IMANAS SUSHI - IZAKAYA

IMANAS SUSHI IZAKAYA

HONOLULU, HAWAII

On the way to the Hawaii Womans Volleyball game last night we decided to try Imanas because it is right next to the University Of Hawaii and known for great Japanese food.  The last few times we tried this place we were turned away because we did not have a reservation.  This time we arrived at 5:20 p.m. (they open at 5:00) thinking we could sneak in.  As usual, we entered the place and were greeted loudly with a Japanese welcome.  The hostess asked if we had a reservation and we said "no".  She quickly reviewed the dining area and offered us three seats on the end of a table that had "reserved" signs all over it.  As we sat down I noticed that all the tables were reserved.  Lucky to get in in thought.  The menu includes sushi, seafood, chicken, steak and traditional Shabu Shabu where you cook various meats, vegetables and seafood at your table.  We started with their simple salad.  It was $3.50 but big enough to serve three people.  It is a good salad.  We also tried the Spicy Clams.  Served in a spicy broth that is great.  The clams were plump and big.  Delicious.  The Teriyaki Chicken was smothered in sauce and they did not remove the skin from the chicken.  It had good flavor and was served with a small salad and potato salad.  We enjoyed some fresh Ahi Sashimi, Miso Soup and Soy Beans to finish the meal.  As we finished the place began  to fill up fast.  The service was really good.  Can't wait to return to Imanas with a reservation next time.  They have a room in the back where you remove your shoes and sit on the floor.  Keli really wants to sit there.

FRESH CATCH - HONOLULU, HI

FRESH CATCH

HONOLULU, HAWAII

We didn't know what to expect when we decided to try Fresh Catch on Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki.  The former Pizza Hut/Taco Bell spot has been transformed into something that sells fish.  Is it a restaurant, a deli or a fish monger?  Well once we entered  we found out that it is all of the above.  Fresh Catch sells fresh poke, sashimi, sandwiches and plate lunches.  You order at the large glass counter.  The guy behind the counter was great.  Once he found out it was our first time here, he quickly took us through the daily specials and regular menu items.  The Smoked Marlin Sandwich caught my eye first.  I asked how it was prepared and he said with a lot of mayo.  I told him about the Smoked Marlin Sandwiches I had enjoyed daily in Bali.  Smoked Marlin with horseradish, onion and capers served on a toasted bun.  He thought for a moment and said that he did not have horseradish but would come up with something for me.  And he delivered.  He took the Smoked Marlin and tossed it with creme cheese and wasabi and then topped it with lettuce, tomato, onion and capers.  This sandwich was delicious.  My wife took a bite and ended up eating half.  We also tried the Oxtail Soup.  Our friend had a crab sandwich which he said was just o.k.  The poke was great.  We tried garlic shrimp, limu ahi and spicy ahi.  Other menu items include a Hawaiian Plate, Beef Stew and Fresh Fish such as Mahi Mahi with Miso glaze and fresh Salmon.  There are three picnic tables in the restaurant so we took one and enjoyed  some BYOB cold brews.  This was a great place and not too expensive.  Sandwiches and plate lunches run around $6.  Poke is sold per pound.  I cannot wait to return to Fresh Catch and enjoy my special Marlin Sandwich again.  Photos from the Star Bulletin.

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S - PORTLAND OREGON

BEST HAPPY HOUR FOOD AND VALUE

The burger pictured here served with french fries is $1.95 during Happy Hour (3:00 to 6:00 pm).  It is a full 1/2 pound of beef and really good.  We enjoyed huge plates of Oregon Crawfish for $1.95.  Also Teriyaki Chicken Wings for $1.95.  These are regular size servings too.  For $3.95 you can enjoy Fish Tacos or an Antipasto Plate.  For $4.95 you can get three amazing Kobe Beef Mini Burgers with Cheddar Cheese, Bacon and Caramelized Onion.  The Kobe burgers are awesome.  Moist and full of flavor.  We also tried the Slow Roasted and Smoked Pork Ribs served with Red Cabbage and Corn Slaw for $4.95.  This food is really good and very affordable.  You must sit in the bar area to get these great prices.  The service was excellent too.  We liked McCormick & Schmick's so much that we went back the next night and enjoyed some salad and seafood.  The menu is amazing and filled with fresh fish from all over the world.  I tried the steamed clams along with some Minnestrone Soup and Bib Lettuce Salad.  All were excellent.  My friend enjoyed a Beet Salad and an order of fresh Ahi Sashimi.  Everything was good.  This is a great restaurant located right on the river in Downtown Portland.  I highly recommend the place for Happy Hour and dinner.  Cannot wait to return.

PADDY'S PUB - PORTLAND OREGON

PADDY'S PUB 

PORTLAND, OREGON

Walking around downtown Portland we stumbled into a nice Irish Pub called Paddy's.  The waitress highly recommended that we try the Fish Tacos.  Yes Fish Tacos in an Irish pub.  Why not we said. It took awhile but the taco's arrived looking great.  Three good size flour tortillas filled with a battered fish and covered with cabbage, cheese and salsa.  Also comes with Beans and Rice.  The tacos were really good.  I could only knock down two but my friend ate four.  These were really good fish tacos.  Good flavor and presentation.

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY - RESER STADIUM

RESER STADIUM

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

This was by far the worst tailgate and fans I have ever witnessed at a college football game.  The Beavers have no spirit or Aloha.  The tailgating is weak.  Really weak.  The stadium was o.k.  The lines for the bathroom and snacks are long.  Even if we would have won the game, I still would rate this as probably the most boring tailgaters and fans on earth.

HAWAII VS OREGON STATE

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII VS OREGON STATE BEAVERS

RESER STADIUM - UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

This was a road trip that I can't wait to forget.  Hawaii was terrible.  No offense.  No defense.  No special teams.  There were no bright spots.  Score was something like 45 to 7.  

Sitting in the stands was brutal.  

OLD HICKORY STEAKHOUSE AT GAYLORD PALMS

OLD HICKORY STEAKHOUSE

GAYLORD PALMS
ORLANDO, FLORIDA

After a very long day at Disney World we arrived back at our hotel around 9:30 p.m.  Hot, sweaty and wearing our shorts.  I asked the Concierge at the hotel what options we had in the hotel.  He politely brought out three different menus for the different restaurants in the hotel.  He said it was late but we should try the Steakhouse.  We ran over to the hostess desk and were quickly greeted by a nice hostess.  I asked if they would seat us for dinner and she said "absolutely".  She walked us to the table and asked how our day was going.  Small talk but a nice surprise.  We were seated and then approached by one of two waiters that would take care of our table.  Water and bread came too.  Then a nice glass of wine.  I ordered the Heirloom tomato and Vidalia Onion Salad.  Normally served with a Maytag Blue Cheese dressing I requested a balsamic dressing.  The waitress said no problem.  The salad ($10) was fantastic.  Great tomato flavor with onions that were not too overpowering.  The balsamic was delicious.  Shirley enjoyed the Lobster Bisque soup.  It was also terrific.  For dinner I enjoyed the signature 100% grass-fed cattle beef tenderloin, center cut.  At $40 this better be great.  It was.....cooked to perfection.  It cut like butter and melted in my mouth.  Shirley's Porterhouse Steak was a huge 24 ounce cut ($37).  It was a great cut of meet and perfectly cooked.  Only complaint is that it was over salted.  I tasted it and agreed.  We also tried the Steamed Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce($8) and Sauteed Wild Mushrooms ($7).  The mushrooms were good but greasy.  All in all this was a great meal with great service.  Would love to go back again.

BONEFISH GRILL - GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA

BONEFISH GRILL

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA

The front desk clerk at our hotel highly recommended the Bonefish Grill.  We decided to try the place since it was close to the hotel.  We arrived the evening of Game Day and found that there was a forty minute wait.  Since the bar area was packed we joined a dozen other people that were sitting outside.  We were quickly greeted by a waitress (outside) that offered us drinks.  A nice glass of red wine would be nice I said.  The wine came quickly along with a soda and water for the family.  Wow....what great service and we have not been seated yet.  After a few minutes another waitress came outside with a platter of shrimp appetizers.  They were served to everyone waiting.  No charge.  We were seated by the hostess and then immediately greeted by our server.  Everyone that worked at Bonefish was very friendly.  The menu includes Wood-Grilled Fish, steaks, chicken and pasta dishes.  We opted to begin the meal with a fresh Ceviche and the Saucy Shrimp that was served for free outside.  The Ceviche was mostly small scallops and was pretty tasteless.  The saucy shrimp were sauteed in a lime tomato garlic sauce with Kalamata olives and Feta cheese ($8).  This was good.  We tried the Chilean Sea Bass ($22) and Gulf Grouper ($19) with a warm mango salsa.  Both served with fresh vegetables.  The Grouper was better than the Sea Bass but both were good.  I give the Bonefish Grill high marks.  They were super busy the night we were there yet the service and attitude was excellent.

GAME DAY - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA VS HAWAII

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII VS FLORIDA

GAME DAY AT THE SWAMP

Game day started back at the Swamp Restaurant.  We arrived early before the big crowds and got a nice table overlooking the street.  They don't serve breakfast at the Swamp so you get the lunch menu.  I enjoyed a delicious Shrimp Wrap.  Others had mostly fried food.  The Bloody Mary was terrible but the atmosphere of game day and location make this a great spot.  We left the Swamp and headed to the real Swamp where they play football.  Along the way several Gator tailgaters invited us in and served us cold beer and more food.  The fans were great even though we were what they call Gator Bait.  We entered the Swamp and were amazed that it seated 90,000 fans.  Looks a lot smaller.  As game time came closer, the clouds moved in and then the rain.  Huge raindrops pelted us until we were soaked.  Then came the sunshine and hot humid weather that made you feel sick.  The Swamp began to stink like a real swamp and it was miserable.  We took haven in the shade above our seat section.  As the score got worse for Hawaii fans we bagan to walk around the stadium and just take in the experience.  It was great despite the 56-10 loss to Florida.

WE MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE SWAMP!

90,000 FANS AND A FEW HUNDRED CHEERING FOR HAWAII

HAWAII COACH GREG MC MACKIN READY TO RUMBLE

HAWAII CAME TO PLAY BUT LOST BIG

PRE GAME AT THE SWAMP RESTAURANT

PRE GAME - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA VS HAWAII

HAWAII VS FLORIDA

GAME DAY IN GAINESVILLE

The local Gainesville affiliate for ABC News interviews Hawaii fans Drew and Aldrin.  We cruised the city of Gainesville in our rental car decked out with University of Hawaii stickers and flags.  

WE WERE A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE WITH OUR HAWAII GEAR IN GAINESVILLE

THE LOCAL NEWS WANTED TO INTERVIEW SOME HAWAII FANS

WAFFLE HOUSE PART 2

WAFFLE HOUSE PART TWO

2:00 A.M. GAME DAY

After a great night at the Swamp Bar we finally decided to go back to the hotel.  There was a quick stop that had to be made first.  The Waffle House.  Forget the low fat diet.  Forget the calories.  Forget the side effects of the Alli diet.  We dove into a bowl of chili and a beef patty melt.  The chili was awesome and the patty melt was the best ever.  This was worthy of a culinary award.  Please note this was 2:00 in the morning after about a dozen beers.  

Click link below to view Waffle House Part 1;

https://www.greateatshawaii.com/2008/08/waffle-house.html

THE SWAMP RESTAURANT

THE SWAMP RESTAURANT

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA

This is "the" place for Florida football fans.  An indoor/outdoor bar that rocks with Gator fever.  Located directly across from Florida University and only minutes from the stadium, the Swamp is a local institution.  We found ourselves in the thick of the party on the Friday before game day.  As the night progressed the party got better and better.  Students, fans, Alumni and two crazy guys from Hawaii enjoyed cold beer, a few shots and a lot of laughter.  We spent the early part of the evening on the outside deck in front of the bar.  Several beer stands made it easy to acquire a cold beverage without waiting in line inside.  The staff was very friendly and often gave us free "Beat Hawaii" stickers.  This is a great place to party before the game.  

ME AND MU BUDDY LIKED THE SOUTHERN BELLS

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA

Wow......you have got to see this University to believe it. It is huge and beautiful. I mean really big and really beautiful. The place is so big you can get lost. It is a small city unto itself. We ventured through campus like we were students. We went to the campus center and bought drinks and then sat in the main square and enjoyed the sights. The fact that we were wearing Hawaii shirts and hats didn't bother anyone. The football stadium "Swamp" is located right on campus. There is no parking lot. How they get 90,000 people in the place is amazing. We went to the stadium today. It looks like an office building from the outside. There is a small museum that leads to the ultra plush football offices. We got to see Tim Tebow's Heismann Trophy and the 2006 National Champion Trophy along with lots of pictures and other trophy's that Florida has won. This is a big time sports university with a great history. The fans here are not as fanatical as Alabama. I expected parties and tailgateing on Thursday and Friday like Alabama. Not here. There is very little happening. Last night was a dud and so was today. I brought the family because I thought it would be like the Alabama experience. Hopefully things will pick up tonight. It is difficult to know where to go in this town and the place is spread out. In Alabama you have two or three places where everyone goes to party. There will be a University of Hawaii party tonight at our hotel. Lots of old boosters wearing green shirts. My goodness I am one of them.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

WAFFLE HOUSE

WAFFLE HOUSE

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA

I have eaten at the Waffle House (Awful Waffle) many times in Atlanta and during our trip to Alabama. Normally around 1:00 in the morning after drinking. This time I took the family for breakfast so they could experience the Waffle for themselves. Waffle House's are all over the South. They are an institution. Small diners where you sit at the counter or booths that are on the cooking line. How to maintain my diet here would be tough. Waffles, eggs with cheese, hashbrowns, steak and hamburger dominate the breakfast menu. While my family went for the chocolate waffles and breakfast burritos, I enjoyed egg whites served with tomatos and one slice of wheat toast. This was really good for $3.00. My girls loved the waffles and burritos too. Everyone must try the Waffle House once in their lives.

Click link below to view Waffle House Part 1;

https://www.greateatshawaii.com/2008/09/waffle-house-part-2.html

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL

STEAK, BEANS, RICE, CORN, HOT SALSA, LETTUCE, CHEESE AND CILANTRO IN THIS BABY

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL

Gainesville, Florida

We don't have Chipotle Mexican Grill in Hawaii so I really wanted to try this place. We passed a Chipotle directly across from the University of Florida twice on this trip. Both times the lines were so long we decided not to go in. As we were driving back to our hotel we saw that there was another Chipotle right near our hotel. We ventured in and there was a very short line. The menu is very simple. You choose either a burrito, fajita burrito, burrito bowl, tacos or salad with chicken, steak, carnitas, barbacoa or vegetarian fillings. Then you go down the line and add whatever topping and salsa you like. Every dish is around $6.00. We ordered soft tacos with chicken, barbacoa and steak. I topped mine with hot salsa, lettuce and just a tiny bit of cheese. My wife went for the quacamole and lots of cheese. The barbacoa is a spicy shredded naturally raised beef braised in chipotle adobo, cumin, cloves, garlic and oregeno. The steak taco uses a cubed beef that is marinated for hours in chipotle adobo and then grilled. The chicken tacos are naturally raised, vegetarian fed chicken that is marinated in chipotle pepper, adobo and then grilled. All of the tacos were great. You get three tacos per order and can mix or match them. There were alot of burritos being served. They are huge. By the time we got through the short line dozen of people including the University of Pacific Volleyball team were all waiting in line. This place rocks. It is only a matter of time before you see the Chipotle Grill in your neigborhood and hopefully Hawaii.

UPDATE 5/4/14

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL

3201 ST. PAUL STREET

BALTIMORE, MD  21218

410-662-1701

www.chipotle.com

Note:  There are no Chipotle's in Hawaii

Finally made it back to Chipotle after many years.  I did a blog on Chipotle way back and did not even have pictures.  That blog has received tons of hits and may be in the top ten of all time on my blog hits.  This time I snapped some photos.  Chipotle is a super successful chain that has a cult like following.  Their stock has been on fire for years and now is around $500 per share.  Hard to believe this when you enter one of their stores.  It is pretty simple stuff with basic tacos, burritos and bowls.  Not many selections but all top quality ingredients and fresh.  They can rock out a custom burrito for you in seconds so it is FAST AND FRESH!  I went with a Steak Burrito ($6.84).  Once you order the meat, you can add beans and rice.  After that the guy slides your burrito over to another person who adds sides like salsa, guacamole, sour creme, lettuce and cheese.  I threw it all in along with the "hot" sauce.  The burrito was heavy and rolled into almost a ball.  I added Chips n' Salsa to my meal for $2.13.  A small drink set me back $1.66.  So all in this lunch was around $11.  The burrito was FANTASTIC.  I could only finish half during our visit but took the other half back to the hotel and enjoyed it later that evening.  Every ingredient in the burrito can be tasted because it is fresh.  There are no Chipotle's in Hawaii but boy I wish there was!

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL 

PRETTY BASIC AND CLEAN DINING AREA

ORDER - PICK UP AND PAY AT THE COUNTER

CHOOSE FROM STEAK, CHICKEN OR CARNITAS AND ADD BEANS/RICE IF YOU LIKE

CHOOSE TOPPINGS - SALSA, CORN, SOUR CREME, CHEESE, GUACAMOLE, LETTUCE, CILANTRO

SIDE ORDER OF CHIPS N' SALSA.  THERE ARE MORE CHIPS IN THE BAG 

CHIPOTLE BURRITO

LARGE BURRITO THAT HAS SOME SERIOUS WEIGHT TO IT

OLIVE GARDEN

OLIVE GARDEN

Gainesville, Florida

After seeing the commercials for Olive Garden for years on television we decided to try the place since it was right across the street from our hotel. We were quickly seated and greeted by a waiter that was excellent. Probably one of the best waiters we have had on a road trip or anywhere else. The Olive Garden menu is filled with soups, salads, pastas, chicken, beef and fish dishes. There is alot to choose from. My selection was made easy because the menu includes several dishes that are marked "Garden Fare". This indicates that the dish is low fat. All of the meals come with all you can eat salad and bread. The salad was actually really good. Fresh lettuce, roma tomatos, onion and olives topped lightly with Italian dressing. We shared a Caprise Flatbread appetizer ($6.35). Tomatos, garlic, basil and mozzarella cheese on flatbread crust. This dish looked like crap on the table but tasted fantastic. They put way too much cheese over the dish and then didn't melt it all the way. This turned out to be o.k. because it allowed me to pull off all of the cheese making the dish less fat. I ordered a dish from the Garden Fare menu. It was Shrimp Primavera ($14.25). Shrimp, bell peppers, onions and mushrooms in a bold arrabbiata sauce over Penne Pasta. This dish was also presented poorly and covered with too much sauce. The flavor however was good. The shrimp were small and most tasteless but the onions, peppers, mushrooms and sauce were good. I could only eat about 1/3 of the plate. The serving is big enough for two. My wife tried the Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto ($14.95). Large sauteed shrimp served over creamy parmesan risotto with asparagus. This dish was a soupy mess. Way too much liquid on the plate and not too good. My daughter ordered Chicken and Broccoli served over Angel Hair Pasta. They forgot to put the chicken in the dish. Dinner at the Olive Garden was not great but I would try it again.

Click link below to view another post on Olive Garden;

https://www.greateatshawaii.com/2021/07/olive-garden.html

SONNY'S REAL PIT BAR-B-Q

SONNY'S REAL PIT BAR-B-Q

Somewhere between Orlando and Gainesville, FL.

Traveling down the Interstate from Orlando to Gainesville we decided to stop for some BBQ at Sonny's. We had seen Sonny's featured on the Food Network and it looked great. We arrived and were greated with a big hello from the staff. As we were seated, I could not help but notice that most of the patrons were big. I mean 200 pounds plus or more. People were eating like crazy. After looking through the menu I had to make a decision to stay with my diet or bust out and go for the grease and fat. I went with the fat in moderation and ordered the Bar--B-Q Pulled Pork Plate ($9.59). It is served with two side dishes and corn bread or garlic bread. I chose the Corn on the Cob and Cole Slaw sides. My wife and daughter split combination of pork done three ways - Pulled Pork, Sliced Pork and Sonny's slow-smoked Sweet and Smokey Ribs ($11.99 . The Pulled Pork was a little dry as was the Sliced Pork and Ribs. I added alot of BBQ Sauce to the Pulled Pork to give it some flavor. It was just o.k. The ribs were so dry that we didn't eat them. The corn and cole slaw were good. My girls had green beans and macaroni and cheese as side dishes. They were not impressed. While the food here was disappointing, the service was excellent. Judging by the way people were eating around us I am confident that Sonny's does a great job with the BBQ. Perhaps it was our choice of pork. Next time we will try the beef dishes. To stay with my diet, I only ate about 1/3 of the meat on my plate. This was enough for me.

SONNY'S REAL PIT BBQ

FLORIDA GATORS VS HAWAII

FLORIDA GATORS VS HAWAII WARRIORS

Saturday, August 30, 2008

We are off to Gainesville, Florida to see Hawaii play Florida in the "Swamp". Stay tuned for photos and updates.

HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY - HALEKULANI HOTEL

HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY

HALEKULANI HOTEL

On a warm sunny Hawaiian Sunday we decided to celebrate the Little League World Series victory over Mexico. The underdog kids from Waipahu, Hawaii are now World Champs. We ventured into Waikiki in search of an outdoor spot where we could enjoy the great weather and ocean view. After a nice walk we ended up at an old favorite where Shirley actually used to work at. The House without a Key at the Halekulani Hotel. The Halekulani is one of the nicest and most expensive hotels in Hawaii. It is located right on the beach. There are three restaurants here. The Five Star La Mer and the beautiful Orchids are the nicest. The House without a Key is a casual indoor/outdoor place where you can enjoy a cocktail, beautiful sunsets and one of the most famous hula shows in Hawaii. I like this place because it is casual and comfortable. The lunch menu includes appetizers, main course salads, sandwiches and entree's that include steak, fish, pasta and chicken. We started with the Spiced Island Tomato and Cucumber Gazpacho ($9). Diced tomato, cucumber and onion in a tomato type sauce. Served chilled and topped with a grilled shrimp and tomato. It was good but a bit greasy. Our daughter enjoyed Pasta with Meat Sauce. She loved it and almost finished it all. My wife tried the Portobello Mushroom Club Sandwich ($16). The mushroom is marinated in Oregano and Garlic and served with roasted red peppers, provolone cheese and arugula on focaccia bread. It was served with a small salad and tomato and cucumber slices. The wife liked it. I enjoyed the Grilled Ahi Sandwich ($22.50). The Ahi is served on a brioche bun and topped with vine ripened tomatoes, asian slaw and wasabi Aioli. I asked for the Aioli on the side but the waiter failed to listen to this request. This fish was cooked perfectly medium rare and was delicious. The bun was a little greasy so I didn't eat half of it. The dish came with a small salad with minimal dressing. This was good. The House without a Key is a great place to enjoy a cocktail and afternoon sunset. The prices are pretty high for lunch or dinner.

Clink link below for another post on House without a Key:

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2011/07/house-without-key-halekulani-hotel.html

ZATARAIN'S RICE DISHES

ZATARAIN'S RICE DISHES

ZERO FAT

We are always looking for tasty and fat free side dishes. Now that Zatarain's has come out with Reduced Sodium versions of their most popular rice dishes we can enjoy these more often. We enjoy the Red Beans and Rice, Jambalaya, Dirty Rice and Black Beans and Rice with chicken, fish and steak entrees. The rice is easy to make. Add water, boil and simmer. Comes out perfect every time.

BISON STEAK DINNER

LOW FAT STEAK DINNER WITH BISON

Family BBQ on the Deck

Our family loves steak. Prior to going on the diet, we would enjoy nice beef filets topped with butter. Since those days are gone, we have added grass fed Bison steaks to the BBQ menu. Last night we enjoyed a Bison New York Steak cooked up on the grille. Bison cooks in about half the time of beef so you really need to watch it while cooking. The key is to not overcook the meat. If you overcook bison it gets quite tough and can taste like liver. Cooked perfectly medium rare is the way to go. I season the steaks with salt, pepper and garlic powder and then spray them with Pam Butter cooking spray (zero fat). This New York Bison steak was juicy and delicious. At about 10 grams of fat it is perfect for the diet. We served the Bison with Zatarain's Red Beans and Rice (Reduced Sodium Package) which has zero fat. Add fresh carrots, broccoli, zuccini and bell peppers cooked in Pam Cooking Spray and garlic. The entire meal has 10 grams of fat! This is a great meal and well below my goal of 15 grams of fat per meal.