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boards of FL
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Joined: 05 Jan 2009
Posts: 143
Location: Pensacola, FL
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 Posted: Jul 28 2009 Post subject: Kobe beef steaks, king prawns, corn, and fresh green beens.. |
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These are actually pics taken from a trip to Germany last year. I came across them on my external hard drive just now and thought "why not post them?"
I had mentioned to a relative (a native) that I liked to grill, so she (very generously) showed up on my last night in Germany with 3 Kobe beef strip steaks. I was floored! Once I saw the price on these things I was actually nervous about cooking them, as I would have hated to not cook such a premium meat perfectly. Fortunately everything turned out well and the food was excellent.
Here is what I was presented with. The three kobe beef steaks totaled $129 euros (about $183 US dollars)
Unseasoned
Seasoned (I only used fresh cracked salt and pepper for cuts like this)
Plated (the corn and king prawns were grilled, while the green beans were steamed)
We decided to eat outside
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stringbender128
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| Posted: Jul 28 2009 Post subject: |
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A worthy post indeed! 
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Pigslips
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| Posted: Jul 29 2009 Post subject: Re: Kobe beef steaks, king prawns, corn, and fresh green bee |
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[quote]
/quote]
youza 
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k.a.m.
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| Posted: Jul 29 2009 Post subject: |
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boards of FL, thanks for sharing those pics  I have to admit I would have been a bit nervous cooking those steaks. Nicely done 
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saltwatercowboy
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| Posted: Jul 29 2009 Post subject: |
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At the current exchange I think that is about $150.00 US. I'd hate to burn one of them.
He's a brave man.
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Hugh Jweener
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| Posted: Jul 29 2009 Post subject: |
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waste of money
kobe beef, lmao |
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ShahBQ
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Joined: 04 Jun 2009
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Location: Tucson, AZ
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| Posted: Jul 30 2009 Post subject: |
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Question....
Is Kobe beef worth the price? I have made some damn good steaks for under $5 a piece (1.5 lb Choice Rib Eyes no less) that would just melt in your mouth! I have seen Kobe Beef at a butcher near me for $37 p/lb! So, is it really worth it?? I would be willing to try some if so, but seems iffy to me.
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tic
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| Posted: Jul 30 2009 Post subject: |
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Heck I get nervous with t bones!!!!!!!
Good job. |
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boards of FL
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Joined: 05 Jan 2009
Posts: 143
Location: Pensacola, FL
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| Posted: Jul 30 2009 Post subject: |
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| ShahBQ wrote: | Question....
Is Kobe beef worth the price? I have made some damn good steaks for under $5 a piece (1.5 lb Choice Rib Eyes no less) that would just melt in your mouth! I have seen Kobe Beef at a butcher near me for $37 p/lb! So, is it really worth it?? I would be willing to try some if so, but seems iffy to me. |
I personally would not pay the price for Kobe, as the added taste simply isn't enough for me to justify the cost. Don't get me wrong, however, the meat is excellent.
There is a place around the corner from me that sells prime ribeyes that I felt were almost as good as the strips above.
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billr
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| Posted: Jul 30 2009 Post subject: |
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| Hugh Jweener wrote: | waste of money
kobe beef, lmao |
I agree. What most people encounter as "Kobe beef" in the US is almost certainly not worth the additional cost. Because the phrase "Kobe beef" is nothing more than a marketing gimmick. If you've had the real stuff, from real Wagyu cattle that lived and died in Japan, it most definitely *IS* worth it. But only once.
Almost all of the "Kobe beef" you see in the US or Canada is other breeds (in the US, mostly Angus) interbred with Wagyu sperm and raised locally. It's very likely not from Japan unless you physically gasp at the price tag. The real Japanese Wagyu beef of the A5 grade -- which may or may not come from the area around Kobe in Japan -- is beyond hideously expensive. As in, much much more than $150 for three steaks. Three big filets would probably set you back $1200 in a restaurant. Filets are like $400 a pound from a dealer, for the highest grade stuff.
It's also almost totally fat. Swap the fat and meat in an average steak and that's what it looks like. Here's a picture of the pinky goodness:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:4_Kobe_Beef,_Kobe_Japan.jpg
You don't chew it so much as just sort of let it dissolve on its own. Hell, you don't even need a knife, really. It's like eating intensely beefy-flavored butter. And totally worth it. Once.
If you ever go to buy it, ask to see the Calf Registration Certificate that has the cow's noseprint. If your retailer doesn't have a certificate, odds are it's not real Wagyu beef, but an interbred variety. It's probably really good steak, though! It's just not one of the four subspecies that make up real Wagyu beef. There's nothing wrong with a good American or Australian steak, as long as you don't mind the price. Given the choice, I'd just order regular old USDA Prime beef and pay 1/3 as much for pretty much the same thing.
By the way, here's a pic of what the cert looks like:
http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/zwtkres/photo/ohanasi/toki1.jpg
It's got the names of the guy who helped birth it, the guys who fed it, rubbed it down, all that. It's a little surreal to encounter it while you're actually chewing on the cow in question.
Oh yeah, it you ever see anyone cooking a super-marbled, $100 steak to anything beyond medium rare, be sure to point and laugh. |
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day_trippr
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| Posted: Jul 30 2009 Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Oh yeah, it you ever see anyone cooking a super-marbled, $100 steak to anything beyond medium rare, be sure to point and laugh. |
Heck - I point and laugh at a $15 steak eater if he's eating more done than medium rare!
Some things are just plain wrong, regardless of price! 
Cheers
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boards of FL
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Location: Pensacola, FL
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| Posted: Jul 30 2009 Post subject: |
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| billr wrote: | | Hugh Jweener wrote: | waste of money
kobe beef, lmao |
I agree. What most people encounter as "Kobe beef" in the US is almost certainly not worth the additional cost. |
The above pics were taken in Germany. The beef was also purchased in Germany, so what you are talking about is not what is pictured above. I am only pointing this out for posterity.
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sakijo
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| Posted: Jul 30 2009 Post subject: |
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There is wagyu beef grown in America that is ALMOST 100% wagyu beef. The percentage is so close that it has been determined to be genetically no different from the Japanes breed. HOWEVER, the meat is not the same quality as genuine Japanes bred and grown wagyu beef. That is because it is grown for American tastes. As billr says, imagine eating beef flavored butter - that's genuine wagyu beef. I was in a Japanese specialty butcher shop that was selling top grade wagyu beef for Y50,000 per 100 grams - equivalent to $2,500 per lb. I'd say 75% fat.
As an aside, Kobe beef is not the only beef in Japan, but the most recognized type outside of Japan. Matsuyama-gyu, in my opinion is much better.
Nice steaks. That surf and turf was definitely a premium meal. |
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billr
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| Posted: Jul 30 2009 Post subject: |
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| boards of FL wrote: | | The above pics were taken in Germany. The beef was also purchased in Germany, so what you are talking about is not what is pictured above. I am only pointing this out for posterity. |
Oh, you had a 100% winning meal! I was mostly trying to address the notion that people go to a grocery store in the US, buy "Kobe beef" and realize that it's not much better than the USDA Prime, or worse. At four times the price.
The guy who said Kobe beef wasn't worth it never ate it, in other words. He paid for it, but never ate it. You probably did. But you never paid for it, either, and so you had the best steak.
Didn't mean to cause a stir... |
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Hugh Jweener
Joined: 06 Jun 2008
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Jul 30 2009 Post subject: |
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| billr wrote: | | boards of FL wrote: | | The above pics were taken in Germany. The beef was also purchased in Germany, so what you are talking about is not what is pictured above. I am only pointing this out for posterity. |
Oh, you had a 100% winning meal! I was mostly trying to address the notion that people go to a grocery store in the US, buy "Kobe beef" and realize that it's not much better than the USDA Prime, or worse. At four times the price.
The guy who said Kobe beef wasn't worth it never ate it, in other words. He paid for it, but never ate it. You probably did. But you never paid for it, either, and so you had the best steak.
Didn't mean to cause a stir... |
i've been to Japan 5 times so i know what kobe beef is and i stand by my statement, it's a waste of money |
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BluzQue
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| Posted: Aug 01 2009 Post subject: |
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boards of FL ....I enjoyed reading and looking at your post. Thanks!
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Viper22
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
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Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Aug 01 2009 Post subject: |
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| ShahBQ wrote: | Question....
Is Kobe beef worth the price? I have made some damn good steaks for under $5 a piece (1.5 lb Choice Rib Eyes no less) that would just melt in your mouth! I have seen Kobe Beef at a butcher near me for $37 p/lb! So, is it really worth it?? I would be willing to try some if so, but seems iffy to me. |
It depends really. I've had actual Japanese Kobe (Imported Grade A5) and it was $175 for a pretty small steak (8oz or less iirc) and it was outstanding. I've had the american grown also and it is almost as good.
I'll get it if its on sale somewhere. Like this past weekend at Balducci's here in MD they were selling the American grown Wagyu for $16/lb for Ribeyes & Strips and $20/lb for Tenderloins (Normal prices were $36/lb for Ribeyes, $46/lb for Strips $56/lb for Tenderloin).
I picked up about 10lbs or so total of various cuts to cook over the next week or two. |
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billr
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| Posted: Aug 01 2009 Post subject: |
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| Hugh Jweener wrote: | | i've been to Japan 5 times so i know what kobe beef is and i stand by my statement, it's a waste of money |
Well, then the matter is settled. Someone call all the cattle ranchers in Japan and tell them to raise goats and pigs instead since we no longer need Japanese beef.
It depends on one's tastes and means, and opinions are always one's own. I'm really glad I had the experience of eating and tasting it. But please feel free to not buy it as much as you'd like, though. It's all good... |
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zenbbqmaster
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Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Aug 01 2009 Post subject: |
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Perfect Dinner! It doesn't get finer than that!
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Tater_68
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Location: Central Florida
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| Posted: Aug 01 2009 Post subject: |
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Looks good, never had any but will give it a go one of these days.
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