Wagyu, The Foie Gras Of Steaks
If you think prices for a tenderloin or a T-bone at fine steakhouses are
steep, try ordering wagyu beef. Servings of the highly marbled delicacy,
considered ambrosia for carnivores, might run as much as $20 an ounce. Then
again, because wagyu has a taste and texture more like foie gras than USDA
prime steak, a small portion will do just fine.
The beef comes from Japanese cattle that are treated to regular massages and
a diet of grains and beer, at least in Japan. Wagyu cattle are now raised in
the U.S. and Australia, although Kobe beef, considered the best of wagyu,
comes from a specific region in Japan.
The Japanese typically eat wagyu in thin slices grilled rare or dipped in
simmering broth, but chefs in the U.S. keep inventing ways to serve it. Kobe
Club in New York offers "flights" that allow you to sample Kobe filet, strip
loin, and rib eye. The price is $395, but it's enough for two. At Cut in Los
Angeles, chef Wolfgang Puck's signature dish is Kobe beef short ribs for a
relatively modest $39.
Others have given the pricey delicacy a more homey touch. Thomas Keller has
served wagyu meat loaf at Ad Hoc, a more casual spot near his famed French
Laundry in Yountville, Calif. Ketchup, a sleek L.A. grill, features mini
Kobe beef hot dogs (four for $12), while a Kobe beef rib sloppy joe ($15)
graces the menu at newly opened Presidio Social Club in San Francisco. Why
the growing popularity of wagyu? With caviar and foie gras under siege, says
restaurant consultant Clark Wolf, "we need some luxury protein to help us
feel special."
By Amy Cortese
Source: Businessweek Online
Is there a point to this article? Is the purpose to give average joe's a glimpse into the finer things in life only accessible to the wealthy exec? Is it to encourage everyone to work harder and advance their careers so they can eat Kobe beef rib sloppy joes for lunch everyday? Or is it simply an ad campaign by Wagyu beef suppliers trying to push their products mainstream? If anything at all, it simply encourages us to act rich before actually being rich.
Personally, articles like this don't really mean much to me. Gaining access to the finer things in life do not motivate me to be an entrepreneur or to advance my career.
What really motivates you? Does a fancy cut of meat drive you? Think about before you jump in...
