Dine Out Early and Often

By Andrew Hunter

Since we’re in the restaurant business, it’s part of our job to eat at a variety of restaurants from the dives to the fancy ones, now and then. Regardless of where we go, the boys need to be well behaved. We believe every family needs a motto so ours is, “dine out early and often”. Early in life, early in the evening and at least once a week. It makes for happy, cooperative little diners along the way. And it makes dining out a pleasure for the entire family.

To teach your kids a love of good food, why not skip the kid’s menu since they tend to be limited to pizza, fried chicken fingers and hamburgers? Of course, our boys love these items, but they also like grilled meat and vegetables, and won’t miss the fried stuff unless given the option.

Now Ben and Nick often pass on the kid’s menu and go right to the adult entrées, especially when Steak Frites is on the menu. So instead of ordering two uninspired kid’s entrées, we order one adult entrée and one side vegetable for the boys to share.

But if you have a craving for Steak Frites, you don’t always need to go out. It’s super easy to make your own Steak Frites at home. We buy frozen fries and a couple of strip steaks.

Steak Frites
4 boneless New York steaks (1 inch thick), 12 ounces each
4 teaspoons olive oil
Kosher salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper

1 package frozen french fries, cooked

Preheat the grill. Rub the steaks with a little olive oil, sprinkle with salt and grill to desired doneness: 5 minutes on each side for rare, 7 minutes on each side for medium-rare, or 12 minutes each side for well done. Cooking time depends on the thickness of the steaks and the intensity of heat.

Steaks and chops will continue to cook after you take them off the grill. Expect the internal temperature to rise about 10°. This means a medium rare steak on the grill will be a medium steak on the plate.

Place a steak on each plate and season with freshly ground black pepper. Place a handful of fries on top and serve. Skip the ketchup and let the fries soak in the beef juices.

All grilled and roasted meats are delicious with frites … following are Hunter family favorites:
Grilled chicken breasts
Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store
Grilled pork chops
Grilled white-fleshed fish like halibut and cod

Dining out early and often will not only teach your children table manners and dining etiquette, it will foster a love of food for years to come.

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Comments

[tam lontok]

Hi Andrew! Love this post, wonderful recipe and tips on how to dine out with the family. I will definitely share this one! =)

[Andrew Hunter]

Thanks Tam. Their manners & etiquette are certainly a tribute to you too!

[patsymcadam]

Would like to take a copy of this to some of the fast food restaurants and post it on their menu board. Its so wonderful the way the children dig right in and enjoy. Also loved the idea of using the frozen fries as some of them are very good.

[Andrew Hunter]

Thanks Patsy! John would love this.