The Ribeye Taste Test...

Let's get the PRICE discussion out of the way... YES, you can find it cheaper, and you can certainly find it for more. This is a ballpark price guide to provide some perspective on general premiums paid for the various brands.

Snake River Farms Wagyu: Snake River always comes through. They've built their brand on quality and consistency across a wide range of options. That brand carries a heavier price for their top choices, but you are guaranteed a fantastic experience.

USDA Prime: Easy to find, relatively inexpensive, and well received amongst a broad range of eaters. Can't really go wrong with this choice, but it also falls short on the peak experience for a truly special occasion.

A5 Wagyu: What an experience. A slice is so rich, so deep, so tender... and so filling. It makes for an incredible appetizer, but far too rich for a meal. The price is excessive as well, but given that a slice or two will do, it is an experience worth sharing with few good friends.

Iowa Wagyu: Challenging to find outside of Iowa, but an extremely impressive steak. Well marbled, tender, with fantastic taste. This is a go-to steak given price, experience, consistency and overall value.

Technique: Get your grill HOT. We used gas, but coals would work as well, if not better. Either way, give the grill some serious warm up time. The goal here is 2-4 minutes per side, variable based on the temperature of your grill. Take it off in a rare state, let it rest for 5-10 before eating, with a goal of medium rare to medium in the traditional steakhouse rating (meaning pink, but not red or bloody)

Results: The target experience is sitting down for a good old American steak dinner. A nice seafood appetizer, a great steak, fries (not mashed), a great salad; and, of course, a great bottle of red wine. This is an art, not a science. Price is a factor, but the quality of the meat experience is weighed more than the cost of the meal. With all things said, the Iowa Waygu is the winner and is what you should have for dinner!