Published on Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on November 13, 2011
The Perfect Steak
I am not an ordinary girl.
I am a girl who eats like a man.
Umm… actually, I am a girl who can out-eat any man, especially on those days when I crave a big, fat, juicy slab of steak.
Now let me tell you about my idea of what makes a perfect steak.
The Perfect Steak is like The Perfect Man. It looks tough and macho on the outside, with all that ultramasculine grill marks, burns and scars that excite and send butterflies flying around in a woman’s stomach. It is proud, confident and self-assured, not wanting and needing to wear any chi-chi adornment like forest mushroom sauce, red wine and shallot sauce, béarnaise or whatever secret sauce that other imperfect steaks have to scurry and hide under. It is clean and honest and true, proud of its natural flavors and essence, never swimming in an oily mess.
And only when he meets the one woman who captures his heart, he will reveal his inner self to her. He will allow her to cut him open, from which she will discover that underneath all that machismo and cool exterior, The Perfect Man, I mean Steak (ooops!) is the most sensitive, most gentle piece of meat she’ll ever meet in her lifetime. It is pink and tender and has the perfect marbling, because like The Perfect Man, it knows to balance between being serious and lean, and being playful and fatty.
It will not resist when she cuts and bites. It will bleed a little, yes, but will choose to endure the slicing and grinding. It will just melt and give in to her every desire, making it its purpose in life to please and satisfy her appetite, and make her the envy of all women in the universe.
Most importantly, The Perfect Steak has to be very consistent. It should remain the same good, kind and loving steak as it was to her from the very first day. The best foot forward should be the only foot forward every day for the rest of their lives.
Oh and yes, he has to smell and taste very, very, very delicious!
The 10oz US Angus Ribeye at The Fireplace is My Perfect Steak. Full of that manly beef umami, but soft and tender like a newborn baby, it is excellent in every way.
It is, like The Perfect Man, one that you cannot wait to bring home and proudly introduce to your parents.
And it is just icing on the cake that at The Fireplace, you will also find The Perfect Bread, The Perfect Salad, The Perfect Potato Gratin, and The Perfect Dessert. Every meal I have there, from start to finish, is always wonderful.
They spoil you with little pots of Beurre d’Isigny (all the way from France!) to spread on freshly baked Walnut Bread.
The Millionaire’s Salad has pan fried foie gras, prawns, seared scallops and organic greens all tossed in a raspberry vinaigrette that is so sweet, bold and tangy it leaves you wanting more forkful after forkful. The salad is generous enough to be a meal on its own, or an appetizer to be shared by two. (Or in my case, an amuse bouche, because it’s just so good it’s gone in a bite!)
Millionaire’s Salad
The complimentary side of Potato Gratin is rich, creamy, cheesy and buttery. Others can finish a 2”x2” piece. I can finish all of what’s left.
A light and yummy slice of New York Cheesecake makes a perfect ending to the decadent meal. Get a forkful and dip it in the raspberry coulis. It’s okay, double dipping is allowed. *wink*
My parents don’t eat beef, so they split an order of Butterfly Tiger Prawns and an order of Forest Mushroom Risotto. They don’t get a piece of my steak (not my fault), but of course, I get shares of their food.
I have The Perfect Parents and The Perfect Steak.
Now all I’m missing is The Perfect Man.
The Fireplace is located at the 5/F of Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila, 588 Pedro Gil coner M.H. del Pilar, Malate, Manila. You may call 245-1234 for reservations.
