Are steaks still a celebratory family meal or is that more of a baby boomer era thing?

[Anonymous]

I love steak but there's no ceremony when our family eats it, including nicer cuts. I don't think it registers what-so-ever with our kids when we eat expensive steaks at home or at a nice restaurant. It's just another meal. I feel like when we were growing up steaks for the family was pretty special and dads felt good about providing their family a nice steak dinner. We were middle to upper middle class.

[Anonymous]

In our case, we had it more or less weekly. My father liked steak. We were UMC and are probably UMC or UC (based on income) now, so it's not really a celebratory meal for us either. Celebratory is usually based on what someone requests at our house, and less on what the meal cost to make or buy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our case, we had it more or less weekly. My father liked steak. We were UMC and are probably UMC or UC (based on income) now, so it's not really a celebratory meal for us either. Celebratory is usually based on what someone requests at our house, and less on what the meal cost to make or buy.

Should note, I was born in the late 60s and my parents were Silent Gen and Greatest Gen (bit of an age gap) if that seems of interest.

[Anonymous]

We’re more mc. Good cuts of steak are reserved for holidays and birthdays unless there is a really good sale

[Anonymous]

I never grew up like this, OP. I spent my childhood in Europe in a middle class family. Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's desirable and has to be feted. That's a very shallow point of view, don't you think? Are you sure you want to replicate that aspect of your childhood?

We celebrate with Japanese food that we don't make at home. Sushi or ramen!

[Anonymous]

We go to a nice steak place every now and then but it’s just another meal when we make at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I never grew up like this, OP. I spent my childhood in Europe in a middle class family. Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's desirable and has to be feted. That's a very shallow point of view, don't you think? Are you sure you want to replicate that aspect of your childhood?

We celebrate with Japanese food that we don't make at home. Sushi or ramen!

DP but since you didn’t grow up in the US, you don’t have the same perspective. “Nice steak dinners” are a very American cultural experience.

[Anonymous]

I grew up MC, born in 1990, and they weren’t necessarily celebratory but were a “special” meal.

I’m UMC now and not really a big steak person but my husband buys nice cuts for himself when he’s in the mood for it. Not really celebratory or special but also not a regular purchase.

[Anonymous]

Steak is a treat because it’s expensive. Chicken, egg, hamburger, etc for day to day. I like to get it from nice places like a local butcher and it’s even pricier there.

I make over $500k but we don’t throw away our money on a fancy meal every night so it’s an occasional treat - maybe once a month?

I don’t get the bizarre poster that judges people for celebrating with steak instead of ramen. Such a tedious attitude to judge people for having slightly different preferences than you. Celebrate with what you like. I enjoy both, just went to ramen last weekend. I’m sure I’ll have a steak soon too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I never grew up like this, OP. I spent my childhood in Europe in a middle class family. Just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's desirable and has to be feted. That's a very shallow point of view, don't you think? Are you sure you want to replicate that aspect of your childhood?

We celebrate with Japanese food that we don't make at home. Sushi or ramen!

DP but since you didn’t grow up in the US, you don’t have the same perspective. “Nice steak dinners” are a very American cultural experience.

PP you replied to. Believe me, it's appreciated in the UK and France and Japan and many other places as well. By people who like steak! Please accept that not everyone appreciates every single expensive food. Do you like large platters of seafood? I don't. They're expensive as well, and some families treat them with the same reverence you have for steak.

I like foie gras and caviar, if that makes you feel better... and I do consider them "treats".

[Anonymous]

Hm interesting question OP.

Eating out in general is not as special as it was a generation or two ago...now we are all two parent working households and go out to eat more, in part for convenience and easy access. I suppose going to a steakhouse or even ordering the steak instead of a burger or cheap entree is still a "special" thing.

We only cook steak at home every once in a while, but I would not call it a special meal. My kids just know wea are having "meat" for dinner.

[Anonymous]

I grew up eating a fair bit of steak. My dad liked it. He was a sale shopper. I believe we usually got cheaper cuts (never t-bone, filet mignon). As a result, I'm fond of chewy steak and don't like soft, rare steak.

We lived in the Bay Area when I was young. Our rare treat meals were Dungeness Crab. It was sold in ordinary Safeway-type grocery stores. That was more of a once or twice a year food. But I think it was relatively more affordable then.

[Anonymous]

I was born in '76, and for us it was baby lamb chops that were fancy and expensive. That, lobster (which we never had at home) and lox.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Steak is a treat because it’s expensive. Chicken, egg, hamburger, etc for day to day. I like to get it from nice places like a local butcher and it’s even pricier there.

I make over $500k but we don’t throw away our money on a fancy meal every night so it’s an occasional treat - maybe once a month?

I don’t get the bizarre poster that judges people for celebrating with steak instead of ramen. Such a tedious attitude to judge people for having slightly different preferences than you. Celebrate with what you like. I enjoy both, just went to ramen last weekend. I’m sure I’ll have a steak soon too.

I think you missed their point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Steak is a treat because it’s expensive. Chicken, egg, hamburger, etc for day to day. I like to get it from nice places like a local butcher and it’s even pricier there.

I make over $500k but we don’t throw away our money on a fancy meal every night so it’s an occasional treat - maybe once a month?

I don’t get the bizarre poster that judges people for celebrating with steak instead of ramen. Such a tedious attitude to judge people for having slightly different preferences than you. Celebrate with what you like. I enjoy both, just went to ramen last weekend. I’m sure I’ll have a steak soon too.

I think you missed their point.

Hi, ramen poster. No, I understood it, it was just framed in an unnecessarily haughty and frankly irritating sort of way.