Dads, steak your claim

This Sunday, put some sizzle on your main man's plate. Give him what nearly every red-blooded American father craves: A thick, juicy, grilled steak.

But how to best serve up that bounty of beefy goodness? We consulted with three experts: Brian Sack, executive chef at the award-winning The Famous - A Steak House; John Brand, chef at Charles Court at The Broadmoor, and Tami Arnold, director of marketing for the Denver-based Colorado Beef Council.

If you're putting on the Father's Day 'do, here's the deal: Dad might want to do the grilling, so you'll need only to buy the right steak, season it - and tidy up afterward.

"Guys don't mind cooking, even on Father's Day," Sack said. "They don't like to do the shopping and cleanup."

STEAKS:

What are the prime cuts for your prime guy?

Arnold: "I'd say to stick with any of the steaks that come from the rib and loin area. This is where you'll get the most tender cuts."

Sack: His five top picks are porterhouse (also known as T-bone), bone-in rib-eye (what he calls a cowboy steak), top loin New York strip steak, tenderloin fillet and a flat iron steak from the chuck.

"The first four will be more expensive, but the flat iron steak has a great taste and can be very tender, too," he said. "Flat iron steaks should not be overlooked." But if price is no object, go for a good-size porterhouse.

"A thick-cut porterhouse, say about 20 to 28 ounces, would be a great choice. That would be a good-sized, manly steak."

Brand: His favorites for the grill are skirt and flank steaks. Both are reasonably priced but need to be marinated to tenderize them. "These cook quickly on the grill and will maintain their juicy texture."

MAKING THE GRADE:

Now that you have some options, let's talk about grade.

There are three grades of beef: prime, choice and select. The grades reflect the amount of marbling (fat within the lean), firmness, color and texture of the beef, and the maturity of the animal.

You probably won't find prime beef (the best grade) at the grocery store. According to Arnold, only about 1 percent to 2 percent of beef is graded prime, and it's mainly sold to restaurants. But grocery stores are awash in choice, the second-best grade.

"For the home cook, buy steaks that are graded choice," Sack said. "Then look for a steak with as much marbling as possible."

Select has the least marbling and is often less juicy and flavorful than the other grades.

Alternatives to grocery stores include butchers and specialty shops. A couple of ranchers take freezers to farmers markets, where you can buy steaks and other meats, but not many markets are open yet.

PREPPING:

For pricey cuts: "If you've spent a bundle on a great steak, keep the seasoning simple," Sack said. "I love English sea salt. It's very light and doesn't add a lot of salty taste. Then use some fresh chopped garlic, fresh herbs and fresh cracked black pepper. Sprinkle this over both sides of the steak, and let it stand at room temperature for about 15 minutes."

For less-expensive cuts that need a marinade, such as skirt or flank steaks, Brand suggests: "Mix 1/3 each soy sauce, maple syrup and malt vinegar. Place this mixture and the steak in a plastic zipper storage bag. Let the steak marinate 20 to 30 minutes in the refrigerator before grilling."

THE GRILL:

The hotter, the better.

"The grill should be blistering hot," Brand said. "If you're using a gas grill, get it as hot as you can. If you're using a charcoal grill, the coals need to be completely white and glowing."

When the grill is scorching hot, clean it with a grill scraper.

"Take a clean kitchen rag, and roll it tightly, then tie with a string," Brand said. "Dip the rolled rag in oil and squeeze the excess oil out. Use metal tongs to rub the rag across the grill before cooking."

To get the signature crisscross pattern on the steak, position it so it points to 11 o'clock, Sack said. Let it rest there until it's well-marked, then lift and rotate it to the 2 o'clock position. "Then you'll have nice brown marks on the top side."

Flip the steak over, and move it to a cooler area of the grill to finish cooking. Avoid flipping more than once, and use tongs rather than a fork.

"If you use a fork it will make holes in the steak and let the juice run out," Brand said.

DONENESS:

Sack doesn't have much patience with people who like their steaks well-done.

"If people like well-done beef, they should buy a cheaper cut, like a chuck steak, and kill it all they want," he said. "An expensive steak should be served rare to medium-rare."

Don't guess; use a thermometer to gauge the temperature of steaks at least 1/2-inch thick. Insert it horizontally from the side, so the thermometer penetrates the thickest part or the center of the steak, without touching bone or fat.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association recommends 145 degrees for medium-rare, 160 degrees for medium and 170 degrees for well-done.

After removing the steak from the grill, let it rest 2 to 3 minutes before serving to let the juices flow out from the center. This makes the whole steak nice and juicy.

Then?

Dig in and enjoy the quintessential Father's Day dinner.

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GRILLED PORTERHOUSE STEAKS WITH GARLIC-HERB PEPPERCORN CRUST
Yield: 4 servings

SEASONING:
2 tablespoons each chopped fresh parsley and fresh thyme
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons coarsely ground mixed peppercorns (black, white, green and pink)

STEAKS:
2 (1-pound) 1-inch-thick porterhouse or T-bone steaks
1 teaspoon coarsely ground mixed peppercorns
Salt, to taste
Combine seasoning ingredients in small bowl. Press evenly onto beef steaks.
Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, uncovered, 14-16 minutes for medium-rare to medium doneness, turning occasionally.
Remove bones from steaks and carve into slices. Season with ground peppercorns and salt, to taste.

Source: www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

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CHARRED NEW YORK STEAK
Yield: 4 servings

1 tablespoon each ground cumin, pink peppercorns, black pepper and cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup kosher salt
1 (24-ounce) top loin steak
4 tablespoons cold butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Grind cumin, pink peppercorns, black pepper and cinnamon in spice grinder or pepper mill. Combine with brown sugar and salt in bowl and mix well.

Rub steaks with spice mixture. Sear hard in cast-iron skillet over high heat. Remove to oven and finish cooking, about 4 minutes. Rest 5 minutes, then rub with cold butter. Cut into four portions and serve.

Source: John Brand of Charles Court, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colo.

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FLAT-IRON STEAKS WITH PAPRIKA-CUMIN SAUCE
Yield: 4 servings

2 (8-ounce) beef shoulder top blade (flat iron) steaks
1 cup ready-to-serve beef broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Place steaks on grill over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill 13-15 minutes for medium-rare to medium doneness, turning occasionally. Transfer to carving board; keep warm.

Combine broth, tomato paste, paprika, cumin and garlic powder in skillet. Cook and stir 2-3 minutes over medium heat, until sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Remove from heat; whisk in butter.

Carve steaks into slices. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with sauce.

Source: www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

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MARINADES
Marinades are seasoned liquids that add flavor to meats and may help tenderize them.

Tender beef cuts being marinated for flavor need to soak in the marinade 15 minutes to 2 hours.

Less-tender cuts being marinated for tenderizing need to soak at least 6 hours, but no more than 24 hours. Overmarinating will result in a mushy texture.

The marinades may contain an acidic ingredient, such as lemon juice, vinegar, yogurt, wine or a natural tenderizing enzyme found in papaya, ginger, kiwi, pineapple or figs.

Here are some marinating tips.

- Always marinate food in the refrigerator.

- Allow 1/4 to 1/2 cup of marinade for each 1 to 2 pounds of beef.

- Use a food-safe plastic bag or a glass dish for marinating.

- Never save and reuse marinade.

- Marinade that has been used for raw meat must be brought to a full rolling boil for at least a minute before it can be used as a sauce.

- For better browning, remove beef from marinade and pat dry with paper towels.

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RUBS

Rubs are seasoning blends rubbed onto the surface of meat before cooking. They add flavor, but do not tenderize.

Here are a couple of rub tips:

- Dry rubs are a mixture of herbs, spices and other dry seasonings. Paste-type rubs contain small amounts of wet ingredients, such as oil, crushed garlic or mustard.

- You can apply rubs in advance and refrigerate the meat, or apply rubs just before cooking.

Source: National Cattlemen's Beef Association

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SESAME-SOY MARINADE (FLAVOR MARINADE)
Yield: About 1/2 cup

1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
1-1/2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
1 teaspoon each minced fresh garlic and ginger root
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Combine all ingredients in small bowl and stir until sugar is dissolved.

Source: www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

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TANGY LIME MARINADE (TENDERIZING MARINADE)
Yield: About 1/2 cup

1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 large cloves garlic, crushed

Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix well.

Source: www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

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SPICY RUB (DRY RUB)
Yield: About 1 tablespoon (enough for 1 to 1-1/2 pounds beef)
1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
3/4 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix well.

Source: www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

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PEPPERY DIJON-PARSLEY RUB (PASTE RUB)
Yield: About 1/4 cup (enough for 1 to 1-1/2 pounds beef)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
1 tablespoon cracked mixed peppercorns (black, white, green and pink) or cracked black pepper
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix well.

Source: www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

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Know your cuts of meat

Porterhouse/T-bone: Contains top loin and tenderloin. Identified by T-shaped bone. For porterhouse, left, tenderloin diameter must be no less no less than 1-1/4 inches; for T-bone, right, the tenderloin need only be 1/2 inch.

Flank: Lean, boneless. Marinate to tenderize.

Rib-eye: Flavorful, boneless with generous marbling. Also called Delmonico steak, Spencer steak and Beauty steak.

Skirt: Marinate to tenderize. Original cut used for fajitas. Also called Philadelphia steak.

Flat iron: Flavorful, boneless, very tender. Also known as blade steak.

Filet mignon: Lean, mild flavor, boneless. Most tender steak. Also called tenderloin.

Top loin (strip): Lean and tender, it is sold boneless, left, and bone-in. Also called Kansas City steak, New York strip steak and club steak.

SOURCES: Colorado Beef Council, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, The Cook's Thesaurus