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EC Beefsteak 101

If you’re like me, you had never heard of a “Beefsteak” before joining the EC Community. If you’re like me, as soon as you experience this weird, wonderful opulent feast, you will never want to miss another.

History

The Beefsteak is a hyper-local tradition (wikipedia). Started by our friends in Brooklyn in the mid 1800’s, Beefsteak events were essentially celebratory banquets/Fund Raisers where the main course is Beef Tenderloin- all you can eat. They serve the meat on sliced french bread. The tradition is to NOT eat the bread, but to have your table “Stack the Bread” as a braggadocios showcase of how much meat your table has eaten as well as “saving valuable stomach capacity.”

Beefsteaks Today

Today, the tradition lives on in- almost exclusively- Bergen and Passaic Counties. EC’s Beefsteak is traditionally at The Brownstone (yes- the same place regularly featured on the real housewives franchise). When I checked my coat at my first EC Beefsteak, I told the woman at the front, “I’m here for the Beefsteak.” Her response: “Which one?” They were hosting MULTIPLE Beefsteaks on weeknight! This tradition has to be experienced to be believed!

Just so we’re all going into this thing well informed, there are five full courses. While Beefsteak is the main course, there is antipasta, pasta/ziti, fries and onion rings, and dessert. But the whole thing reaches its climax with tray after tray of meat cutlets on sliced french bread.

Random Suggestions from a 4 year EC Beefsteak Veteran

I’ve now been to four of these things- here’s my personal recommendations if this is your first time:

Eat whatever you want. Don’t allow yourself to be meat-bullied (pretty sure I just coined that phrase). The macho underpinnings of this event remain strong. (Bragging about how much you can eat, etc.). There is pressure in the room to NOT eat anything OTHER than the main course. I did this my first year. In my humble opinion, big mistake. Every course is good. I recommend eating whatever you want. That’s what you’re there for! This will help you avoid the Meat Sweats… a very real thing!
Embrace the stacking. Probably my favorite part of the night- playing with food. You can get creative with your table. It’s not necessarily all about height. Like any fine architecture, the beauty is in the details. Use design thinking with your meat comrades. Start with the end in mind- cast a vision, and eat your way through to the other side. Glorious bread sculptures result.
Play the games. There’s all kinds of cool side games/raffles that you can play. It’s fun to do with your table.

Why you won’t want to miss this year’s event

Free Child Care! Need we say more? As if the summary above isn’t enough to whet your appetite, you’re supporting a great cause (Eastern Christian School!), you’ve got a night out with your spouse or friends or family or all of the above, and you don’t have to pay for a babysitter!

Your kids can be dropped off at the Eastern Christian High School Campus (only 10 minutes from the Brownstone). They’ll participate in activities with other EC students, guided by National Honor Society students in the high school gym, cafeteria, and auditorium. So it’s not only fun for mom and dad, it’s fun (and free!) for the kids too.