Grill your own Steak night ?

We used to do this in Texas. They have a chain called U R Cooks in Austin, Dallas and Houston. Loved it.

They had charcoal grilles set up and tubs of beer on ice next to them. You could stand there with your friends and drink cerveza and talk while cooking.

Did you ever go to the Butcher Shop in Knoxville ? Very similar.

If I'm going to pay somebody to cook me food... It's 'cause I don't want to do the cooking.
there's a Chain called Fire + Ice that's more mongolian grill style and more social... you stand at a bar and watch somebody else cook the meats/veggies/sauces you've picked.... it's fun, but still.

You make me want to move to STX 🙂

Pamela

If the grill is big enough then it's a great idea:
- there needs to be a good breeze so it doesn't too hot, standing at the grill (is the grill outdoors?)
- I agree that it'd be fun to stand at the grill, catching up with friends, watching a steak cook, and sipping a cold beer
- my wife and I often split meals. We just don't eat as much at a single sitting anymore
- what a treat to have someone else do the cleanup!
- I'd love to grill corn, potato, onions
- note: we like a slow grilling to keep the meat tender

Heard of Prime Quarter? I had a dinner at one and it was pretty fun.

You sit down and decide what protein you want. They had pre cut steaks in a stand up cooler that you pick yourself. Filet mignon (teriyaki or plain), NY Strip, Ribeye, Porterhouse, and even tuna, swordfish, and salmon. Then you walk over to one of 2 grills that are MASSIVE....like 4'x10' with a nice brick border for you set drinks and plates. Then you grill it up, drink, BS with friends. They also had texas toast slices with garlic butter for grilling. They have a chef that will cook it for you, but they charge ya! Once your meat was done, you hit the salad/baked potato bar. Every topping you could imagine for a baked potato was ready to go.

It's a brilliant business model...all they need is a butcher and salad bar stockers. The only thing they cooked was the baked potatoes! It was very hot near the grills, even with massive hood systems drawing out the smoke. I could only imagine the headache trying to get the VI Fire Department to sign off on that.

It was a great experience, but if I do it again I won't admit that I'm a chef. I was in charge of 8 steaks that night.

Noah

Sounds like a plan, but it won't work for me. See...when I come to your place, I'll be eating BBQ.:@)

Will the "chefs" need health cards? Something to consider.

It is my understanding that we all will need health cards. Good question for the VI health inspectors interpretation.

I like the idea. We went to a place in the Bahamas where we cooked our steaks ourselves. The grill was our table. It was fun.
I like that you are thinking outside the box. You gotta stand out from the rest.
In Maryland pit beef stands are real big. I think it could work here. We use to get pit beef, pit ham and pit turkey sandwiches. Talk about amazing. No one here does anything like that. They would cook the meat nice & slow so it was tender, then they would slice it real thin on a slicer. The had a huge grill.
I'm still looking for a real steak sub sandwich here. Haven't found one yet.

I'm looking forward to a much cleaner and neater place chockman. Driving by the former Lobster Reef almost every day, it looks good from the road. I know Frankie fairly well and his nature wasn't that much into keeping things cleaned up except for the kitchen & bar area. He's a very good chef, now cooking at Bogie' (Cane Bay Reef Club)..

People who actually work at a place serving beverages, cooking or handling food will require a health card. It's somewhat of a racquet down here in that the cards are only good for 12 months and you've got hand over $25 -$30 bucks/year to get one or a renewal. Plus the Health Dept should be checking for TB via a blood sample. Instead they require a stool sample which does not show if somebody has TB.

As for grilling your own steak, who knows how the Fire Dept or Health Dept's position would be on that. I'm not an expert but given their past history on approving either fire or health related issues, each dept can be very picky irregardless of common sense. Don't be surprised at anything they may require you to do prior to opening --it just goes with the territory. Scottie, your landlord, may be able to help you pull "some strings" to get approvals faster.

Jumbie on STX

Jumbie,I have learned to expect anything to pop up. We will keep the place clean,inside and out. You hear things if you ask around enough or keep your ears open. I've heard the good the bad and the ugly about the property. Scotty and I will have a great working relationship. The place is cleaned of clutter,their is a new bar,new roof over the concrete pad and the kitchen has been worked a little plus the bathrooms are being reworked. The Mural Frank had painted will remain. Do you know who the artist was or have any contact info for her ? Were hoping for Aug 1st,but I am ready to except whatever will be, with the inspectors.

The artist who painted all the murals at Lobster Reef is Barbara Gillardi (sp?). She is not listed in the phone book but lives with her husband off of Scenic West --looking down over LaVallee. She spent a lot of hours on them & painted the sea facing wall a couple years before painting east facing wall in 2007.

Jumbie -STX

If anyone bumps into her before I get there,would you please tell her to look me up on this board. Thanks Jumbie

Grille you own steak sounds great!(the pulled pork, the BBQ sounds like heaven(I grille a bunch myself).
But, i gotta go, dinner time!
All you can eat chix wings $9.99 @ Hooters...

Erm, dinner with a view!

Dun,it sounds like your on the wrong island.

Hey Chockman....If I know the" Dark Blue" they will be very happy to get some of dem ribs......so bring some down when you come for bribebin......".Dem some good ribs boy.."....."..You gonna have no trouble here...". Fire up dat grill boy " Ya'll getta out dis man's way cause he know how to make sommin...............They may not want to leave.!!!!!!:P

No grill for the BBQ. I only use a low temp,slow cooking smoker. As for the boys in blue. Well lets just say we have a few things in common.

Chockman -- I will get you Barbara's business card or a phone number for you. Also I will tell her to contact you.

Jumbie - STX

Chris,
You probably should enter the Rib Cook-Off on July 17th at Cane Bay. This year....there are NO rules except to pay your entry fee and be on site two hours before the event starts! Someone will be dropping by when you are here to give you all the info!

Stxnama. Sounds like it would be fun. That is about the time I will be knee deep in trying to get the doors open. I can't say no at this point but at the same time I can't except ether. We'll just have to see how it plays out. Are all of the Entrants restaurant / bar owners ? Or can anyone enter the competition ?

Chris

I wouldn't care to cook my own steak but would like to see a a menu here that allows you to pick the size, by ounce or 2, of the steak itself - and pay the price accordingly - if you are cutting and trimming your own meat this could be a good selling point.

Chris,
Anyone can enter! It is open to all with judged awards for Best Ribs, Best Sauce and Best Presentation, as well as People's Choice.

Ok, I'll admit... I skimmed by most of your posts........But Chris, it does sound like a good Idea; my suggestion to you is "PLEASE do not charge the meal as if it was being cooked for them!" We have a place up by my house in the states and my husband refuses to go to again (we have been there a couple of times).......we pay almost 25 a person, no one cooks for us (except me, and I love to cook)...but my husband feels as tho he is getting ripped from his time with me......not a good date night! Fun for Bachelor Or Bachlorrettes parties.

Hey, so your starting you own "pub" in STX??????? I want to move and am ready! 18 years FOH experience, and shit...I'm young (only 34)....bartending since I was 18, managed a country club for 3 years........served, expo'ed, and even did some cooking........you think you might need me at some point?