The worst thing I ever ate – Bobby Flay screwed me.

There is a show on Food Network called, the “The Best Thing I ever ate” in one episode, Chef Bobby Flay went on and on about the restaurant Florida called Joe’s where they had, according to Chef Flay, the best stone crab claws ever.

Last week, when I was in Chicago, we went for dinner at Joe’s restaurant, Yes they do have a Chicago location, and I was looking forward to trying their crab claws. I had that for the appetizer, and it was ok. I think I had my expectations set so high because of the show. If you are in Chicago and do go to Joe’s they will make sure they will tell you a big story about their steaks. The cow ate this, the meat cut this way, aged for 28 days, blah blah blah…. We where in a large group and wouldn’t you know it. Everyone ordered the steak, each steak was priced at $40+. All but except for one person. I ordered the deep fried chicken for a grand total of $13. I did not order steak for simple reasons, I don’t really like it, don’t think much of it from a culinary point of view, especially in the US.

A plate came with 4 pieces of giant chicken. This is all for me, I asked? Oh yes sir, we don’t do things small here.

Joe's Deep Fried Chicken

That is true, they don’t do things small at Joe’s. The steaks came in a Mini (8 ounce format) a 16 ounce and a 24 ounce format. The steaks came on a plate and just like my chicken, came with nothing, giant lumps on meat on a plate.

The chicken was bland to be honest, soaking in oil. probably the worst thing I ever ate. Bobby Flay set me up for disappointment, that is the bottom line. Bobby Flay, you owe me a proper meal, you hear? Some said, Samer, you are crazy, you are at a steak house and you order chicken? My answer is simple. If you are a good restaurant, then every meal has to be good. If you cant cook it, take it off the menu. Frankly I rather eat bland chicken than steak any day.

3 days in Chicago, and 3 days with dinner at a steak house. What is the fascination with steak houses? Especially the US style steak houses? What is so special about a lump of meat on a plate? There is no culinary skill to it, anyone can cook it, even cave man figured out the medium rare with nothing on the plate. Thousands of years on culinary advancement and we are stuck on a plate with a 2 pound lump of meat!

US Style steak houses really top off my under appreciation of steak. If I am paying $50 for a lump of meat will it kill you to put a free potato in a plate, come on…. You have to order sides. Each side, enough feed a family and every steak house has the same sides, so sad. Its like Steak and Side communism. My US friends are all fascinated with one more meal item that is, well, not so great to eat, creamed spinach. 3 days, 3 steak houses, 3 orders of creamed spinach.

Don’t get it. Do you like steak? Why?