit and misses we end our South East Asian tour and head for Australia.
Happy cows make happy steaks! Photo credit: Simply Doozy New South Wales.
Getting acquainted with Australian steaks
Our first Australian destination is Melbourne. Australian beef is among the best in the world and with such great reputation, naturally we were looking forward to trying their home grown steaks, plus Melbourne is unofficially the food capital of Australia one more reason to get excited, right?
A few Google searches, reading of reviews and checking of menus online, we settle with MEATMAIDEN, a steakhouse in Melbourne CBD.
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It sounds promising, so after a day walking around Melbourne and working up a healthy appetite we head toMeatmaiden in Little Collins Street, basically just up the road from Flinders Street train station.
Heading down a flight of stairs and along a corridor we hear the sound of crowds chatting away. The restaurant, on a Thursday night is heaving with diners. A good sign. We find a place at the bar and start taking in the ambiance whilst we wait for a table.
The vibe is very New York like. Lots of hipsters, lots of co-workers and friends and a few couples enjoying a meal out.
The atmosphere is very lively. The trendy barman, who by the way turns out to be from Kent, England, presents us with the menu and very passionately recommends a couple of things.
I always love it when someone working in a restaurant really recommends something they personally enjoy rather than how I've often encountered, particularly in Dubai, they just emotionlessly repeat what's on the menu and I feel like shouting them: "I can read thank you very much, but what do YOU like eating here?"
Not the case at Meatmaiden. The barman tells us first what they are famous for and then also his personal favorite on the menu and he does a great job at convincing us.
I always love it when someone working in a restaurant really recommends something they personally enjoy rather than how I've often encountered, particularly in Dubai, they just emotionlessly repeat what's on the menu and I feel like shouting them: "I can read thank you very much, but what do YOU like eating here?"
Not the case at Meatmaiden. The barman tells us first what they are famous for and then also his personal favorite on the menu and he does a great job at convincing us.
I'm sold! |
We place our order and as a table frees up we move over to take a seat waiting for our chosen dishes. I'm having a 220 gr O'Connor pasture-fed flat iron steak accompanied by Spring onion Mash, Gravy and Mr. Doozy is having the Gippsland pasture-fed short rib with Mac & Cheese.
Maybe was the appetite built over the thousands of steps walked that day, or maybe, it was the fragrant smell of grilled meat in the restaurant, but our wait is filled with anticipating conversation for what we are about to eat. Not long after our food arrives.
My steak, medium-rare is cooked to perfection, and when I say to perfection I really mean it!!
A beautiful pink to red in the inside and brown on the outside.
Maybe was the appetite built over the thousands of steps walked that day, or maybe, it was the fragrant smell of grilled meat in the restaurant, but our wait is filled with anticipating conversation for what we are about to eat. Not long after our food arrives.
My steak, medium-rare is cooked to perfection, and when I say to perfection I really mean it!!
A beautiful pink to red in the inside and brown on the outside.
They say that you start eating with your eyes
Honestly, I wasn't ready... |
Gippsland Pasture-Fed Short Rib
...and it's in moments like this that I see the truth in that. That steak was literally talking to me as I was looking at it. I don't even need to taste it to know it is succulent, juicy, tender and full of flavor. It looks so appetizing that I almost don't want to eat it in order to prolong that magical moment.
It's love at first sight!
O'Connor Pasture-Fed Flat Iron Steak 220gr
Mr. Doozy's short rib also looks super yummy! He is engulfed in his own meat world as much as I am in mine.
Later, much later during dinner I am hearing that the short rib is an unbelievable mixture of sticky smokey crispiness outside and fleshy matured flavor on the inside. In two words: finger-licking good!!
Nothing prepared me for this. Not the intro on the website, nor the various reviews, nor all the signs that pointed to this moment. Absolutely nothing, zero, zilch, nada prepared me for the explosion of richness and divine flavor mixed with moist, hot tenderness.
Each bite of those 5 strips of meat is equal to a Golden Ticket.
It's experiences like these that bring me to love life. Perhaps it's the culture that I was brought up with, or perhaps just how I am, but I find nothing more satisfying than enjoying awesome food in the company of someone I love.
The side dishes of potato mash and mac & cheese were also super tasty and a special mention must also go to the beautiful apple tart with ice cream.
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Saying that the O'Connor pasture-fed flat iron steak blew me away to a place of total and complete bliss is an understatement. It did more.
Mr Doozy asked whether this was better than...."you know who!"
Mr Doozy asked whether this was better than...."you know who!"
I answered as if he had asked for my hand all over again! YES!! Without a doubt.
And then it hit me: all those kilograms of beef we ate over the years, all the miles done, the countries we traveled to, we finally found it!
The 9 years long quest to find the best steak in the world - in my world - is complete.
Time to set the clock and start again.
And then it hit me: all those kilograms of beef we ate over the years, all the miles done, the countries we traveled to, we finally found it!
The 9 years long quest to find the best steak in the world - in my world - is complete.
Time to set the clock and start again.
It's a Grand Slam!
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