[TeenSpirit]

Someone once told me that the 'steak' you order in pubs isn't necessarily proper beef steaks, or something along those lines or some other kind of cattle especially bread for cheaper restaurant market I remember being shocked at the time.

Does anyone else have any knowledge of this, it is really bugging me now, surely I didn't dream it up ???

Any help thanks

[Mr_Wistles]

I have heard about this, typically Wetherspoons and other large pub chains, some type of animal called a kajaboo (sounds something like that).

[TeenSpirit]

I'm not going mad then, thanks - yes I thought it was a different animal that the steaks came from - i am going to look into it some more.

[Mr_Wistles]

There you go: -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebu

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/n...rticleid=48947

[TeenSpirit]

Originally Posted by Russell_Piper

There you go: -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebu

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/n...rticleid=48947

I had heard correctly then and not imagined it - so Zebu meat !
It's enough to put you off eating out, you just never know what they are serving up

[Jenn]

[TeenSpirit]

Shocking isn't it !

[John 1987]

I personally don’t really see what the fuss is all about. If you read the wiki article, it’s not 100% Zebu that is reared for food, but a cross breed adapted for the warmer climates of Brazil, sounds like a fairly sensible thing to me as it allows for the mass production of cattle in South America were costs will be a lot cheaper. And at the end of the day, it is just another breed of cattle, I don’t understand, is it the ‘hump’ that puts people off? Would you really expect to get a top quality cut of meat, off the finest variety of cattle in a J.D. Weatherspoons? I feel this animal is just providing what the customers demand, a cheap and plentiful supply of meat.

or some other kind of cattle especially bread for cheaper restaurant market

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by John 1987

I personally don’t really see what the fuss is all about. If you read the wiki article, it’s not 100% Zebu that is reared for food, but a cross breed adapted for the warmer climates of Brazil, sounds like a fairly sensible thing to me as it allows for the mass production of cattle in South America were costs will be a lot cheaper. And at the end of the day, it is just another breed of cattle, I don’t understand, is it the ‘hump’ that puts people off? Would you really expect to get a top quality cut of meat, off the finest variety of cattle in a J.D. Weatherspoons? I feel this animal is just providing what the customers demand, a cheap and plentiful supply of meat.

No, what's shocking is that they don't make that clear in the restaurant.
People have a right to know what they're being served - look at all the fuss about making clear in supermarket where the animal has been reared and killed; here you're not even told what the meat actually is.

What's the difference between that and a dog/rat/whatever kebhab?

[John 1987]

here you're not even told what the meat actually is

What's the difference between that and a dog/rat/whatever kebhab?

I'm sure if they named all the differing breed of cattle, people still wouldn't have a clue what they were eating. My point, and I'm playing a little bit of devil's advocate, is that a Zebu (or its cross-breed) is still a breed of cattle, so I feel it can be rightfully advertised as a beef steak, it is what it is. Your analogy to a dog/rat/whatever i'm slightly confused about, obviously if dog meat was being served that would be wrong, but they're of a completely different species to the one it would be 'pretending' to be.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by Jenn

People have a right to know what they're being served -

I haven't been in a fish and chip shop for many years but I remember they used to sell dogfish under the much more appetising name of Rock Salmon

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by John 1987

I'm sure if they named all the differing breed of cattle, people still wouldn't have a clue what they were eating. My point, and I'm playing a little bit of devil's advocate, is that a Zebu (or its cross-breed) is still a breed of cattle, so I feel it can be rightfully advertised as a beef steak, it is what it is. Your analogy to a dog/rat/whatever i'm slightly confused about, obviously if dog meat was being served that would be wrong, but they're of a completely different species to the one it would be 'pretending' to be.

Well the dog/rat example is a bit streched but what's wrong is the fact that you're served something different to what you're told it is. The fact that it's dog surely doesn't matter, there's nothing wrong with dog meat except in our culture we've been raised to feel like it's wrong.

However on the original topic, beef is from a cow or steer. Zebu while still being cattle is a different animal.
I'd guess it's a bit like horse, donkey and mule. If you ate horse meat and were served mule you might not appreciate it.

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by Ian J

I haven't been in a fish and chip shop for many years but I remember they used to sell dogfish under the much more appetising name of Rock Salmon

Well that may be because rock salmon is the flesh of dogfish.

[dan1979]

Terrible that something we can produce in abundance here to a very high quality gets overlooked in favour of sub-standard imports.

You just can't trust food nowadays..

[TeenSpirit]

IT's like Jenn says, it's the labelling that they are always going on about, food being properly labelled and yet they are selling what we associate as 'steak' as not being a cut of meat from a cow but from some other cattle.

I know it's hypocritical for me to say that I am going to eat meat but only certain types, for example, cow and that I have visions that this animal has been reared in a certain way and cared for for human consumption - with any other cattle, for example, Zebu, I have visions of this being mass reared in poor conditions for the sake of selling cheaper cuts of meat - wrong assumptions I know - but I would rather know exactly what I am eating rather than being fooled or blinkered. Call me naive

I now only eat free range eggs or chicken after all the hype about it so how come 'steaks' aren't given the same attention Maybe some supermarket 'steaks' are also from Zebu... I will check labelling next time I go shopping.

[dan1979]

Most cattle in Britain is to some extent free-range since we have lots of grass it's cheaper than buying in grain (which incidentally is better for the cows and for the people eating the cows).

[Sad099]

Is that Grass or grain ?

Originally Posted by dan1979

Most cattle in Britain is to some extent free-range since we have lots of grass it's cheaper than buying in grain (which incidentally is better for the cows and for the people eating the cows).

[John 1987]

If you look at this Document, it lists the forms of ‘beef cattle’, a cow only being a colloquial term for cattle, not a different ‘animal’ as you say, and also it is only the better cuts that come from a steer (however to further develop my answer, I would have to check with my father). You will note there are multiple cattle on the list that all have been cross-bred with Zebu, such as the Boran and Brahman. For me, there is no difference between a Hereford cow and one of these Zebu cross-breeds, it’s all beef at the end of the day. Obviously though there will be a difference in quality, how they were reared, and this is reflected in their price. Personally, I only ever buy good quality steak, and if I’m dining out and feel the establishment I’m in will not provide a good quality steak, I’ll have something else; it’s all a personal choice.

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by MrsSigns

I now only eat free range eggs or chicken after all the hype about it so how come 'steaks' aren't given the same attention Maybe some supermarket 'steaks' are also from Zebu... I will check labelling next time I go shopping.

I wouldn't have a problem eating Zebu; but it's up to me if I want to eat it or not.

Like you I now only buy free range eggs and chickens, not only because of how they've been treated but mostly because of the taste.
But I don't like the beef coming from south america because it tastes different to me (maybe more mature). At least I have a choice.

Anyway if you want to experiment: http://www.alternativemeats.co.uk/asp/default.asp

[TeenSpirit]

As these mixed breeds are from hotter climates, then I could just stick to British beef to ease my mind of what I am eating - but if you asked in a restaurant if it was British they could just say 'yes'

Maybe becoming vegetarian is the answer

[Dony]

This might explain why it's impossible to get a decent steak in an English pub!

And why are they always served sizzling in a black cast dish on a grotty wooden board with someones initials carved into it.

[TeenSpirit]

Originally Posted by Jenn

Anyway if you want to experiment: http://www.alternativemeats.co.uk/asp/default.asp

Don't think I could try most of that - although crazily I do like venison - it's just the thought of eating mass reared, unknown to me, cattle that I don't like - campaign for better labeling

[Billo]

After seeing the photo of the Zebu, I'm not suprised that some people would get The Hump after ordering a nice steak

[dan1979]

Originally Posted by Sad099

Is that Grass or grain ?

Meat/milk from grass fed cows has lots more omega 3 than from grain fed (which has almost none but lots of omega 6 instead which there is too much of in most people's diets). It's also leaner overall.

and it tastes better

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by Dony

This might explain why it's impossible to get a decent steak in an English pub!

And why are they always served sizzling in a black cast dish on a grotty wooden board with someones initials carved into it.

Chain pubs, yes but there's still plenty of English Pubs serving good steaks...

Always love the way those chain pubs ask you how you want the thing cooked & then stick it no a red hot cast dish to make sure we all end up having it Well Done....maybe that's the plan - so no-one can actually tell what they're eating?

[Pecker]

Just to throw something in from left field - a different way of looking at it:

Every Friday I go to a local farm shop and buy a 300g (c.10oz) Sirloin Steak which is absolutely delicious. It's guarenteed as coming from the farm where it's bought, and tastes simply wonderful.

[IMG]image removed[/IMG]

Costs about £6 and takes 6 minutes to cook, medium rare.

I can also buy a cracking bottle of Argentinian Malbec for £9.

Why would I want to go into a chain pub and pay £12 for a crap steak of dubious origin and £10 for a bottle of sub-standard warm plonk, surrounded by members of Shannon Matthews family?

I mean, it's not as if it's difficult to cook a steak - even I can do it!



Steve W

[Mr_Wistles]

Originally Posted by DJT75

Chain pubs, yes but there's still plenty of English Pubs serving good steaks...

Always love the way those chain pubs ask you how you want the thing cooked & then stick it no a red hot cast dish to make sure we all end up having it Well Done....maybe that's the plan - so no-one can actually tell what they're eating?

Or serve it in a strong sauce to hide the taste. Never order a steak in peppercorn sauce.

[TeenSpirit]

Originally Posted by Pecker

Why would I want to go into a chain pub and pay £12 for a crap steak of dubious origin and £10 for a bottle of sub-standard warm plonk, surrounded by members of Shannon Matthews family?

I mean, it's not as if it's difficult to cook a steak - even I can do it!



Steve W

I know what you mean but sometimes I just don't want to stop in and cook and it's easy to pop down the local pub chain for a bite to eat - luckily pubs near us aren't that bad socially - if I go again I just won't ever have a 'steak'

or...

you could pass on your culinary skills to my husband and he could cook for us

[Mr_Wistles]

Originally Posted by MrsSigns

you could pass on your culinary skills to my husband and he could cook for us

We all know that is a load of old Zebu.

[funkyspider]

Originally Posted by Pecker

Why would I want to go into a chain pub and pay £12 for a crap steak of dubious origin and £10 for a bottle of sub-standard warm plonk, surrounded by members of Shannon Matthews family?

I mean, it's not as if it's difficult to cook a steak - even I can do it!

Shannon Matthews family did make me smile as it described Wetherspoons type 'pub' customers perfectly when I did once have the misfortune to go when our little girl spotted the play area as we passed.

I'm lucky enough to live where there are enough country type pubs so I can eat out over a weekend at a nice place where everyone doesn't have to leave in a rush to avoid breaking their asbo curfew.


Oh, and the latest Pizza Hut advert - We make all our "Pizza's by hand". I should bloody hope so it's hardly culinary art or challenging to prepare is it ! How they can build a full TV ad campaign on stating that they do exactly the same as every other local corner pizza takeaway is beyond me.