The Greatest Steakhouse on Earth
As I lay here in bed trying to come up with something to write about I am craving steak. And If was to have a choice right now as to what steak I could have, it wouldn’t even be close. The bone-in ribeye at Alexander’s Steakhouse. I will get back to that in a bit but for now I would like to discuss my current mental setting.
I am on my absolute dead adline ne to ge ge get th th this is article done. I’d be willing to be be bet th th that at at I hav av ave been the last one to submit my artic icle l to BL BL BLUF UF UFF for ten of the last twelve months. It’s gotten to the point where I have to give Matt (the editorin- chief) a $1k freeroll if I don’t have it in his email inbox before he wakes up tomorrow. It’s so funny – I will never forget when Phil Laak fi nished his article on what he THOUGHT was the absolute fi nal day and I didn’t get mine submitted for another FIVE days after that and it still made prin int. So re reme me memb mb mber all you BLUFF contributors r : Wh When en en the he hey te te tell l you ou that you have ve ve ON O E more day, yo yo you actually have anothe he her we we week ek ek! So S rry to to t hav ave to to to let e the h m in on that little secr cr cret et e , Ma Matt t .
I’ve had a pretty bad World Series of Poker so far. I’ve been playing my heart out and yet I can’t seem to get anywhere. Although haven’t played that many events was certainly hoping for more than one cash so far. Such is life and poker is what it is. It’s just disappointing because I have never been more hungry to win than now. It’s not over yet the Main Event is right around the corner and you just never know…
Back to the best steakhouse on earth... Wow, I’m craving a big piece of meat right about now. I’ve been to MANY a steakhouse in my life but nothing on this level. From food to ambience to service, Alexander’s is THE best and 2nd place is far, far behind.
It all started when I was going back to the Bay Area to visit the family. I used to work at Birk’s Steakhouse in the area (defi nitely still one of my favorite spots) and every time I went back home that was the only place I wanted to eat. My friend Jeff kept mentioning this Alexander’s place and after months of persuasion he fi nally convinced me to try it out.
As I walked in for the very fi rst time I noticed a table dead-smack in the middle of the kitchen. I asked the hostess if it was possible to have that table and she said there was a table minimum. Right as she was about to fi nish explaining, a man in a suit came over and said “Gentlemen, there will be no minimum this evening and if you’d like that table it's all yours.” Having not been in the most sober state, eating in the middle of the kitchen seemed rather fun and adventurous. It turns out that the man in the suit was the owner JC who was a big fan of poker. JC and I hit it off right away. Very cool guy.
That might have been one of the top-fi ve dinners of my life. I was with three of my best friends – Tony, Lee, and Jeff. Upon sitting down, JC sent over a bottle of Dom Pérignon. There I was with my best buddies, drinking free Dom P sent over by the owner! Thank you Steve Lipscomb.
I think my favorite part of dinner was being able to cook some of our own food. JC was kind enough to let us get behind the line and actually COOK our own scallops. It was so cool. And the food…WOW. I’m willing to take the Pepsi-Cola Challenge against any steakhouse in America. If you like steak, it’s out of this world. And the prime rib… HOLY **** it’s good. Just make sure to save room because the chocolate souffl é is undeniably the best dessert I’ve ever had. Usually dessert is the best part of any great dining experience but in this case the main course might have been too delicious to beat.
You see, JC was a bit of a gambler and after a little pushing I got him to agree to fl ip for our bill. Double or nothing. If we lose we pay DOUBLE whatever the bill was (about $900 before tip) and if we win it was on the house. I kid you not, the whole staff was there to watch this fl ip. Heads or tails, two out of three. Seeing as how JC was a total gentlemen I was nervous that if he happened to lose he might not make us pay double, so I made him give me his word in front of his whole staff that IF we were to lose he would in fact make us keep up our end of the bet. The terms were set. The audience had gathered. The moment had arrived. We lose the fi rst fl ip, then win the second fl ip. On the last fl ip the coin lands and begins what seemed like the never-ending spin… spinning and spinning and spinning… by the time the coin was about to fall JC and I were literally on our knees eyeing the it… heads! We win. Our ENTIRE meal was free. How sweet it is.
I’m getting too hungry just thinking about it. Just do yourself a favor and check out Alexander’s Steakhouse in Cupertino when you are in the Bay Area. www.alexanderssteakhouse.com
Time for bed. Tomorrow is the $5k shorthanded tournament and I really want to do well. Goodnight all. Antonio PS: My article was in before daylight, and I don't owe Matt 1K.
