Don’t have a probe thermometer handy to judge your meat’s level of doneness?  Experienced chefs often test steak doneness by feel.  As meat cooks it firms up (cooking protein causes it to tighten and expel moisture), so if you’ve felt enough steaks, you can tell how cooked they are by how they spring back when …

More of a technique than a recipe, here’s the method we use for marinating red meat in oil. This recipe works particularly well for Kobe beef, grassfed beef, and beef-like game meats like bison, ostrich meat and kangaroo meat.  Pretty much any meat cut can be marinated, though skirt steaks & flank steaks absorb marinades …

(serves 4-5) These kabobs have a nice beefy flavor that fades in and out with the heat of the marinade.  Have your guests drizzle on more aioli if they wish to tone down the spice. Ingredients: 2.3lbs (1 pack) thawed bison kabobs  ½ cup fresh cilantro ½ cup fresh parsley Chilies (we used 1 dried …

Husband and wife team, Grant & Ashley Jones, have constructed an internet temple to all things geoduck over at GeoduckRecipes.com. Here they’ve been kind enough to share some of their expert knowledge of what is possibly the most bizarre and delicious clam in the world, along with a tasty looking recipe and some great photos.  …

(because he asked nicely, I gave Nyoki some raw beef) Tri Tip Beef Satay (makes 6 appetizer servings) Wine Pairing: Reisling from Rheingau, Germany or Clare Valley, Australia This satay sauce has a pronounced lime flavor blended with garlic and a tiny bit of heat from the jalapeno and pepper.  The sourness of the lime …

Marinated Venison Kebabs with Cranberry Gastrique  (serves 4-5) These venison skewers are paired with roasted sherry vinegar shallots and sauteed wild mushrooms with butter and garlic.  The hedgehog mushrooms will be nice and buttery with a hint of garlic, the venison will have a slight sourness from the vinegar coupled with a fruitiness from the gastrique.  …

New Zealand Striploin Beef Skewers, Hoisin Mayo, Carrot-Horseradish Slaw The excellent quality New Zealand striploin is marinated in a mixture of pineapple juice, soy sauce, chillies, ginger, and sesame seeds, resulting in wonderful sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors. The hoisin mayo and carrot-horseradish slaw are a terrific accompaniment to these Asian fusion beef skewers. Ingredients: …

Kobe Beef Skewers with Pepper Marchand de Vin Sauce Kobe beef makes great appetizer skewers because its beefy, buttery flavor is so intense that even one or two bites can satisfy.  Here small skewers are paired with a savory sauce made with red wine and demi-glace balanced with bell peppers and herbs. Drink Pairing: Whatever …