All posts in category Bison

Birthday Dinner Recap

Were you expecting a dessert post today? Sorry, but there won’t be one. I sort of forgot to plan a dessert. But that’s ok, because after the other food, we couldn’t eat another bite.

Instead, today I will recap the meal and share the cost break-down with you.

Salad with Organic Peppery Greens, Heirloom Tomatoes, and Cucumber

Approximate cost: $5.00

Bison Rib-Eye Steaks

Approximate cost: $27.20

The total estimated cost for the meal: $42.92 (or $21.46 per person)!

Now, I know this seems rather expensive for a single meal, and it is, but remember this was a birthday celebration and I did intend for it to cost more than usual, yet less than if we ate out. And I think I achieved that. Had we eaten out, to spend about the same amount we would have forgone the appetizer, ordered water instead of wine, and likely still gone over budget after leaving a tip.

We both enjoyed the meal, it was very enjoyable to have a relaxing night in, and it was nice to be able to eat at our own pace, taking breaks for conversation (and digestion). It was a lovely evening and I think we’ll stay in to celebrate more occasions from now on!

Bison Rib-Eye Steaks

While we enjoyed the steak tartare and the salad very much, the highlight (and greatest expense) for the meal was the bison rib-eye steaks. While most of these items are something we would not enjoy day-to-day, the bison is something we will likely not buy again until another large occasion.

This was our first time trying bison. We tried the rib-eye steaks at the butcher’s recommendation. Apparently bison is one of those meats that dries out quickly and becomes tough if you over-cook it. Needless to say, I was a bit nervous cooking this and it came out a bit underdone. I was aiming for medium-rare, as per the recommendation, but it came out rare. It was still delicious. I was relieved that I didn’t ruin these steaks!

We kept the steaks simple. Because it was our first time trying bison, we wanted the flavour of the meat to be distinct, not covered up with a heavy sauce or too many spices.

Bison Rib-Eye Steaks

Ingredients

2 bison rib-eye steaks – approximate cost $27.00
2 teaspoons grapeseed oil – approximate cost $0.10
1 teaspoon sea salt – approximate cost $0.05
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper – approximate cost $0.05

Method

Season the bison steaks with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
Heat the grapeseed oil in a heavy frying pan over medium heat.
Sear the bison on each side so the meat begins to brown.
Reduce the heat to medium-low.
Cook the steak for about 3 minute.
Flip and continue to cook for another 3 or so minutes (or until the meat reaches the desired done-ness).
Allow the meat to rest on a warm plate for approximate half of the total cooking time.
Serve and enjoy!

Makes 2 servings (approximate cost: $13.60 per serving).