Steak: It's what's for dinner Part I

Since the beginning of time, March 31, 1984, steak has been the epitome of manliness. Every barbecue that was ever graced with my presence was also graced by at least one steak. The number was, of course, dependent on the number of adult males present for the special occasion. Nonetheless, my Father always managed to get at least one steak on the grill. Up until the age of 16 I was unfortunate enough to get the "kiddie" food: a hot dog. However, I knew that one day my mouth would get to savor the amazing, not to mention succulent, taste of a steak, cooked medium-rare.

I can remember thinking on numerous occasions: "Someday I'll eat a steak just like my dad: when that day comes I will be a man!" In my young mind, nothing epitomized the image of a manliness more than that of a man cutting through a juicy, tender steak. When the day finally came, I considered myself more than prepared, and as I bit into that beautiful piece of meat I instantly realized something: I liked medium-well, not medium-rare...That aside, I knew I had passed the threshold of boyhood; my right of passage was complete, yes, I was finally a man.

The article by Rouse and Hoskins, as well as the discussion in class, spoke on the taboos of food. A taboo was not something that was bad to talk about (for immoral reasons). It more that the things (taboos) were so sacred people avoided conversation about them for the sake of sacredness. It is much like the commandment in the Old Testament stating, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vane." I find this point coincidal with my early childhood and my desire to consume steak.

The act of eating a steak, to me, was a sacred rite. It was as if the whole world stood still, and my spirit connected with the steak; we became one, and I became a man. I never really spoke of eating the steak, I just desired to do so.