As someone who's very familiar with the various Darden Restaurant concepts, (Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V's), I was quite surprised when their purchase of Ruth's Chris Steak House was announced this morning. It's so similar to their Capital Grille concept, I had to wonder why. But, in the decade since I started dollar-cost averaging into the co. in 2012 when the shares sold for ~ $40/share, and with a cost basis now of < $64/share, it's become my second largest holding (next to Apple), and the shares have almost quadrupled at a closing price of $151. 47 today. So, over the years, I've learned to trust their judgement.
I've always hated the name, but we've managed to work around it."
Ruth Fertel
What's the Ruth's Chris secret? As for almost anything having to do with food, "it's better with butter."
Re: Ode to Olive Garden
Posted: Wed May 03, 2023 8:16 pm
by jhawks99
Stakes drenched in butter.
Re: Ode to Olive Garden
Posted: Wed May 03, 2023 8:35 pm
by japhy
Butter with garlic and some Chimayo chile in it.
Re: Ode to Olive Garden
Posted: Thu May 04, 2023 5:39 am
by RainbowsandUnicorns
I partially blame Ruth's Chris for my going to the Cardiologist in a couple of hours.
Gutter's long standing Ruth's Chris review.....
Their steaks are consistently very good. Great? Debatable. Very good? Not debatable - from me.
Side note - Gibsons Steak House is a well known restaurant in Chicago. An "institution" and a "go to".
Typically very good BUT once or twice I have had a not good steak there.
Re: Ode to Olive Garden
Posted: Thu May 04, 2023 1:46 pm
by DrPepper
Get a good cut with a good trim from a good cow and it is not that difficult to prepare. I don't know what all the fuss is about.
Re: Ode to Olive Garden
Posted: Thu May 04, 2023 4:37 pm
by TDub
its all about the early sear to seal it up and give a little char. then lower heat and let the inside cook...if you go over medium rare youre doing it wrong.
I like chimichurri....but a good steak needs no sauce of any sort and its really sort of a shame to distract the flavor with a sauce.
Re: Ode to Olive Garden
Posted: Thu May 25, 2023 2:06 pm
by jfish26
TDub wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 4:37 pm
its all about the early sear to seal it up and give a little char. then lower heat and let the inside cook...if you go over medium rare youre doing it wrong.
I like chimichurri....but a good steak needs no sauce of any sort and its really sort of a shame to distract the flavor with a sauce.
I'm a big fan of preparing steaks sous vide, for a lot of reasons. When time allows, I'll sear before vacuum sealing.
Re: Ode to Olive Garden
Posted: Thu May 25, 2023 2:32 pm
by jhawks99
I picked Mrs 99 up from the airport in Cinnci (actually Northern KY) last night. Went to a place called Ford's Garage. Kinda whiskey tango. Mrs 99 ordered burnt ends, I know they've never seen a whiff of smoke (unless the cooks were smokin in the kitchen) and I swear they were done sous vide.
TDub wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 4:37 pm
its all about the early sear to seal it up and give a little char. then lower heat and let the inside cook...if you go over medium rare youre doing it wrong.
I like chimichurri....but a good steak needs no sauce of any sort and its really sort of a shame to distract the flavor with a sauce.
I'm a big fan of preparing steaks sous vide, for a lot of reasons. When time allows, I'll sear before vacuum sealing.
TDub wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 4:37 pm
its all about the early sear to seal it up and give a little char. then lower heat and let the inside cook...if you go over medium rare youre doing it wrong.
I like chimichurri....but a good steak needs no sauce of any sort and its really sort of a shame to distract the flavor with a sauce.
I'm a big fan of preparing steaks sous vide, for a lot of reasons. When time allows, I'll sear before vacuum sealing.
I'm not fancy enough for that....but I'd eat it.
It's the opposite of fancy. Easy as could be, not messy. Exactly the level of doneness you're going for, idiot-proof.
And - the #2 thing for my family (behind precise doneness/flavor) - is how flexible it lets you be. Get the meat in at 4:30ish, and your dinner window can be anything from 5:30-8:30.
Re: Ode to Olive Garden
Posted: Thu May 25, 2023 3:00 pm
by jhawks99
Once we get moved, I may set one up.
It really is easy, like the old boil in bag things of the 70's and 80's just a more controlled temp.
Re: Ode to Olive Garden
Posted: Thu May 25, 2023 3:01 pm
by KUTradition
i’d just as soon toss the meat on the smoker, but maybe i’m underrating the method
probably shouldn’t knock it till i try it
Re: Ode to Olive Garden
Posted: Thu May 25, 2023 3:25 pm
by TDub
KUTradition wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 3:01 pm
i’d just as soon toss the meat on the smoker, but maybe i’m underrating the method
KUTradition wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 3:01 pm
i’d just as soon toss the meat on the smoker, but maybe i’m underrating the method
probably shouldn’t knock it till i try it
same and same
i was skeptical at first, but “santa” brought me a fancy new traeger two christmases ago (with wifi and phone app…i know), but that shit is so freakin convenient