Around the World in 60 Steaks
By: Chef Cristian Feher
www.tampabaychef.com
Ah,
the life of a jet-setter! Traveling around the world. Carefree. More
pictures than your camera can hold. Praying with monks in the Himalayas.
Soccer with Argentinian children. An epic meal at El Bulli in Spain -
followed by mollecular gastro-intestinal pain on the way to Morocco,
where you befriend some Saudis and before you know it you’re stepping
down the stairs from a private jet in Dubai. Your first sand storm. But
it doesn’t end there, because in Dubai someone told you about the modern
mountain country of Khazakstan, and there you met some Russians whom
you’ve joined for a motorcycle tour of the former Soviet Union. The
plane ride from Magadan to Anchorage, Alaska is a nightmare, but you made
it with another story to tell. We don’t even need to go into the skiing
adventure in Banff, fighting a Yeti in British Columbia, or the
horseback riding in Montana, because for most of us this will never
happen.
Before
you get too depressed, however, I have some “staycation” tips of how
you can travel the world in your own backyard, vicariously through your
steak! May is Florida beef month, after all.
Your trip starts in Argentina
where good beef speaks for itself. And although the only accompaniment
of an Argentinian steak is some chimichurri (herbs, garlic, olive oil),
the main course charcoal-grilled rib eye steak is preceded by fine
cheeses, pickled roasted peppers, a green salad, “empanadas” (the best
damn thing that’s ever been wrapped in pie dough), grilled sausages on a
bun (called “Chori-Pan”) and is finished with fine liqueurs and
“alfajores” (Argentinian Pastries). This is why Argentina shuts down for
three hours each day, and you’re taking an extra long afternoon off to
enjoy your steak.
You’re on the same side of the planet still, so a flight to Australia just
makes sense. Here you put throwing “Another shrimp on the barbie!” to
good use as you grill a garlic-rubbed beef tenderloin and poach some
tiger shrimp in butter, Foster’s beer and curry powder. But don’t even
think about having that steak before you’ve had a sumptuous appetizer of
Australian beef pies with ketchup - yes, you heard right. And according
to an Australian I once met, they consider ketchup to be a flavor
enhancer (which sounded more like “Floyvah inhanzah mate!”.
Japan is
the land of the Samurai, Sapporo beer and Kobe beef, and it’s a
straight shot north from Australia. You start with an exotic appetizer
of raw kobe beef sashimi with ponzu sauce and ginger, before you move
onto a main course grilled Kobe beef steak marinated in garlic Tamari (a
cousin of soy sauce) and served on wasabi mashed potato. As you wash it
down with with an ice-cold can of Saporo beer, you learn about how the
japanese cows which produce Kobe beef are fed a nutritious diet which
includes daily beer and massages. This yields a nicely-marbeled, tender
beef the Japanese tout as the best in the world - and although it’s
really good beef, it doesn’t compare to the grass-fed Argentinian beef
you had earlier on your trip, or good American beef.
You’ve spent three days in Tokyo trying to find a Mexican restaurant
and although the taco-sushi Mr. Oyakada made you, it’s not the same. 36
hours later you land in Cancun, and head over to Playa Del Carmen where
you marinate your steak in liquid smoke, soy sauce, garlic, and
cilantro before you rub it with cumin. While you’re letting the flavor
sink in, you make yellow rice, cumin black beans, pico de gallo, salsa
verde with green tomatoes, and your famous avocado guacamole. Leftover
avocados? No problem, stick them in a sauce pot with some sauteed
onions, cilantro, garlic and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer, and stick
it in the blender for the most amazing cream of avocado soup you’ve
ever had! Now you’re ready to sear your steaks on the grill and enjoy a
little taste of Mexico!
Your next stop is the pirate port of Jamaica in
the caribbean where you begin your culinary journey with a spicy beef
oxtail stew powered by scotch bonnet peppers. Yowza, that’s hot! You
soothe your taste buds with an ice-cold Red Stripe beer while you rub
jerk seasoning on your steak (thyme, allspice, garlic, onion, hot
peppers, sugar, salt, soy sauce, orange juice, lime juice, vinegar,
nutmeg and ginger) did you get all that? Good. Sear that on a charcoal
fire and bring your taste buds back to life, the good life!
You’ve saved the best for last now that you’re back in Florida!
You enjoy the sunshine while your steak swims in a pool of mojo
(garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, black pepper, kosher salt, cilantro,
Tabasco sauce, lime and orange juice) No need to get your grill out
though, because in Florida, every day is a BBQ day! You sear your mojito
steak and enjoy it with a citrus red cabbage coleslaw and fried
plantain. A perfect end to a perfect trip, all in the comfort of your
back yard!