My Mothers Day Weekend musing/rant

[Belldozer1]

Surely, I'm not the only one on here whose inlaws drive them insane. My parents are both deceased, having died relatively early in life, so every holiday revolves around the inlaws and doing what they want, including going out to eat at their favorite restaurants. Well, my father in law and mother in law wouldn't know a good/decent steak if it walked up and slapped them. So, in keeping with their couple times a year tradition, I had to drag my ass over to San Antonio on Saturday for an early mothers day meal with the inlaws at The Little Red Barn. That place has been there since the 60's and I'm not sure how they are still around, honestly. If I'm going to eat a steak, it's usually a ribeye. Anyone with half a brain can cook a Ribeye and not screw it up. Not there. I've probably eaten there 10 times over several years time and have had a crappy steak every time. So, I told my wife, no more Little Red Barn for me. Has anyone else eaten there and had a decent experience?

 

[westx]

Bell, if they like it, then just do it. You seem to be a good guy and have been there to please. People love regularity and that seems like what your inlaws like. Eat a burger or something. Don't let it get to you. Sorry about your parents. But, believe me, your wife would probably have an equal issue with what your parents likes and dislkes were. It is no big deal at the end of the day.

 

[oldhorn2]

Bell...everyone has a cross to bear, and the inlaw one is universal. Your best bet is to accecpt it and move on.

The Little Red Barn is what it is....never too many people to keep you waiting. By that I mean if you come up there and 5 tour busses are in the lot, they can still get you in right away. and they dont claim to be purveyers of fine steaks...just fast ones.Never try to get a ribeye there, go for the sirloin or T-bone. If you want a good ribeye, go to Mortons....The best bet in that area is the Longhorn Steakhouse. Go for the "house" sirloin

 

[Bwilk55]

Bell...everyone has a cross to bear, and the inlaw one is universal. Your best bet is to accecpt it and move on.

My in-laws have some quirks to deal with, but I can say that they are the ones that opened my eyes to the medium rare steak. My dad gets queasy at the site of blood so he was always a well-done kinda guy, and my step-dad was a marine so he was probably used to chewing on rubber.

It wasn't until the age of 21, out to dinner with my now-wife and inlaws, that my mother in law had me try her medium rare steak. That was a game changer!

 

[LongfellowDrew]

Made steak for the wife last night so no going out with the in laws. Best steak she would've got any how, not to many places make a good steak!

Surely, I'm not the only one on here whose inlaws drive them insane.

I usually drink a few beers!

 

[Belldozer1]

Made steak for the wife last night so no going out with the in laws. Best steak she would've got any how, not to many places make a good steak!



I usually drink a few beers!

Totally agree!. That's part of my problem. I just buy HEB ribeyes, throw them on my green egg and they are great every time. Amazing how many people pay good money to eat crappy steak.

 

[LongfellowDrew]

Amazing how many people pay good money to eat crappy steak.

I think most do not know what a good steak looks like. I've been to high end restaurants here in Houston and have received some crap on a plate and when the sides stand out you know you paid way too much. I will say Houston cooks a really good steak and so does Pappas Bros. Steak House if you're ever visiting.

 

[Belldozer1]

I think most do not know what a good steak looks like. I've been to high end restaurants here in Houston and have received some crap on a plate and when the sides stand out you know you paid way too much. I will say Houston cooks a really good steak and so does Pappas Bros. Steak House if you're ever visiting.

There is a place here in New Braunfels that does cook a good steak, the place is called Myron's, but like I said, in my opinion, HEB has pretty good meat. For me,a simple combo of worstershire , soy, a simple rub and finished off with a butter/garlic combo is really all I need and it's a great ribeye everytime.

 

[LongfellowDrew]

There is a place here in New Braunfels that does cook a good steak, the place is called Myron's, but like I said, in my opinion, HEB has pretty good meat. For me,a simple combo of worstershire , soy, a simple rub and finished off with a butter/garlic combo is really all I need and it's a great ribeye everytime.

Never used soy but I've heard a lot of people do it, a friend does it with his fajitas as well which comes out pretty dang good. I keep my steak simple with course black pepper and sea salt then grill it over mesquite charcoal. Never fails!

 

[Bwilk55]

Never used soy but I've heard a lot of people do it, a friend does it with his fajitas as well which comes out pretty dang good. I keep my steak simple with course black pepper and sea salt then grill it over mesquite charcoal. Never fails!

All a good steak needs is salt and pepper.

 

[oldhorn2]

All a good steak needs is salt and pepper.

THIS!!!!!

It aint what you put on a steak that makes it good, it is what you leave off!

We prefer NY strips to ribeyes as we like the flavor better. We buy the bigstrip bulk " roast" and cut our own from Costco. We used to buy the ribeye roasts, but like the NY strip better. Anyway we cut it ourselves so we can get them as thick as we want. My wife makes them bring out at least 5 or 6 and she feels each one. She tells the butchers..."this one will be tough...this one has gristle...this one will be tender" She is always right about them and it is fun watching the butchers....

 

[LongfellowDrew]

All a good steak needs is salt and pepper.

Yep same thing I feel about brisket. I let the flavor from the wood get in and enjoy the beef.

 

[clob94]

The only good steak I have ever had there is the chateau briande. (sp). Stop being such a cheap ass and take them to Myron's in NB.

 

[Belldozer1]

All a good steak needs is salt and pepper.

Probably right but I guarantee it doesn't hurt the steak to use the Old West Mesquite rub I like to use.

 

[Belldozer1]

The only good steak I have ever had there is the chateau briande. (sp). Stop being such a cheap ass and take them to Myron's in NB.

Ha, hey that's the perplexing part. It's not that I haven't suggested other places or even volunteered to cook myself, it's the fact that they actually think cardboard steak from The Little Red Barn is good. Afterall, it's a San Antonio staple, it's got to be good ............

 

[clob94]

Pro tip, make a reservation at MyRon's, call them and tell them you have a reservation and you'll meet them there, hang up the phone.

 

[Belldozer1]

THIS!!!!!

It aint what you put on a steak that makes it good, it is what you leave off!

We prefer NY strips to ribeyes as we like the flavor better. We buy the bigstrip bulk " roast" and cut our own from Costco. We used to buy the ribeye roasts, but like the NY strip better. Anyway we cut it ourselves so we can get them as thick as we want. My wife makes them bring out at least 5 or 6 and she feels each one. She tells the butchers..."this one will be tough...this one has gristle...this one will be tender" She is always right about them and it is fun watching the butchers....

Big Tom Callahan: "Of course, I can get a hell of a good look at a T-Bone steak by sticking my head up a bull's ass, but I'd rather take the butcher's word for it. "

 

[Belldozer1]

Bell...everyone has a cross to bear, and the inlaw one is universal. Your best bet is to accecpt it and move on.

The Little Red Barn is what it is....never too many people to keep you waiting. By that I mean if you come up there and 5 tour busses are in the lot, they can still get you in right away. and they dont claim to be purveyers of fine steaks...just fast ones.Never try to get a ribeye there, go for the sirloin or T-bone. If you want a good ribeye, go to Mortons....The best bet in that area is the Longhorn Steakhouse. Go for the "house" sirloin

So...the steak fiasco was Saturday. Sunday was just as aggravating but for entirely different reasons and I can't blame this on my inlaws but I'm going to anyhow because they they drive me insane most of the time. So, on Sunday I decide to take my wife and our kids up the road to San Marcos to shop a little and get something to eat. My wife and kids like Luby's and as a kid I guess we all grew up eating there so I don't mind it but talk about being crowded on Mothers Day, good grief. I went there to eat but walked out feeling like I had inadvertently attended a denture and electric scooter swap meet. I think I saw Betty White and a few of the deceased Golden Girls in there too.

 

[LongfellowDrew]

I had inadvertently attended a denture and electric scooter swap

Yep!

 

[TX1972]

The only good steak I have ever had there is the chateau briande. (sp). Stop being such a cheap ass and take them to Myron's in NB.

I think it's chateaubriand. Last letter in french is silent. I learned that at UT.

 

[LonghornMM]

So...the steak fiasco was Saturday. Sunday was just as aggravating but for entirely different reasons and I can't blame this on my inlaws but I'm going to anyhow because they they drive me insane most of the time. So, on Sunday I decide to take my wife and our kids up the road to San Marcos to shop a little and get something to eat. My wife and kids like Luby's and as a kid I guess we all grew up eating there so I don't mind it but talk about being crowded on Mothers Day, good grief. I went there to eat but walked out feeling like I had inadvertently attended a denture and electric scooter swap meet. I think I saw Betty White and a few of the deceased Golden Girls in there too.

Not to mention the prices Luby's charges these days. It used to be pretty cheap to take a family there. No so anymore since Pappas bought them several years ago.

 

[Belldozer1]

Not to mention the prices Luby's charges these days. It used to be pretty cheap to take a family there. No so anymore since Pappas bought them several years ago.

That's true, they are kind of expensive. A quick Luby's story you may remember:Growing up in New Braunfels my family attended the same church as a gentleman named John Curtis. I knew his daughter Amy real well and graduated the same year as her except she attended Canyon High School and I was at New Braunfels High. She had 2 younger brothers , Daniel and Adam. Anyway Mr. Curtis was the CFO of Lubys and was probably the nicest most genuine person I've ever met. In the late 90's he was appointed CEO of Lubys and within a week or so of being promoted, he committed suicide, stabbing himself in a hotel room in S.A. Very baffling. 20 years later his wife and kids are still struggling to recover. His wife has never remarried.

 

[oldhorn2]

Bell you grew up in NB and you attended OU???? How did that happen?

 

[Belldozer1]

Bell you grew up in NB and you attended OU???? How did that happen?

My dad's side is all from Tulsa. My dad, who is deceased,went to Tulsa and Oklahoma State. My brother is a UT fan but went to SW Texas.I'm the only Sooner in my immediate family but don't hold that against them.

 

[LonghornMM]

That's true, they are kind of expensive. A quick Luby's story you may remember:Growing up in New Braunfels my family attended the same church as a gentleman named John Curtis. I knew his daughter Amy real well and graduated the same year as her except she attended Canyon High School and I was at New Braunfels High. She had 2 younger brothers , Daniel and Adam. Anyway Mr. Curtis was the CFO of Lubys and was probably the nicest most genuine person I've ever met. In the late 90's he was appointed CEO of Lubys and within a week or so of being promoted, he committed suicide, stabbing himself in a hotel room in S.A. Very baffling. 20 years later his wife and kids are still struggling to recover. His wife has never remarried.

Wow, that's pretty rare for someone to commit suicide by stabbing them self. Sad to hear that his family has suffered for so long.

 

[Belldozer1]

Wow, that's pretty rare for someone to commit suicide by stabbing them self. Sad to hear that his family has suffered for so long.

It sure is rare. And apparently, he stabbed himself multiple times, not just once. I have heard that he may have started taking an anti depressant that could have contributed to this very out of character atrocity. If you have time you should google him, something went really wrong at the end of his life and nobody really knows.

 

[FlourBluffHorn]

Yep same thing I feel about brisket. I let the flavor from the wood get in and enjoy the beef.

Fresh Sea salt and fresh Black pepper from HEB seasoning Health row in store, rub in and then let the mesquite tastetake it away and brush last with Butter and garlic with a squeeze of fresh lemon


Hook'em

 

[FlourBluffHorn]

Heard of a guy in Helotes that soak his steaks in Black coffee? Strange but good


Hook'em

 

[LongfellowDrew]

soak his steaks in Black coffee?

People do some "interesting" things with their meat! LOL

 

[FlourBluffHorn]

Believe it or not HEB has a mesquite smoked Sea Salt!


Hook'em

 

[LongfellowDrew]

Believe it or not HEB has a mesquite smoked Sea Salt!


Hook'em

HEB has everything that I love. Fresh tortillas, craft beer, quality steaks, quality fish, boiled crawfish, and customer service. Now if they could get a craft beer bar and I could walk around with the beer while shopping they'll be in business.

 

[Oldmanastro]

The HEB in Round Rock on University Drive actually does, at least a couple taps, along with wine.

 

[LongfellowDrew]

The HEB in Round Rock on University Drive actually does, at least a couple taps, along with wine.

I live in Houston and none of the HEB's I've been to so far does only Whole Foods and I think there's a Kroger some where in town.

 

[Belldozer1]

HEB has everything that I love. Fresh tortillas, craft beer, quality steaks, quality fish, boiled crawfish, and customer service. Now if they could get a craft beer bar and I could walk around with the beer while shopping they'll be in business.

I work out of our Gonzales office a lot and eat lunch most days at my good friends' Johnny's Cajun Cafe (the best boudin around) which sits right across Hwy 183 from Graham Land & Cattle Co. Old man Doc Graham eats in that same cafe 3 or 4 times a week. Graham is a retired vet that went to A&M but is a who's who in the equine and cattle vet world. Anyway Graham owns about 6,500 acres in Gonzales and provides a lot of the meat to HEB. Next time you are in HEB, pick up their little magazine at the checkout and they have a full write up on him. He's mid 80's but still gets around fine and is a super nice guy. Unfortunately, none of his land falls within the Eagle Ford down here, neither does Any of Nolan Ryan's but I think both have done ok regardless.

 

[LonghornMM]

It sure is rare. And apparently, he stabbed himself multiple times, not just once. I have heard that he may have started taking an anti depressant that could have contributed to this very out of character atrocity. If you have time you should google him, something went really wrong at the end of his life and nobody really knows.

I did a search and read the Newsweek story about what happened. Sad story. Perhaps he made an emotional decision, when in reality, things would have gotten better for him, as they do 99% of the time. The unfortunate thing is, that emotional decision that he made has permanent consequences.