I’ve written a letter – a fan letter of sorts – to my beloved steak. I don’t usually write to celebrities. I like to leave them alone and let them live their lives.

But I could not help myself. My emotions are running high here in the summer when steak is all around me. I had to express my feelings, so here goes.

Dear Steak,

I’ve admired you for a long time and I just had to tell you you are da bomb. I’m sure you get lots of letters but really, I am your biggest fan. I think about you night and day. I can’t get you out of my mind.

Your smell, your juiciness, your tenderness. What can I say? I’m in love with you. Is that weird for you to hear?

I know you don’t know me, but I know we could be happy together. Forever.

Sincerely,

Dena P.

P.S. My husband knows all about this and is totally on board with it. In fact, he is in love with you, too. He’s just too macho to tell you himself. Maybe when you come through this way again we can take you out, show you the city, get together over a bottle of wine?

Photo courtesy of jenx67.com – that’s her kissing her steak. Maybe I have some competition?

We went to a fancy schmancy restaurant. Of course, we ordered steaks.

Here is how they were presented . . .

Is it just me or does that steak look lonely next to that tiny clove of garlic?

Seems like a big plate. In graphic design, I believe they call that an abundance of “white space.”

Who wants white space on their plate?

THIS, folks, is why I prefer my steaks at home.

Oh yeah, and they taste better there, too.

So there.

Well, it seems like it sometimes.

See, we’re on vacation. And we’ve made it a rule to not eat out as much as possible on vacation.

We have kids under age 10 and all the “family-oriented” places around here are, well, deep-fried disappointment.

Ugh.

Plus, there are lines and waiting and complaining.

That’s not much of a vacation.

So we opt to cook our favorites at our home away from home.

And these steakburgers? Well, they were heaven.

As soon as we began cooking, the place where we’re staying filled quickly with the amazing aroma of grilled beef and we all could hardly contain our appetites until the sweet relief of a plate on the table.

No lines, no gum-chewing waitress, no bill, no TIPPING.

Just my food exactly the way I like it with incredible smoky bacon and ooey, gooey cheese.

You tell me heaven isn’t like that. I dare ya!