How About a Filet?

A couple of months ago we had an urge to get steak. We rarely eat it and never make it at home. The last time we had it was for an after Christmas celebration in 2022 at the local steak place. We picked two pieces up and weren’t terribly impressed. This week at the grocery store the meat counter was calling to us after we got some shrimp. We usually get shrimp or salmon every week but thought we could try a filet. We got an eight ounce piece cut in two for twenty-two dollars - which is quite ridiculous but definitely cheaper than at a restaurant. Last night we made baked potatoes in one air fryer and cooked the steak in the second air fryer. We seasoned it with garlic salt and olive oil. What I always liked most about steak was the charbroil and butter it sat in - but we haven’t eaten butter for centuries. My husband cooked up some onions and peppers. Both of us were really looking forward to it. But to be honest there just isn’t anything special about it. Without all of the forbidden accompaniments - like fried onion rings and such - it’s just all rather bland. And I never use salt. I’m glad we tried it - and it really looked good at the meat counter and on our plates. We are just are not in to meat that much. 

In the Mood for a Steak

Since my husband’s diet is somewhat restricted due to a medical condition, it’s been an adjustment trying to figure out what he can and cannot eat. No more tomatoes, wine, chocolate, and a lot of other things he craves. So when he said he had a taste for a steak, we took our morning walk to the neighborhood Giant to find one but we were disappointed with the selection. We rarely eat red meat and the last steak we had was over a year ago for a special occasion. So today after our morning walk we took a ride out to Amazon Fresh in Fairfax. My husband wanted to see what Amazon Fresh was all about. When we lived on Capitol Hill there was a Whole Foods in Yards Park - a few blocks away. I never cared for Whole Foods and this place looked just like While Foods. So we ended up getting bananas, pears, French bread, and two reasonably good looking tenderloin steaks. We really wanted a filet and a New York strip, but they didn’t have that either. When we got to the checkout - we don’t have the scan option to just walk in and walk out - our Apple Card couldn’t be used. I couldn’t tap with it or insert it. It just wouldn’t be read. So we needed to use another card that would be accepted. It looks like Amazon just doesn’t like anything Apple. I hope it was worth the trip as we are trying to decide if we should try to air fry or broil the steaks. I guess we will figure that out later on today. I don’t think we will ever go back, but it was worth the ride to see what it was all about. 

A Broken Arm, Medium Rare & Special Deliveries

We haven't been to eighth street for awhile. But yesterday we received a request from a family member who lives four hours away. A young friend of theirs had surgery a couple days ago due to a major arm break he sustained while playing baseball. He is now recovering at home. He loves the steak and frites restaurant called Medium Rare on Barracks Row. So an order was placed from long distance for him, and coordinated with his mother, to surprise the youngster with a special delivery. Why were we involved? It's our grandson's friend who we met many times over the years and the family lives a couple blocks a way from us. How were we involved? We were the pick up and delivery folks. My husband dropped me off at Medium Rare, I picked the package up, he drove us over to their house, and the delivery was made. Of course I took photos to send to the gift givers. I would have given the young man a kiss but I didn't want to do any more damage to his arm. Poor thing! So even though a part of our family doesn't live here any more, we all stay connected, even under these unusual and interesting circumstances. 

Tempo Restaurant in Alexandria

We prefer bistros, but we also like to be able to hear someone when he is talking. When we first moved here nine years ago, we found ourselves at a restaurant in Alexandria called Tempo, and recall it being very crowded, a little old style, but the food was quite good. So instead of going to one of our "usuals" on Sunday evening, I made a reservation for Tempo after reading all the reviews - which for the most part were good. Wouldn't you know it was pouring rain on the one day we reserved a table, so we left in the thunder and lightning and headed to Alexandria along the GW Parkway. We arrived a few minutes late, but the rain had stopped. The restaurant is an old converted gas station and has been around since 1990. We got a nice seat by the window. It wasn't very crowded and the clientele was on the older side, and probably "regulars" as the reviews mentioned. I had flounder with crab and my husband had steak diablo. The bread, salad, and key lime pie were all good. It's more than we typically care to pay for a meal without leftovers, but once in a while not a bad thing to do. As much as we liked it, we probably won't go back for awhile. It reminds us of those places that were all the rage twenty years ago and have since been replaced with a more casual atmosphere and fare. We were easily able to have a conversation without yelling - a very difficult thing to do in most places in our neighborhood. I wonder how it is on a Friday or Saturday evening?