Everything behind the Steakhouse Elite brand revolves around what happens around the table. Formal table, picnic table, or restaurant table alike, no matter where the meal, we believe it's a moment with friends and family that should be savored.

The holidays, in particular, usually call for a more formal type of family dining--one much farther removed from the grab-and-go, get-it-while-its-hot daily dinner routine. The way we serve our nightly meals is far more causal than the holiday dinner scene. Even in casual restaurants it is not uncommon to grab a fork an spoon rolled in a napkin and grab your plate hot from the kitchen delivery window. All this casual dining can make us forget the basics of a formal dinner party, from the position of the wine glass, to the proper placement of the dinner napkins.

So, when a more formal event comes along such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or a holiday party, we could often use a refresher course on how to set a table. Formal or casual dinner, there are a few key placements to consider for your holiday table setting, and we are here to give you the cliff notes so you can spend less time setting the table, and more time savoring every moment with family and friends this holiday season.

When a formal setting is appropriate:

Holidays and formal dinners are the perfect time to dress the table with a formal table setting.  Since this table setting was designed for many courses such as soup, salad, and dessert course, it requires the use of additional forks, spoons, glasses, and plates.
 
How to set a formal setting:

1. For a formal setting, you should have both matching place mats and a tablecloth.
2. Start by placing matching ceramic plates in the center of the place mat to use as a reference point.
3. A cloth napkin is ideal, and should be folded in half and put on the left side of the place setting.
4. Formal dinner settings include both a dinner and salad fork on the left-hand side. The dinner fork should be as close to the plate as possible without touching, and the salad fork should be a centimeter from the dinner fork.
5. The knife should be placed on the right hand side, with the cutting edge facing in, followed by the teaspoon, then the soup spoon.
6. Wine glasses should be placed at the top right corner of the placemat, and water glasses just above the wine glass to the left.

When a casual setting is appropriate:

A casual, or basic, table setting is acceptable for most all occasions and requires the use of only the necessary utensils. This table setting is most popular for dinner parties and larger groups because it takes less room on the table and requires fewer dishes and utensils (making clean up easier too).
 
How to set a casual setting:

1. Though not required, a place mat is still recommended for a casual table setting to help with placement.
2. Start by placing the plate in the center, and place all other utensils relevant to the plate.
3. Napkins may go under the fork(s) or centered on the plate.
4. A casual table setting requires only the use of the dinner fork on the left, and a knife (cutting side in) and soup spoon on the right.  If no soup is being served, you may eliminate this utensil.
5. Wine glasses (both stemmed and non-stemmed glasses are acceptable) should be place a few inches above (and to the left) of the soup spoon. The water glass should be back, and to the left of the wine glass, and should be larger than an ordinary glass.

Whether adding a small amount of elegance to a casual dinner or pulling out all the stops for formal sit-down, a proper table setting will add an element of sophistication to any meal.  But don’t forget the small details that will not only impress your guests, but help entice conversation so you can really enjoy every moment together.  For example, remember to choose a centerpiece that allows guests to see each other across the table, always clear away salad dishes before serving the main course, and don’t wash your dishes until after your guests have left.

May your holiday season be filled with delicious food, a beautifully-set table, and amazing company that help make your holiday memories special.

While no one knows for sure the history of tailgating, we like to think it started with a guy named good time Charlie, a Model T Ford and some butcher-fresh beef made into patties and charbroiled to perfection.

Other theorists, however, have suggested the culture of what we call "tailgating" and the camaraderie, food and tradition that surrounds these events actually dates back as far as ancient Greece and Rome. 

Modern day tailgates are believed to be rooted from Greek and Roman fall harvest celebrations, or “vestavals;” the first official “tailgates.” During these vestals, the community would gather with food and drink during the last warm days before winter to celebrate the abundance at harvest. Since football season begins at the end of the summer and ends at the tail-end of fall, many believe the traditions of these fall celebrations ignited the tailgating culture.

In France, however, the history of tailgates is a bit darker. Historians believe the beginnings of these celebrations are linked to the Reign of Terror in the late 18th Century, when families would show up to public executions and enjoy meats and foods among the community in a carnival-like atmosphere (yikes!).

A look at early American tailgates as we know them today begins at the Battle of Bull Run in Manassas, Virginia during the Civil War conflict when Union sympathizers gathered at the battlefield with food and drink to observe the rebellion--that is, until confederate troops stormed the picnic, causing chaos and panic. Perhaps, this sparked the first food and drink celebrations in America involving a rivalry between two sides.

Fast forward to 1906, when the first true concept of tailgating emerged, with origins beginning at an Ivy League school in a game between favored-winners Yale, and their rival Harvard. It is said that while the modern automotive was still particularly new, due to the wealth of Ivy League-ers, it was no surprise to see a large number of fans gathering in cars, carrying picnics full of food and drink to celebrate the game. The wealthy gathered in their cars, feeding off picnic treasures while the less fortunate, arriving late by train, had missed their lunch. Tale has that those in automotives invited the train riders to join in on their picnics, and thus, the first demonstration of camaraderie over a passion for sports was born.

Today, the tradition of hope, food and camaraderie brings sports fans together during various types of competition in a tailgate tradition. A couple hours over the grill, a couple beers, and a little sports talk among fellow fans, and tailgating has become a phenomenon in contemporary American culture. Sports fans become a miniature, temporary communities of people, daunting the same clothes, talking the same talking, and eating the same foods.

Everytime the smell of grilled burgers hit the air, the sounds of chanting fans rings through the stands, and team colors paint the stadium, a rush of excitement hits fans as if it was the first time two competitors have ever went head-to-head. But, despite the feeling of fresh excitement, in reality, this tradition has been around since the time of the Romans.

FACT: One-third of all food produced globally goes to waste. (ref)

FACT: The world's almost one billion hungry could be fed on less than a quarter of the food wasted in the US, UK and Europe. (ref)

FACT: Twenty-five percent of the world's fresh water supply is used to grow food that is never eaten. (ref)

FACT: Meal prep is one way to reduce household food waste and has other benefits as well.

When you work in the industry of food, you want it to be successful. You want people to buy and appreciate your product, and eat every savory bite with so much enthusiasm, nothing is left on the plate.

Turns out, enjoying every morsel is not just good for business, it's good for the environment. That's because only one-third of the world's produced food is never actually consumed. And, while we believe our savory beef burgers rarely go to waste, we do believe cutting back on food waste as a society as a whole is more than simply buying delicious food you want to eat; it's about making decisions in-store that will cut back on the number of products and groceries that will never be eaten.

We can't change the impact of food waste overnight, but what we can do is offer perspective on how and why meal prep has become more popular among homes in US. As avid food prep and meal planning veterans ourselves, we believe this small step in combating food waste, if done by more people every year, could potentially make a big difference in how we buy, eat, consume and toss food. It doesn't take hours of preparation or miles of recipes to be successful. Even a list of five meals for the week written on the back of an envelop on your lunch break can ignite a change in buying habits that produces all of these food waste prevention benefits.

Meal prep utilizes in-season vegetables which is easier on the environment.

Seasoned meal prep-ers often utilize what's on sale and what's in-season to build their menus. Not only is this good for the environment, but also encourages consumers to purchase food that is currently in excess and available locally, reducing the amount of out-of-season, hard to get, and hard to grow fresh foods purchased.

Foods purchased out-of-season often come from farther away and utilize more environmental resources (water and natural resources used to produce the food out of season) to grow those items when they aren't suppose to grow. Not only is this concept of buying in-season a bonus for the environment, ultimately it saves the consumer money too.

Meal prep takes freshness, freezing, and product expiration into account so less food is thrown out due to expired or rotten, uneaten food.

The biggest negative to buying fresh foods is that they expire if not consumed quickly. This is a big obstacle for meal preparation. But seasoned meal planners think about when and how foods will be recooked when creating their menu, opting for heartier vegetables, meat-case fresh meats that can be frozen, and meals that taste great re-heated. Because every grocery item has a purpose and the freezing and/or reheating of the dish is thought out ahead of time so it doesn't spoil, there are very little extras that are thrown out due to spoiling.

In addition, meals that are planned out or prepared ahead of time are more likely to get eaten because the hassle of deciding what to eat every night is diminished. People are more likely to eat at home instead of going out, and more likely to eat what was planned if the decision was previously made.

Meal prep cuts down on buying excess food by buying only what you need.

If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, then a minute of meal planning is worth at pound of food waste. Taking just a few moments to consider what meals your family would like to eat for the week and sticking to that list will dramatically reduce the items in your cart. That's because that single onion you bought can be used both on your burgers and in your meatloaf, or those buns can be used for sloppy Joe's one night and bread with your spaghetti the next.

By pre-planning your meals, you can limit the number and amount of ingredients you buy by utilizing like ingredients in multiple dishes and picking dishes that have similar ingredients. Buying only what you need because you've thought ahead saves money and waste, not to mention time, because there are no extra runs to the store after work and no headache trying to figure out what to cook for dinner.

Ordering online in combination with meal prep further cuts down on buying unwanted or unnecessary food.

One way to double-up on preventing food waste is to utilize a meal planning or meal prep method, and order your food for the week online. This forces you to stick to a list and ONLY buy what you need. You will be surprised to find how often you buy extras you don't need, just because you see it in-store.

Meal prep saves money and prevents waste by buying in bulk.

When you pre-plan your weekly menu, you can often utilize buying in bulk. For example, the meat you buy can be used for multiple recipes, or you can buy an entire bag of lemons at a reduced cost, or perhaps buy a whole chicken and use the breasts in one dish and the legs in another.

Meal planning is a holistic approach to cooking and eating, taking into account how you might be able to use every ingredient in more than one way. When we think about only one meal at a time, we don't think about the waste involved in what we don't use. Meal prep offers a bigger picture that allows us to say, "Oh yeah! Instead of bacon in that soup, I can use the leftover pork from the pork chops!"

Why, you may ask, would a business in the food industry encourage people to buy less food?

Well, what we are actually encouraging is people to think more wisely about their purchases and purchase only what they really want--and will--consume.

Making a meal list for the week to include a four-pack of our fresh, ready-made Kobe-Crafted burgers and committing to eating and enjoying all four of them is so much better for the environment and for your pocket book than buying two pounds of beef on sale that you never use, and expires before you found a purpose for it. When you buy less and plan ahead, you can wisely pick fresh, delicious and quality food products you will actually eat. Buy less, eat what like, and enjoy more.

We love sports: racing, football, soccer--you name it! And it's our love of sports that has welcomed us to be a part of one of the most iconic teams ever in sports: The New York Yankees.

As a proud partner of Yankee Stadium and the New York Yankees, we want to introduce you to one of the burger combinations now available at the newly-remodeled 105 City Winery stand  at Yankee Stadium: The Steakhouse Elite Burrata Burger.

Sr. Executive Chef Matt Gibson shows fans the process involved in making this decadent burger, with a seasoned Steakhouse Elite beef burger patty, toasted brioche bun, house-made tomato and red pepper relish with panchetta and an ENTIRE ball of burrata cheese imported from Italy.

Can't make it to Yankee Stadium? That's ok! Our Kobe-Crafted®, Grass Fed and Angus burger varieties are available in store or online, and with the help of Chef Matt Gibson, you now have the recipe to re-create the same stadium taste at home. 

It's no secret that we love our burgers and we love our sports. As an official sponsor of NASCAR's ISC Racetracks and Yankee Stadium, we are proud to serve up bold, robust, quality beef burgers for spectators around the track or in the stadium. But with 162 baseball games a year and 38 NASCAR races, it's likely that at lease a few of those events will be hosted at home.

So, when game day has you beckoning for a taste of the ball game, our burgers and dogs are only a trip to the store away, and these game day recipes bring a bit of the taste of stadium to your dinner table.

Ingredients:

1 package of Steakhouse Elite Kobe-Crafted beef burgers
6-10 mushrooms
1TBSP butter
Salt (to taste)
1 yellow onion, sliced into rings
4 slices Swiss cheese
Dijon mustard
4 sesame seed buns
Baby cornichons (pickles)

In a saute pan over medium to high heat, saute onions until caramelized and slightly crispy on the edges. Remove onions from pan and set aside. In the same pan, add mushrooms, butter and salt and cook over medium high for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Cook your burgers on the grill to desired doneness. Just before removing from the grill, add Swiss cheese to the patties until slightly melted. Place cooked patties on a bun slathered with Dijon mustard. Top with onions, mushrooms and baby cornichons. Add onion rings for a perfect side.

Ingredients:

1 package of Steakhouse Elite 100% all beef hot dogs
1 sweet yellow onion, cut into rings
4 slices of bacon, chopped
1 fresh jalapeno, cut into coins
6 bakery-style hoagie rolls
Ketchup and Mayo

In a saute pan, heat to medium-high. Add bacon and saute until cooked to about rare. Continue cooking but add onions to the pan. Coat onions with bacon mixture until caramelized and bacon is fully cooked. Drain onion/bacon mix on a paper towel or paper plate.

Cook hot dogs on grill. Generously spread mayo onto hoagie roll and add grilled hot dog. Top with bacon/onion mix and four jalapeno rings. Add ketchup and other toppings if desired.

Whether you are at the stadium or near your own grill, there's always a #reasontoburger and a way to get the big league taste of Steakhouse Elite burgers and dogs.

Steakhouse Elite has announced a partnership with the 27-time champion New York Yankees to serve its burgers at concession stands throughout Yankee Stadium. The partnership will also be highlighted through in-stadium signage during the season.

Steakhouse Elite, a New York-based company, produces its burgers from American-raised, responsibly handled beef that is USDA-certified in the highest possible standards of production and safety.

"The Yankees are our hometown team, and we couldn't be more excited to partner with them," said Evan Wexler, Steakhouse Elite COO. "A great day at the ballpark always includes your favorite ballpark food, and we're proud that game days at Yankee Stadium will now include Steakhouse Elite burgers."

"We are excited to be partnering with Steakhouse Elite to feature its burgers at the Stadium, and look forward to working together to augment its brand awareness in the tri-state area and beyond," said Michael J. Tusiani, New York Yankees Senior Vice President, Partnerships.
The partnership with the Yankees represents an expansion of Steakhouse Elite's sports marketing activations, bringing their products to some of the most iconic venues in the country. In February, Steakhouse Elite announced a multi-year, multi-facility deal with the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) to serve its burgers at ISC facilities, including Daytona International Speedway.

Steakhouse Elite burgers can be found at most major retailers across the East Coast. For a full list, visit their Store Locator.

All burgers deserve a little bacon and cheese. But an extraordinary burger deserves homemade pimiento cheese and bacon jam. Spoil your Steakhouse Elite Kobe-CraftedⓇ burger with toppings as robust and flavorful as the patty you put them on. These simple recipes for pimiento cheese and bacon jam are impressive, yet easy, and the perfect way to elevate a tasty burger to something unreal!

Ingredients:

1C Mayonnaise
1/2t Cayenne powder
1C Roasted red peppers (drained and diced)
12oz Extra-sharp white Cheddar, coarsely grated
12oz extra-sharp yellow Cheddar, coarsely grated
Salt and pepper to taste

In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise, cayenne, salt and pepper (about 1/2 teaspoon each). Add the red peppers, white Cheddar and yellow Cheddar and gently fold until combined. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.

Ingredients:

1 lb Bacon (cut into 1" pieces)
1 White onion (finely chopped)
4 Shallots (minced)
2 Garlic cloves (minced)
1/2C Brown sugar
1/4C Maple syrup
1/3C Apple cider vinegar
1t Chili powder

Instructions:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Drain and place bacon on a paper plate or paper towels, reserving about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan.

Reduce heat to medium-low and add onion and shallots to the pan and cook. Stir often until onions are caramelized.

Once caramelized, add garlic, brown sugar, maple syrup, vinegar, chili powder and cooked bacon. Bring mixture to a simmer then reduce heat to low. Cook until the liquid has reduced and thickened and the onions are jammy, about five to 10 minutes.

Allow mixture to cool and transfer to a jar and refrigerate until ready to use.

A Steakhouse Elite burger is delicious on it's own. But add homemade pimiento cheese and bacon jam and the combination is above and beyond! We finish our Pimiento Cheese and Bacon Jam Burger off with scallions and a toasted bakery bun, but we encourage you to use your imagination to create your own culinary delight!

If you have been wanting to try the tasty, Steakhouse Elite crafting of our Angus burgers, we have the perfect recipe to try! Paired with the classic, tender flavor of Angus beef, our Angus Gouda Bacon Burger with Homemade Bourbon BBQ Sauce adds a dramatic flair to this perfectly balanced burger.

For a tasty night in, or to impress your guests during an outdoor dinner party, when you pair the flavors of Bacon, Gouda and homemade bourbon sauce with a perfect Angus patty, there’s simply no better burger.

Sauce Ingredients:

1C ketchup
1/2C bourbon
3T brown sugar
3T light molasses
3T apple cider vinegar
2T Worcestershire sauce
1T soy sauce
1T Dijon mustard
11/2t liquid smoke
1t onion powder
1 1/2t garlic powder
1/2t crushed red pepper (add more or less for a mild or spicier version)
1/2t ground black pepper

Instructions:

Combine ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until brought to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce is reduced to 2 cups, stirring constantly (about 10 minutes). Use immediately or refrigerate up to two weeks.

Burger Ingredients:

1 package Steakhouse Elite Angus Burgers
1 onion, sautéed until soft
8 slices of thick sliced pepper bacon, cooked
4 slices of smoked Gouda cheese
4 bakery-quality hamburger buns
1 tablespoon of homemade Bourbon BBQ Sauce (see recipe above)
16 pickle slices (dill or sweet)
lettuce

Instructions:

Cut onion into 2mm rings. In a medium saucepan, sauté onion pieces until soft (you can add a little butter or olive oil to the pan for added flavor). Set aside.

Cook pepper bacon until done. Set aside.

Cook Steakhouse Elite Angus Burgers to desired doneness. Just before removing from heat, top with a slice of thick Gouda cheese and remove from heat when melted.

Separate four bun halves and place one cheesy burger patty on each bottom piece. Slather the top half generously with homemade Bourbon BBQ Sauce. Stack the burger in the following order: pickles, two slices of bacon and sautéed onions. top with burger bun and serve hot.

When you pair two perfectly delicious things together like bourbon BBQ sauce and Angus beef burgers, the result is a succulent, tasty and flavorful dinner treat.