Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler What yummy thing are you eating tonight?

I've started liking seafood a lot more once I started exploring my options. It's still not my go-to, but if there's halibut on a menu at a good restaurant, I'm more than likely to order it.

If any of you seafood lovers ever make it to Miami, check out Garcia's on the Miami River. We try to make it a point to stop in whenever we are in Miami.

Garcia's Seafood and Grill

The best clam chowder I've ever had was at the Hog Island Oyster Co. Oyster Bar in the Ferry Building in San Francisco. It's made with Manila clams in the shell. The broth is not thick, but the flavors are so rich. I died of happiness while eating it. Hmmm.. I'm going to San Francisco for a conference in late September. I'll need to stop in.

"The Late me is going to San Francisco for a conference in September."

There. Fixed that for 'ya.

Despite growing up in a community with a commercial fishing fleet, my wife dislikes seafood.

So, we had some Prime Top Sirloin yesterday. They were about 2" thick and about a pound apiece (yes, we had leftovers).

I used a technique (courtesy Alton Brown) that I had not tried before, because I was concerned about getting them "done" on a grill, and I had time. I put them in a 275F oven (on a rack) until the internal temp was about 95-100F. Then, I finished them in a very hot cast iron skillet until they got to about 118-120F. Obviously, you must have an instead read thermometer to do this (highly recommend a Thermapen despite the cost).

I was able to obtain epic levels of fond on the meat, which was still juicy and pink on the inside. I know that some people do this in the reverse order (sear then finish in the oven). I really liked yesterday's method, because all of the delicious meat juice that was lost ended up in the pan, ready for some shallots, red wine and whatever you like in your pan sauce. There were absolutely no drippings in the oven.

I will use this method again for larger cuts of steak.

I've done that once or twice, but I usually forget and do it backwards, at least when I'm using the stove.

However, I always do it that way on the grill. Indirect heat first, then pull the steaks off at ~115, 120, max out all the burners on the grill and sear the steaks when it hit around 500°.

Meat thermometers are for people who lack confidence, or excitement. Grill PWussies!

Or people who enjoy bloody charcoal.

I missed them, too. They coudn't never get visas to perform stateside.

The "fond" actually refers to the residual bits of meat, fat, blood/juices caramelizing on the bottom of pan. But like you mentioned in order to get a good fond you need a great sear.

The "fond" is actually in reference as the base to great sauce making not the actual seared piece of meat.