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

[Anonymous]

I think many people have cut down on meat which may affect celebrating with steak.

[Anonymous]

America is steak

The world flocks to America even before we became a welfare state.

Nobody is “breaking in” to Indonesia

[Anonymous]

I am a boomer and a treat for my brother and me was going to Tad’s while our parents ate elsewhere. If I recall, it served cafeteria- line style, offering a steak, garlic bread and baked potato for $1.99. We liked the independence and the carbs.

[Anonymous]

My husband grew up very, very poor. He never actually even had a real steak until after college. I don't eat a lot of meat but to him - a steak represents a celebration and something he can afford - loves to do.

I order chicken or fish when we go out.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s a certain generation, social class, and American thing.

I’m first generation American and steak has never been a big deal or celebratory thing to me. Same with lobster, champagne or caviar. There are foods from my culture that are celebratory but not because of cost but because there is a lot of prep behind it, (i.e. Days of prep).

[Anonymous]

This thread has completely gone off the rails because of the people who don't like steak, have nothing to contribute at all, and yet felt the need to condescend to those who do eat steak.

OP, I know exactly what you mean. Growing up, we were solidly middle class, and didn't have steak often. When we did, it was a special treat. It wasn't our family celebratory dinner (although I would always ask for it for my birthday) because my sister didn't love it.

We are UMC now, and my ids don't regard it as that same special treat because we have it more often. Like another PP, I buy a whole striploin from Costco, butcher myself, vacuum seal and freeze it, so we can pull it out when we want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re throwing a backyard gathering, you have to be rich to serve dozens of guests expensive cuts of grilled beef. Hotdogs and burgers cost nothing.

I like to grill up maybe 2-3 steaks, cut them up and that's a little steak bite appy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread has completely gone off the rails because of the people who don't like steak, have nothing to contribute at all, and yet felt the need to condescend to those who do eat steak.

OP, I know exactly what you mean. Growing up, we were solidly middle class, and didn't have steak often. When we did, it was a special treat. It wasn't our family celebratory dinner (although I would always ask for it for my birthday) because my sister didn't love it.

We are UMC now, and my ids don't regard it as that same special treat because we have it more often. Like another PP, I buy a whole striploin from Costco, butcher myself, vacuum seal and freeze it, so we can pull it out when we want.

I think kids and families dine out much more often in general. Kids are so overexposed to everything, thus jaded. If a family was dining out once a week or once a month 30, 40 or 50 years ago, the options were likely pizzeria (cheap), greasy spoon diner (cheap), maybe Chinese food (cheap), or steaks at a relatively nice restaurant (relatively expensive). Steaks were special and expensive compared to the other options.

[Anonymous]

GenX farm kid and now small farmer who raises a few grass fed steers every year for butchering, self consumption and sales to friends/coworkers.

I think beef consumption is more tied to economic/geographic/cultural/accessibility issues than anything. We regularly had steak when I was a kid, and that was because we always had a deep freezer full of different cuts from one of our yearly 4-H beef cattle projects. I also worked for a butcher shop when I was in college so have seen the beef industry from end to end. There was a time when I was a young adult where I was so sick of beef that I went mostly vegetarian. That lasted about 5 years and every time I went home my dad had a fit.

These days, we probably have rib eyes/strips/T-bones or a filet about once a week and I have our local butcher cut the hanging tender for me for Xmas dinner (only one of those cuts per cow and it's incredible if cooked right). Now, I love a nice medium rare steak that cuts like butter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GenX farm kid and now small farmer who raises a few grass fed steers every year for butchering, self consumption and sales to friends/coworkers.

I think beef consumption is more tied to economic/geographic/cultural/accessibility issues than anything. We regularly had steak when I was a kid, and that was because we always had a deep freezer full of different cuts from one of our yearly 4-H beef cattle projects. I also worked for a butcher shop when I was in college so have seen the beef industry from end to end. There was a time when I was a young adult where I was so sick of beef that I went mostly vegetarian. That lasted about 5 years and every time I went home my dad had a fit.

These days, we probably have rib eyes/strips/T-bones or a filet about once a week and I have our local butcher cut the hanging tender for me for Xmas dinner (only one of those cuts per cow and it's incredible if cooked right). Now, I love a nice medium rare steak that cuts like butter.

That’s really cool PP! You were lucky to grow up with frequent access to such good quality beef! I feel like we had New York strips occasionally growing up, and my dad liked serving them over cheese toast. Kind of weird now that I think of it!

We once shared a half cow with another couple and were amazed at how many cuts comprised even 1/4 cow! I also enjoy hanger steak and my go-to ribeye, but I also enjoy a nice medium-rare sirloin steak, just for the beefy flavor alone.