I ate out a bit while pregnant.. Considering you are pregnant would you not have ordered something else with less risk like chicken or a veggie dish or if you insist on eating steak ask for well done to be in the safe side.
Baby due in two weeks, so probably safe enough for a medium well or well-done steak, and it should be taken as a given that a steakhouse will get the order right.
Over-cooking is the problem I invariably have with steaks. The “simple rule” you offer here wouldn’t have helped Barbara–her steak was undercooked, not over-cooked. The restaurant should not have served her husband when she sent hers back and should have re-fired both.
Personally, any steak past medium isn’t worth eating.
Agree with R Norris, considering that you are pregnant, should you not have ordered something less risky? Unless you ask for very well cooked steak, it’s bound to be served rare because Marco Pierre White has trained using French cooking rules and steak should be served rare (I hate rare meat. In fact, I hate red meat, but if I really HAVE to eat some, I’d have it properly burnt). Irish restaurants tend to serve the meat medium to well cooked because of health regulations, but that’s not the case in other european countries (I don’t remember ever seeing a “steak tartare” on a menu here, do you?)
Oh for God’s sake. Where are you all getting the idea that a steak is so awfully risky? Are pregnant women now deemed irreponsible for having a STEAK? Yes, ideally a steak should be rare/ medium/ medium rare, but if someone wants it well done, for whatever reason, give it to them. It’s a bizarre form of intolerance when someone forces their likes and dislikes on another. By the same token, I may not like pineapple on a pizza, but let people eat that crap if they see fit: it’s no more any of your business than what goes on in their bedroom http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/14/british-hotel-bad-breakfasts
calm down, Peter 🙂 No one is saying a pregnant woman is irresponsible for ordering a steak. All we said was that because you are not supposed to eat rare or uncooked meat during pregnancy, if you eat out you might face the issue that your sister faced: having a steak that is cooked according to the chef’s liking rather than hers. And in fairness, MPW is quite a pedantic type and he won’t give you pineapple on pizza if you ask for it. Even if you are the customer and pay for it.
Sorry Nanazolie, didn’t mean to get so het up! 🙂 I just think it must be hard enough giving up red wine and prawns and stuff. To not be able to go out for a steak – even a well-done steak if that’s the only option – is just too much. The restaurant should have been more accommodating – and surely they can just let their eyes roll and give the well-done steak to customers who want it that way, even if they’re not pregnant.
I had a lovely steak, perfectly cooked, in Locks Brasserie in Portobello the other night. It had been so long since I received a steak cooked the way I ordered it that I got quite a pleasant surprise at the first mouthful.
Have to say I’ve eaten steak on a number of occasions in Marco Pierre White’s and it’s been done exactly how I’ve asked for it ( which changes.. sometime I like it medium , sometimes medium to well depending on the cut. The last time was a busy Friday evening and the place was very busy.
I’m not someone who would happily chew on an old boot or neither a slab of raw meat that’s been walked through a warm room.
I did express concern on the 6 chips that arrived as a portion but the steak was perfect
The only way to have a good steak is to cook it yourself and enjoy the pleasure of only forking out about 6-8 euro and spend a bit more than usual on a good wine ! 33 euro each is a lot for a main course these days.
Gotta say I’m a fan of rare steaks, JD’s in Terenure has never let me down when I have a craving and it hasn’t let me down yet! I’ve been with people who prefer well done meat and they have been happy with what they received. Friendly staff and limoncello seal the deal! And no I don’t work for em 🙂
As for the whole steak or no steak when pregnant, meh its personal taste surely?
Monday 15 August, 2011 at 4:13 pm
I ate out a bit while pregnant.. Considering you are pregnant would you not have ordered something else with less risk like chicken or a veggie dish or if you insist on eating steak ask for well done to be in the safe side.
Monday 15 August, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Baby due in two weeks, so probably safe enough for a medium well or well-done steak, and it should be taken as a given that a steakhouse will get the order right.
Monday 15 August, 2011 at 4:44 pm
Over-cooking is the problem I invariably have with steaks. The “simple rule” you offer here wouldn’t have helped Barbara–her steak was undercooked, not over-cooked. The restaurant should not have served her husband when she sent hers back and should have re-fired both.
Personally, any steak past medium isn’t worth eating.
Monday 15 August, 2011 at 4:53 pm
I stopped reading after ” because I’m pregnant I should be having it cooked”.
Monday 15 August, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Why’s that now Claire?
Monday 15 August, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Love steak very well done so I always ask to serve it burnt!!
Tuesday 16 August, 2011 at 9:21 am
Agree with R Norris, considering that you are pregnant, should you not have ordered something less risky? Unless you ask for very well cooked steak, it’s bound to be served rare because Marco Pierre White has trained using French cooking rules and steak should be served rare (I hate rare meat. In fact, I hate red meat, but if I really HAVE to eat some, I’d have it properly burnt). Irish restaurants tend to serve the meat medium to well cooked because of health regulations, but that’s not the case in other european countries (I don’t remember ever seeing a “steak tartare” on a menu here, do you?)
Tuesday 16 August, 2011 at 11:28 am
Oh for God’s sake. Where are you all getting the idea that a steak is so awfully risky? Are pregnant women now deemed irreponsible for having a STEAK? Yes, ideally a steak should be rare/ medium/ medium rare, but if someone wants it well done, for whatever reason, give it to them. It’s a bizarre form of intolerance when someone forces their likes and dislikes on another. By the same token, I may not like pineapple on a pizza, but let people eat that crap if they see fit: it’s no more any of your business than what goes on in their bedroom
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/aug/14/british-hotel-bad-breakfasts
Tuesday 16 August, 2011 at 12:16 pm
calm down, Peter 🙂 No one is saying a pregnant woman is irresponsible for ordering a steak. All we said was that because you are not supposed to eat rare or uncooked meat during pregnancy, if you eat out you might face the issue that your sister faced: having a steak that is cooked according to the chef’s liking rather than hers. And in fairness, MPW is quite a pedantic type and he won’t give you pineapple on pizza if you ask for it. Even if you are the customer and pay for it.
Tuesday 16 August, 2011 at 12:20 pm
I agree on the rule of thumb of how to order steaks in Ireland, 90% of places don’t know how to cook it!
Only one place I’ve had a nice steak (cooked medium – REAL medium as I had asked for):
Merchant’s Arch in Temple Bar
Maybe it was a fluke but it was so good I sent compliments to the chef and I never do that!
Tuesday 16 August, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Sorry Nanazolie, didn’t mean to get so het up! 🙂 I just think it must be hard enough giving up red wine and prawns and stuff. To not be able to go out for a steak – even a well-done steak if that’s the only option – is just too much. The restaurant should have been more accommodating – and surely they can just let their eyes roll and give the well-done steak to customers who want it that way, even if they’re not pregnant.
Tuesday 16 August, 2011 at 2:10 pm
I had a lovely steak, perfectly cooked, in Locks Brasserie in Portobello the other night. It had been so long since I received a steak cooked the way I ordered it that I got quite a pleasant surprise at the first mouthful.
Tuesday 16 August, 2011 at 3:33 pm
I never order steak when out as its so easy to cook at home. Its a bad reflection on a place if they can’t cook a steak properly!
Tuesday 16 August, 2011 at 4:53 pm
Have to say I’ve eaten steak on a number of occasions in Marco Pierre White’s and it’s been done exactly how I’ve asked for it ( which changes.. sometime I like it medium , sometimes medium to well depending on the cut. The last time was a busy Friday evening and the place was very busy.
I’m not someone who would happily chew on an old boot or neither a slab of raw meat that’s been walked through a warm room.
I did express concern on the 6 chips that arrived as a portion but the steak was perfect
Tuesday 16 August, 2011 at 7:40 pm
The only way to have a good steak is to cook it yourself and enjoy the pleasure of only forking out about 6-8 euro and spend a bit more than usual on a good wine ! 33 euro each is a lot for a main course these days.
Wednesday 17 August, 2011 at 11:41 am
Rosie, sure, but this was obviously a very special occasion: anniversary and last chance before the baby arrives.
Wednesday 17 August, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Gotta say I’m a fan of rare steaks, JD’s in Terenure has never let me down when I have a craving and it hasn’t let me down yet! I’ve been with people who prefer well done meat and they have been happy with what they received. Friendly staff and limoncello seal the deal! And no I don’t work for em 🙂
As for the whole steak or no steak when pregnant, meh its personal taste surely?