steaked out

We loaded up on meat in Darwin.

Steaks, lamb, pork.

* Choon's lamb

Inspired, KK dreamt of making the perfect steak in-house. He watched Gordon Ramsey, he watched Jamie Oliver, he put them together and rehearsed in his mind the steak steps.

First off, like most men would, he spent a bomb on a load of kitchen weaponry to prepare for the steak coronation.

He bought a pepper mill, steak knives, nice forks, tongs, all from horribly expensive WMF. Of course I already have all these things in our kitchen. He only wants better ones.

* In the back, my humble pepper next to the great silver WMF mill

See, he needs great equipment to make great food.

Then he asked me to buy inch-thick steak. Oh boy. Knowing him, I buy a terrific cut of beef, thickest slab I see. $22 for two pieces.

Straight home after cycling, sweat still running down his face, he launches into his steak cook-out. Kids are all hyped up. It’s a big event with a whole lot of build-up.

Day is the kitchen hand. Both boys had read up and watched the videos together.

There’s a timer on the counter. There is a lot of palm-pressing which is apparently a springy indicator of how the steak should feel. KK pokes the steaks with his finger. Day flogs the steaks with a stick of rosemary. KK rests the steak.

He cuts it. We collectively ooh and ah. It’s quite, perfectly, medium-rare and so juicy.

It’s gorgeous.

Four of us fight for steak. Lulu is not a steak fan.

KK concludes: We can do perfect steaks at home. And Ramsay is better than Oliver.