A while back, in response to a snark from Andrew Exum, I noted that, “As to the side issue of whether the combination of a martini and a steak makes for a good meal, it undoubtedly does. However, I prefer to have the martini (or perhaps two) ahead of the meal and then switch to wine to better enjoy the complexity of the flavors.”
Today at MANzine, by sheer coincidence, we have the rest of the story.
First, in “James Bond Ruined the Martini,” yours truly discusses some of the finer distinctions of this classic cocktail. Most notably, that true martinis contain gin rather than vodka. (Although, in the ensuing comments, Alex Knapp defends the virtues of the Vesper, which contains both gin and vodka.) Further, whether one should have one’s martini shaken or stirred depends not on one’s sophistication but rather on whether one is drinking a vodka martini or a real one.
Then, in “Steakhouse Steak at Home,” Matt Mehaffey offers a guide to perpetuating your carnivorous habits in style with an iron skillet and some prime beef. It’s what’s for dinner.
