What is the History of the Cayman Islands?

Have you been to the Caribbean? Curious about the history of the Cayman Islands?

The Caymans is on my list of places to go, I’m a keen scuba diver and I know the diving/snorkelling over there is famous, especially for the turtles and sting rays.

I’ve dived the Great Barrier Reef, Australia and been shark diving in the Bahamas, so next on my list is definitely the Cayman Islands. It looks like it’s about $720 to get from Boston to Grand Cayman direct, I’ll start saving right now! I’m gonna pack light and get myself down to the world famous Seven Mile Beach!

When Were The Cayman Islands Discovered?

The Caymans were first sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1503 and he named them “Las Tortugas” because of the numerous sea turtles in evidence. The first inhabitants arrived in 1658 and the first recorded permanent inhabitant was born on Grand Cayman around 1661.

The Cayman Islands form part of the Western Caribbean and they are 430 miles south of Miami and 310 miles northwest of Jamaica.

Why Would You Visit The Cayman Islands?

I’ve already mentioned that they are a sought after destination for divers and snorkellers alike.  There are fabulous beaches, a profusion of water sports and outdoor activities and that beautiful Caribbean Island feel that is relaxed and welcoming.

Famous places to visit are Stingray City in Grand Cayman:

Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman:

You can go on Catamaran excursions, visit the Cayman Islands by cruise, jet ski around the islands, even go in a submarine to see the Island Reefs.

So even if you’re not a diver, there is tonnes to do on the Cayman Islands, it looks like a great place for a luxurious island holiday.

 

 

Of course it’s also important to remember Caribbean Rum for your cocktails! You can go on a distillery tour and sample lots of rum, then sit back on the beach and have your favorite rum-based cocktails whilst watching the setting sun! Here’s a recipe for my favorite adult beverage of all time, Caribbean Rum Punch:

Caribbean Rum Punch

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups pineapple juice
• 2 1/2 cups orange juice
• 1 cup rum
• 1/2 cup dark rum
• 1/4 cup coconut rum
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 3 tablespoons grenadine syrup

Instructions

1. Stir all the ingredients together in a large pitcher or punch bowl.
2. Serve over ice or blend with ice and enjoy!

Picture the scene, it’s been a hard day snorkelling and relaxing on your idyllic island, now it’s time to watch the sun go down as you sip your Rum Punch – it doesn’t get much better than that!

 

 

 

 

The post What is the History of the Cayman Islands? appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/history-cayman-islands/
via IFTTT

What are the Best Resorts in Mexico?

 

Do you fancy a holiday to Mexico? What are the Best Resorts in Mexico? For around $300 I could hop on a plane from Boston to Mexico, which is pretty reasonable, so where would I go?

Great, time to do a bit of daydreaming and find out the Top Five Best Resorts in Mexico. Sun, sea, sand, cocktails … I can see myself there already!

 

What Are The Top Five Best Resorts in Mexico?

With all the resorts, the question to ask yourself is do you want the convenience of all-inclusive or do you want to explore Mexico a bit more and opt for non-inclusive? There are obviously pros and cons to both and in the end it comes down to personal choice, if you are planning on Mexico becoming a regular vacation destination, then you might want to try both and see which one you prefer.

It’s also worth remembering that the rainy season in Mexico runs from May/June to around end of October and it is an area which experiences hurricanes. The best time to visit Mexico is from December through to April – this is peak season and even though it will be busier, you’ll get fantastic weather for your winter getaway, where you can pack your summer clothes even in the depths of snow.

Cancun

Cancun is a well-known tourist destination, it benefits from a near-perfect climate and beautiful golden beaches. It caters for families, couples and party-seekers, you just need to spend a bit of time finding a place which suits you.

Top picks on Trip Advisor include Le Blanc Spa Resort which has an 86% rating of excellence (sounds as though it’s more suited for peace, relaxation and calm).

Playa del Carmen

This area also has fabulous beaches and fantastic climate and plenty of nightlife if you enjoy a party or two.

Best value hotels include Fairmont Mayakoba and Hotel Cielo. The choices of hotels are endless in all of these resorts!

Cozumel

This is an island boasting fabulous diving, snorkelling and a variety of natural beaches.

Ranked according to traveller reviews, The Explorean Cozumel comes in at #1 and the Villas Las Anclas is at #2.

Los Cabos

Here we have Mexico’s fastest growing resort, where you can find empty beaches, a relaxed nightlife and some chilled out fun.

The best bang for your buck is Hotel el Ganzo or the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos.

Puerto Vallarta

This area boasts hundreds of nightclubs, restaurants, great beaches and an old colonial town with plenty of excellent shopping.

You might be looking for a cheap deal here, two low price options could be Hotel Belmar and Azteca Hotel.

Which is Your Best Resort in Mexico?

Personally, I’m saving up to head to Cozumel – the thought of finding a great diving destination, coupled with natural beaches and an opportunity to explore some jungle while I’m there is my complete all-round winner!

Have a look at our travel deals on ThingsMenBuy.com, it could help you plan your next vacation.

Felices Vacaciones! (Happy Holidays!)

The post What are the Best Resorts in Mexico? appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/best-resorts-mexico/
via IFTTT

What are Craft Beers? Part 3

I have, via this column in Things Men Buy, been exploring the behind the scenes world of craft beers. Since there seems to be much confusion in the craft beers arena, I simply wanted to answer the “what is craft beer?” question. As it has turned out, there is not a simple nor a cut-and-dried answer to that question. Or so it may appear on the surface.

To figure out the answer has required a bit of exploration so that we can get a handle on how the authorities of the craft beer business define things in their market segment.

Craft Beers Are Small…But That’s Good!

To many, myself included, craft beer is beer brewed by small breweries. What I have discovered is there are varying degrees and definitions involved in figuring out what a small brewery is and is not.

The Brewing Craft Controversy!

To throw a wrench in the works, there’s some controversy brewing (sorry, I had to) in the craft beer world. Big breweries have been launching and operating what some call “Craft Beer Arms”. These “arms” are taking over or, at least, getting hugely involved in craft breweries. As you can imagine, folks are arguing about this and whether its a good or bad thing and how it is affecting our beloved sudsy adult beverage. I’ll dive into this craft beers issue another time.

Previously, I covered microbreweries, brewpubs, and contract brewing companies to figure out how the industry itself defines or categorizes small breweries. The last craft brewery designation left, according to the Brewers Association, is Regional Craft Breweries.

Looking at Regional Craft Breweries

First and foremost, a Regional Craft Brewery is independent. It is not part of or affiliated with one of the big mainstream breweries. In addition, most of the craft beers they brew has to be either innovative or traditional.

Innovative, in the craft beer world, means that the brewer gets creative with historic styles of beer. They add their own twist to make it their own. It also means they get inventive. The brewer develops their own style of beer, a style that is new and has not been done before.

Traditional means that fermentation is part of the process. Most of the alcohol content in a beer for it to be a craft beer has to be from what is considered traditional ingredients like malted barley. The flavor of the beer comes from these type of ingredients. Other ingredients can be added to impact the flavor. However, flavored malt beverages are not included. They are not considered beers.

The Other Beer Breweries

Beyond that, there are regional breweries and large breweries. A regional brewery has an output between 15,000 to 6,000,000 barrels annually and they may or may not be a craft brewery. A large brewery produces over 6,000,000 barrels annually and they do not fall under the craft beer criteria. I felt like throwing those in there for the sake of completeness.

What is Craft Beer? The Answer is Here!

Finally, my patient adult beverage friends, the answer to the question is upon us. What is craft beer? Craft beers are beers brewed by a small, independent, traditional brewery! A brewery that produces less than 6 million barrels of beer a year is considered small according to the industry. A brewery is that is less than 25% owned or controlled by a non-craft beer brewer is considered independent. The total economic interest of any kind must not total more than 25% by a non-craft brewer alcohol industry member. Traditional methods, as I discussed above, must be used for a beer to be considered craft beer. Again, small, independent, traditional.

This particular journey is now over. My goal, in the course of what turned out to be a series, was to illuminate and educate. The more we know, the better off we all are is my humble opinion. I’m hopeful that you feel that way too, have been interested in this information, and feel better off because of it.

Did someone just say its beer-thirty? Sounds good to me. Grab one of your favorite craft beers or a newbie and knock it back in delicious celebration. Cheers and have a happy Halloween!

The post What are Craft Beers? Part 3 appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/what-are-craft-beers/
via IFTTT

What is the Best Motivational Movie?

Do you need some inspiration? I often find some from songs, books and mostly movies. What is the best motivational movie for getting you off the couch and doing those things that you want to but just need a bit of outside help?

My best motivational movie is probably gonna differ from yours, but hopefully, within some of my top picks, you’ll be able to find one that gives you that feeling of ‘going for it’. As Nike would say, ‘Just Do It’.

Are These The Top Ten Best Motivational Movies?

While I agree with some of them being in there and (Spoiler Alert) the #1 is Pay It Forward, which is an awesome pick, some of the ‘Honorable Mentions’ are too good to not be in the Top Ten.

One of my personal favorites is Coach Carter, especially the speech by one of the team at the end – the same words were used by Nelson Mandela in his inauguration speech in 1994. (The actual words were written by Marianne Williamson). This is one of those YouTube clips that I will often play when I need a bit of extra help to keep aiming for what I want.

Yeah, yeah, I admit it – I had to watch it again while I was putting it up on here and the goose bumps went into overdrive! I just love that speech, there it is, nailed it, that’s my dose of inspiration for the day!

Are There Any ‘Better’ Motivational Movies since 2014?

So far, the Best Motivational Movies are all from 2014 or earlier. Are there any since then that are worth a mention? Let’s take a look, La La Land might be in with a shout if you like the Hollywood Musical type of movie, as is Eddie the Eagle – an inspiring true story of a plumber who qualified to ski jump in the Winter Olympics.

But, for me, there seem to be more excellent motivational movies from a few years back.  Talking of the Winter Olympics, I love Cool Runnings – based on a true story about the Jamaican bobsled team, this movie includes a brilliant performance by John Candy, who sadly is no longer with us. Carrying on with the sporting theme, there is also Field of Dreams (starring Kevin Costner) about a baseball field containing that classic quote: “If you build it, they will come”.

 

I can’t end this discussion without mentioning Shawshank Redemption, a complete classic which is a great motivational movie too (I mean, all that patience it took to excavate the tunnel, you have to hand it to the guy!)

As my parting shot, I’m gonna go totally out on a limb and say that I really dislike what is supposed to be a super motivational movie, It’s a Wonderful Life – slow, boring and dull! There, I said it, thanks for reading it – I feel much better now!

 

 

The post What is the Best Motivational Movie? appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/best-motivational-movie/
via IFTTT

The Hotel Del Rey in San Jose Costa Rica is Sold

Call it the end of an era, and perhaps the start of a new one.  According to the Diario Extra, a San Jose newspaper, the Hotel has been sold and will be renovated in early November.

Why is this such noteworthy news for me to be writing about this?

Well, if you are an avid blog follower, you know that this hotel was once the center of the party scene in my old stomping grounds of San Jose, Costa Rica.  It’s literally the epic-center of all deviancy that takes place in the country’s Capital city.  Spending so much time laughing and people watching at the center of this shit-show, the Del Rey has provided me countless memories that I will never forget.

As an English speaking foreigner living in Costa Rica, it’s hard to keep your sanity when you don’t run into people who remind you of home.  For this reason, the Del Rey became an escape for me and my crew of expat friends.  We could come in and talk English with tourists, locals, and know that our favorite sporting events were usually available to watch.  Over 17 years of going here, mostly when I was living in Escazu, I made many friends who were employed by the gigantic pink, smelly hotel.  I became close with many of the bartenders, which was a very prestigious job (if you don’t mind 80 year old guys proposing to you on the daily, I assume) that provided wages women couldn’t get anywhere else in the country, unless they hopped on to the other side of the bar, I gathered.  Many of these bartenders were the talk of Expat Facebook Groups and forums.  It’s amazing how much some people just don’t get out of their house and lose their mind when they lay eyes on a younger Latina.

Be that as it may, if you have strong stomach for perfume, hygiene, broken English, and viagra-fueled men who like to rent instead of owning, the Del Rey Hotel provided a series of laughs every time you stepped foot into the joint.

What You Could Find at the Hotel Del Rey

It’s almost one of those things where “you had to be there.”  If you have been there, you know exactly what I am talking about.  The gambling, the 24-7 lobby that thrives with local and foreign prostitutes, the washed up Gringos who look for women of the night, sometimes up to 50-60 years younger.  Tourist families not doing homework and unknowingly walking into the belly of the beast, exposing their young children to a sometimes raging bar scene with prostitutes grappling at them.

Overheard stories of debauchery.   Hookers robbing passed out client.  The on again, off again poker room.  The sometimes there sportsbook.  Drugs.  Alcohol fueled fist fights.  Immigration raids.  “New” talent.  Bad beats in a casino many have called corrupt.  People tragically dying from overdoses, jumping from their rooms, and flat out old age.  This place had it all.  I have many fond (and conversely, ugly) memories of sharing laughs at this place with anyone who dared to make the trip to Costa Rica.  It was pure entertainment gold, and it happened to be right in the main drag of San Jose.

What Does This Mean for San Jose’s Night Life?

I can only speculate, and I haven’t lived in Costa Rica since early 2010, but I have many friends who reside there and of course I get gossip and feedback from many sources I keep up with.  The logic here suggests that all the fun will shift over to the neighboring Key Largo Bar, which has always been a late night spot with live music, dancing, and plenty of bars where you can get a cocktail, or ten.

Other hotels in the area who are “working girl friendly” will most likely benefit from this as well.  There are many smaller hotels that will most likely thrive, such as the Sportsmens Lodge, in nearby Barrio Otoya.

Many sex tourists have already migrated to Jaco, where there is no shortage of establishments who cater to the party scene and a lot of lawlessness in general.  This move all but solidifies the death of the San Jose night life scene as it pertains to sex tourism and firmly plants the flag of this “hobby” in Playa Jaco.  Perhaps the use of hook up apps will finally catch on in Costa Rica?

Once upon a time, the Hotel Del Rey was a destination that many would agree was the highlight of any trip or bachelor party in Costa Rica.  Over the years, the women got older, the prices got steeper, and the renovations were non-existent.  Of course, it didn’t help that many administrations in CR were looking to clean up the reputation of San Jose, and it all started with the Del Rey.  Couple that with rumors that “Big John” (the owner for many years) is having health issues and it’s probably the proper time to move on from the waning interest.  Sure, they had, and have, a loyal following, but in my 17 years of knowing this place, it’s never been a weaker scene.

I’ll be looking forward to the future, and of course, as I gather them, will be posting my memories of the Del Rey here in this thread.  If you have any memories to share, feel free to post them here.

On a funny note, when I shared this with a friend of mine who I used to hang with all the time in Costa Rica, he stated “you should start a category for ‘things men rent.'” 

The post The Hotel Del Rey in San Jose Costa Rica is Sold appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/hotel-del-rey-san-jose-costa-rica-sold/
via IFTTT

Who is the Best Action Hero of All Time?

    OMG! Where to start with our article today, Who Is The Best Action Hero of All Time? Is that a Marvel or DC Comic Action Hero? A non-comic based Action Hero? 

The possibilities are endless and guys, as I’m writing this article, my personal bias is gonna have to be real evident here!

I LOVE a good action movie with a bonafide action hero in it, but there are SO many good ones to choose from and picking the Best Action Hero – come on, that’s impossible!

Indy is obviously a favorite, as are all The Avengers (especially Iron Man) and not forgetting some of the X-Men or possibly even Aragorn from Lord of the Rings?

I honestly don’t know where to start! Maybe YouTube can help:

Who Are The Best New Action Heroes?

 

Ok, well that’s a good start, especially Daniel Craig (not Creg!) who is our current 007 and Chris Pratt who can not only guard the Galaxy but can also make friends with velociraptors! Ah yes and there’s also Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Lawrence – see we are spoilt for choice already!

Who Are The Best Movie Heroes Of All Time?

And there we have another good shout, although Harrison Ford as Han Solo being #1 is a little contentious, as for me, I can’t discount Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. I mean, Indy is gripping, edge-of-the-seat entertainment that appeals to everyone, right?

Who Are The Best Marvel/DC Action Heroes?

You see, that’s another good question. I mean,

“I am Iron Man” uttered by Robert Downey Jr OR “”Hulk Smash Puny God!” uttered by our friendly green monster in The Avengers. We can’t leave these Super Action Heroes out of our discussions, can we?

And of course within the Marvel family, there is also the Black Widow (back to Scarlett Johansson), Thor, Captain America and we can’t forget Spiderman too!

 

 Our DC Comic heroes can also not be forgotten – the most famous of course being Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman.

Phew, the list of possible Best Action Hero of All Time seems to be getting longer and longer!

I’m also guessing that even if the guys at ThingsMenBuy.com could sit down for hours, they would never agree on that elusive #1 spot of Best Action Hero.

I am going to go for my favorite and say ….. Hmmmm!! …. Well!! …. Ok, a mixture of Indy, Iron Man & 007 with a sprinkling of the Black Widow and Lara Croft!

I think the only thing left to do is to invite you to sit down with your favorite adult beverage, a select group of your buddies and, what the hell, even a good cigar or two …. the challenge you face is to agree on:

Who Is The Best Action Hero Of All Time?

• May the strongest action hero win
• May the Force Be With You
• May you drink your martini shaken and not stirred

And above all:

• “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?”

 

 

The post Who is the Best Action Hero of All Time? appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/best-action-hero-time/
via IFTTT

What is Craft Beer Part 2

This time around, we’re going to continue to figure out the answer to the question: What is Craft Beer? I took a little detour last time when I talked about my stop at a brewpub in Northern Michigan. Now, I’m going to pick up where I left off on our behind the scenes look.

We figured out that craft beer is beer brewed in a small brewery. To figure out what constitutes “small brewery”, I went to the Brewers Association. They are the big cheese in the world of craft beer. Last time, I left us after figuring out what a microbrewery actually is and now let’s check out what the Brewers Association calls a brewpub.

What is a Craft Beer Brewpub?

According to the dictionary of your choice, a brewpub is a place, an “establishment” that sells beer that they brew themselves on premises. The dictionary also says a brewpub is usually a restaurant too.

Lucky us, that’s pretty damn close to what the Brewers Association says. According to them, a brewpub is a restaurant that is a brewery. They brew the beer mainly to sell it on their premises. They have to sell at least 25% of their brewed beer, on-site, at their place. Hell, some brewpubs pour their beer out of taps that are hooked directly to their storage tanks! I guess that’s as close as you can get to “farm to table” in the beer world, eh?

Brewpubs also sell their on-premise brewed craft beer to go. Some also distribute their beer to other places for them to sell. Laws regarding “to go” and “off-premise sales” vary, so that is not always the case.

If a brewpub’s off-premise sales of their beer are more than 75% they are not a brewpub anymore. According to the Brewers Association, they then are classified as a microbrewery.

Contract Brewing Company Confusion?

The next classification can be a little confusing because there is some fluidity involved. There are companies that will market a craft beer, they will sell that craft beer, and they will distribute that craft beer. However, they will not brew that craft beer. I’ve just described a Contract Brewing Company.

Contract Brewing Companies hire another company, a beer brewing company, to produce the beer that they want to “handle”. That part of this particular definition is fairly cut and dried.

The fluidity that I previously mentioned of this classification comes into play because a brewery that hires another brewery to brew craft beer for them is, likewise, called a contract brewing company. There’s more fun to come. A brewery that produces the particular craft beer or beers for the company that markets, sells, and distributes that particular craft beer or beers is also called a contract brewing company. Looks like you can be on either side of the fence here or even straddle it!

The Craft Beer Question Answered Next Time…For Real…I Hope!

I’m ending this installment here and will finish covering these different behind the scenes parts of the craft beer world next time. I’ll also do my best to tie this into our main question: What is Craft Beer? Join me then for the wrap-up on this sometimes convoluted adult beverages topic.

The post What is Craft Beer Part 2 appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/craft-beer-part-2/
via IFTTT

What is Mezcal?

The saying goes, Tequila leads to Mezcal. But if someone asks you, “What is Mezcal?” and you don’t know the answer, don’t worry… A lot of people don’t know. So there’s Mezcal the “type” of alcohol, as is how it’s made, and then there’s Mescal the brand. Mezcals(the type of alcohol) are made from the Agave plant, so technically Mescal and Tequila fall under the same category of liquor. But there’s definitely some distinctions between the two.

Mezcal Vs. Tequila

They’re both similar in color(s), they both smell like a night of non-existent inhibitions, and they both will definitely get you fucked up in mass quantities. If you’re wondering what’s the difference between these two on a deeper level you’ve come to the right place.

Production:

Firstly Tequila is only made from one type of agave (Blue Agave) and can only legally be made in Jalisco and in small parts of four other states. Mezcal, on the other hand, can be made from 28 varieties of agave and is made around the city of Oaxaca. Tequila is made in an above ground industrial style pressure cooker with just the agave being cooked. Mescal is made completely different way, primarily because it’s made underground. The underground oven contains not only the agave hearts, but also wood, and lava rocks. This is what gives the Mescal its smokey flavor.

The Worm:

The most noticeable difference between the two lies at the bottom of the bottle. While tequila bottles have nothing in the bottom, some Mescal bottles have a stowaway in the bottom… yes, I’m talking about the worm or the gusano. While it’s mostly a marketing tactic to help boost sales, it’s also pretty interesting. Fun fact: it’s not even really a worm it’s a larva (one of two types that can infest the agave plant).

This isn’t a super in-depth article because the rabbit hole on tequila and Mescal goes way deep. It is, however, a really good starting point for general conversation. and if you’re interested in learning more you should check this really cool video below from “A Bar Above”

The post What is Mezcal? appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/what-is-mezcal/
via IFTTT

Who is the Tallest Man Who Ever Lived?

One from the family album of Mr Robert Pershing Wadlow, who is known as The Tallest Man Who Ever Lived (which is verifiable by recorded proof).

Robert reached 8 feet 11.1 inches and he was known as The Alton Giant or The Giant of Illinois.

Sadly, The Tallest Man who ever lived, died when he was 22 and still continued to get taller until his death in 1940. His great size was due to over-production of human growth hormone in his pituitary gland.

Here is his story:

Who Is The Tallest Man Alive Today?

That accolade, in The Guinness World Records, goes to a guy called Sultan Kösen who is 8 feet 2.8 inches.

Here is a picture from London, 2014 of Sultan meeting Chandra Bahadur Dangi who at 1 foot 10 inches was at that time the shortest living man (he died in 2015).

Sultan had pioneering gamma-knife surgery in the USA in 2010, which finally stopped him from growing any further. It’s just as well as the human skeleton and heart are not designed to cope with an 8 foot body; and Sultan has had lots of health problems to contend with due to his height. (He has joint problems, has to walk with crutches and has a curved spine too).

Who Is The Tallest Current NBA Player?

That would be, Kristaps Porzingis who is 7 feet 3 inches. He plays for New York Knicks and is in the SI Top 100 NBA Players of 2018 at #33.

The tallest ever NBA player is reported to be Gheorghe Mureşan his best season was in the 1995-96 campaign when he was named NBA’s Most Improved Player after averaging 14.5 points per game for the Washington Bullets. His promising career was cut short by injuries – it would seem while there are obvious advantages to being tall for basketball, the ‘tallness’ is a major disadvantage in the likelihood of picking up potential injuries and health problems.

Let’s hope this disadvantage doesn’t befall Porzingis and that his career goes from strength to strength. Let’s face it, tallest men or not, we can all get injuries. Knee problems are particularly common, check out our review on knee sleeves, which can really help out – knees (and ankles too), have so much pressure put through them – whether that’s through sport or everyday wear and tear.

And generally, whether you guys are tall, taller or tallest (I’d put myself at ‘tall’ being 6 foot 4 inches) – it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your body fat to help your bones hold you up as efficiently as possible and if you want to build muscle onto your frame, then I’d suggest getting some help with that too.  My favorite is Mascugen, check out our review here. In fact, at ThingsMenBuy.com we like Mascugen so much that we’ve given it our Seal of Approval.

The post Who is the Tallest Man Who Ever Lived? appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/tallest-man-ever-lived/
via IFTTT

Who is the Most Tattooed Man in the World?

Meet Lucky Diamond Rich who, according to The Guinness World Records is THE Most Tattooed Man In The World!

We are talking 100% coverage – WTF?

He started off with colorful designs from all over the world, then not content with that, he went for 100% black ink coverage which included all parts of body – yes I did say ALL parts of his body!

Now, not content with that he has added more white tatts on top of the black and then more colored inks on top of the white – so far it’s taken 1,000 hours and counting. He’s welcome to have the record for being most tattooed man in the world if you ask me!

See what he says in his own words from the official Guinness World Records 2011 vid:

 

Where does the world’s most tattooed man live?

He’s proving a bit difficult to track down in 2017, the most recent article I can find about him is from August 2016 where he is living in Melbourne, Australia and helping out a mate at his tattoo shop.  Apparently Lucky comes from New Zealand originally and is an expert circus performer who travels all over the world.

Who Are The Top Five Most Tattooed Men?

#1.

As mentioned above, we know the answer to this one, it’s Lucky Diamond Rich!

#2.

The ex Guinness World Record Holder is a guy called Tom Leppard aka The Leopard Man, this dude is my personal favorite, check out his inks.

IMHO, this has more meaning and a certain elegance – Tom has a cool story too, he lived as a hermit on a remote island of Scotland and died at the grand age of 80.

Oh yeah and he was obsessed with leopards (ya don’t say!)

#3.

Then we have a Swiss guy called Etienne Dumont – well I suppose at least he is colorful!!

This dude is an art critic and describes himself to be a ‘living art’. If you take a close look he also has silicone implants under his skin. Ugh!

 

#4.

Here’s another guy who has FREAK tattooed across his chest – I couldn’t have said it better myself!

So this one is called Erik Sprague and he decided to become a Lizard! He even chose to have five Teflon implant horns, had his teeth sharpened and split his tongue.

 

#5.

And Finally, in at #5 is Rick Genest from Montreal aka The Zombie Boy. His claim to fame is appearing on a Lady Gaga music vid “Born This Way”

 

 

I have to admit I’m a bit weirded out after finding these guys – could be the stuff of nightmares OR do you think it’s ‘art’?

I’m off to find myself a tasty adult beverage, I need one after reading about silicon implants under the skin and Teflon horns (I’m sure Teflon is something I use for non-stick cooking!) In fact, I’m gonna look at some travel ideas too, I play golf (really badly right now), but I reckon that finding a beautiful golf venue will:

A) stop me from feeling so weirded out

B) be a good excuse to have a well-earned break! Check these venues out

Yeah, I know, any excuse right!

The post Who is the Most Tattooed Man in the World? appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/tattoed-man-world/
via IFTTT

The Best Sports Bars in San Diego

When people think of big sports towns, San Diego does not necessarily come to mind. I can understand that. There’s a lot of distractions. There’s the beach, there’s the Gaslamp Quarter, there’s Balboa Park, there’s Seaport Village and much more. Did I mention the beach? Yeah, I did. But if you’re a sports fan, San Diego is no slouch. And if you’re trying to find the best sports bars in San Diego, I’ll do my best to help right now.

Checking Out San Diego Sports Bars

Here’s a list with a brief, but helpful, description of some San Diego sports bars that are worth checking out.

Barleymash: Located in the Gaslamp District, Barleymash is an action-packed joint where folks come to have high energy fun. Big selection of craft beer and house special cocktails along with a menu that includes innovations such as a barley crust pizza. Add deejays and bands to the sports action and it’s your own fault if you don’t have a good time.

Miller’s Field on Mission Blvd. in Pacific Beach is another sports hot spot. They have a platoon of televisions for sports viewing and their own parking which is a big convenience in congested San Diego. Chow on some ahi tuna sushi salad or maybe chicken and waffles is more to your liking. They do have a happy hour, which is always an incentive.

How About A Few More Sports Bars

Another Pacific Beach stalwart is Dirty Bird’s. This small sports bar is basic. I’m talking nothing fancy here. Come here for sports, drink some beer, and eat some wings. They have a happy hour deal that’ll get you a cold pitcher of beer along with some half priced wings.

Heading back to the Gaslamp Quarter, the Gaslamp Tavern will provide the sports atmosphere you seek at a very reasonable price for the location. The friendly service here is a big plus, not to mention the late night happy hour. You can expect burgers that are both big and juicy, salads that nobody would complain about, and the usual bar food too.

Finally, head downtown to one of the best sports bars in San Diego. It’s called Bub’s at the Ballpark. They have plasma TVs, an in-house b-ball court, a seven day a week happy hour, craft beer, full bar, and big brewery beers too. Another cool thing about Bub’s is that the place is built out of salvage. Looks like they scavenged all the materials they needed to build the place from construction sites.

That’s a Wrap for San Diego

So there’s your starter guide for San Diego sports bars. Are there more around? Sure. But this list provides you with bars that have plenty of sports action, are fun, and are unique too. When you visit Southern California, specifically San Diego, you can’t go wrong with any of these joints to get your sports fix.

 

 

The post The Best Sports Bars in San Diego appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/the-best-sports-bars-in-san-diego/
via IFTTT

Who is the Most Pierced Man in the World?

He hears all of the snickering jokes when he walks down the street: “Hey, how do you go through a metal detector?” Or, “Watch out – I have a magnet!”

He sees the looks of shock, the fear in their eyes as they look away, the mothers pulling their children close.

He even gets turned away at immigration when he tries to enter some countries, like the recent experience when he landed in Dubai for a work conference but was told he couldn’t enter for no other reason but his appearance.

But all of this is familiar to Rolf Buchholz, the gentleman who holds the Guinness World Record for being the most pierced man on earth.

This 53-year old German native from the small town of Dortmund, Germany was officially recognized by Guinness in 2012 after they cataloged each and every one of his 453 various body piercings. In fact, Buchholtz got his first piercing only 11 years ago and since turned a hobby into a passion into an obsession into immortal piercing status.

In total, Buccholtz has :

16 in his right ear,

15 in his left ear,

25 in his eyebrows,

8 in his nose,

94 in and around his lips,

2 in his tongue,

8 in the rest of his body,

3 in his nipples,

and 4 in his navel.

If you’re keeping score at home realize that it doesn’t add up to 453 piercings, you’d be right, because he also has a titillating 278 piercings in and around his genital area!

And if you’re concerned about how randy Rolf can get it on ‘til the break of dawn with the approximately the same amount of metal as the screw section in a hardware store piercing his little Rolf, don’t worry – he says that he still has a normal sex life.

“It’s not a problem at all,” says Rolf, “I have had the piercings already so long, if there was a problem, I would have got rid of them already long ago.”

But despite looking like a circus sideshow, Rolf lives a pretty sedate life, including a good job as a programmer in the telecom industry.

Oh, and before you get warm and fuzzy about his looks, I forgot to mention that he also has tattoos covering most of his body. And two horn implants in his forehead.

So it’s no wonder why officials turned him away when he tried to enter Dubai, albeit for a scheduled appearance at the Cirque le Soir nightclub at a luxury hotel.

“I have two horns. I think that was also a problem for me in Dubai,” said Buchholz.

Just a wild guess that he is spot on.

But the human pin cushion seemed to handle it with a positive attitude, stating “I think if people were a little more tolerant, then the world would be a better place.”

For now, he’ll just have to settle for being the world’s most pierced man everywhere but Dubai. But if Buchholtz has any designs on becoming the most pierced human being in the world, he has a long way to go.

That honor belongs to Elaine Davidson, who has almost 7,000 piercings all over her body and is also recognized in the Guinness Book of Records.

Perhaps they should get together and sparks will fly? Literally.

The post Who is the Most Pierced Man in the World? appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/pierced-man-world/
via IFTTT

Famous Smoke Black Friday and Cyber Monday Coupons

What type of guy doesn’t enjoy a solid smoke?  This time of year, even in Sunny South Florida, the weather cools off a bit making it an absolute great time to go outside and have a stick.

If you are a loyal blog reader, you know that the place I get all my cigars online is Famous Smoke.  In fact, they are an Editor’s Choice brand.  Today, I’m going to share with you their coupon codes and schedule of sales that lead us through the Holidays.

Famous Smoke Black Friday Deals 2017

Rather than JUST bring you the Black Friday coupons, here is the entire schedule:

23-Nov-17	02-Jan-18	Holidays	Free Shipping with $55
23-Nov-17	02-Jan-18	Holidays	$20 off $135
23-Nov-17	02-Jan-18	Holidays	$10 off $80
24-Nov-17	26-Nov-17	Black Friday	$30-50* off $150
27-Nov-17	27-Nov-17	Cyber Monday	$30-50* off $200
11-Dec-17	11-Dec-17	Green Monday	$30-50* off $200
15-Dec-17	20-Dec-17	Free Shipping Day	Free 2-Day Shipping with $115

Of course, you can couple this savings with our exclusive FREE SHIPPING coupon.  Click on this page to get the current code.

If you need any extra reason to shop for cigars online, there you have it.  You’ll find a nice variety of products for every smoker – novice or aficionado, at Famous-Smoke.

Here’s a quick video I made talking about their store:

The post Famous Smoke Black Friday and Cyber Monday Coupons appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com https://www.thingsmenbuy.com/famous-smoke-black-friday-cyber-monday-coupons-2017/
via IFTTT

Michigan Craft Beer Bar Road Trip

This week I’m going to talk about a place I visited on my recent Michigan Craft Beer Bar road trip. Any road trip for me involves craft beer at the end of the day even though it may be a “working” road trip. Calling it a “Craft Beer etc” road trip simply gives me a warm fuzzy.

What About Last Week’s Beer Question?

Oh, I was going to complete my little discussion about “What is Craft Beer” from last time, but I wanted to get words to screen while this trip is still fresh in my beer-soaked brain. Don’t worry, if you’ve been on the edge of your seat waiting for me to give you the rest of the goods on that cliffhanger “what is craft beer” question…your patience will be rewarded next time.

Craft Beer Road Trip Time

So, I’d been eating up the miles on I-75 in Michigan with local craft beer on my mind. Just me, my truck, and a growing thirst as I barreled north toward the 45th Parallel (which is about the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole). My subconscious kept repeating “break time” and I wisely listened. In fact, since I was lusting for some ass kicking tasty craft beer for the last couple hundred miles I figured it was time to find a cozy spot for the night and knock back a few to slake my thirst.

The next exit was Grayling. A little town of under 2000 and home to three craft breweries. I can appreciate that! Sweet little downtown which was a little more than cross roads, I took a right and spotted The Paddle Hard Brewery.

Checking Out the Paddle Hard Brewery and Bar

The Paddle Hard had sidewalk seating, but since there was a chill in the air everyone was inside. As I walked in the rustic looking interior, there was schwag, mugs, and other paraphernalia tacked to the walls. I plopped down at the bar and started reading their beer menu which was on some vivid video screens above the back bar.

They had a selection of Michigan crafts, but I honed in on their namesake microbrews.

Of Vikings and Imperial IPA…

Being a fan of both hops and raiding Norsemen, I started with the Paddle Hard Viking. The Viking is an Imperial IPA that has a kick in the pants 12.5% ABV. A strong brew is precisely what I needed to shake off those highway miles. They served it in a cute little glass. I could have knocked back the contents in one gulp but was worried that wouldn’t sit well with the bartender. Since I had already zeroed in on some other beers on the menu and I didn’t want to get cut off, I decided to sip it in a very un-Viking like fashion.

The Viking Imperial IPA was clear with a light golden color. Its mild hop aroma was spiked with, to my nose, a pleasant alcohol overtone. As the brew went down my hatch, the flavor mix of hops and robust alcohol cut directly through that road-weary thirst and put a smile on my face. Despite the high alcohol content, this was a well-balanced beer and I could have easily enjoyed a few more.

Drinking Milltown Java Porter and Liking It

Since I figured that I’d never be in this brewery, in this town again, I tasted a couple other house brews in an attempt to get the full Paddle Board Brewery experience. I went with a pint of their Milltown Java Porter next. True to its name, this porter was coffee black with a healthy coffee flavor and it left an afterthought of molasses on my palate. Like the Viking, every sip of Paddle Hard’s 5.9% ABV Milltown Java Porter tasted like more. That’s a compliment considering my vast craft beer drinking experience.

I found out that the Paddle Hard Brewery had been around only since 2014. Their brewery was about a block down the street. All the beer they brew is sold for consumption in the Paddle Hard Brewery bar.

Happy Craft Beer Trails to You

After consuming a few myself, I settled in a nearby motel for the night and was back on the road early next morning leaving the Viking and Milltown Java behind. Pleasant memories and happy trails.

 

The post Michigan Craft Beer Bar Road Trip appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com http://www.thingsmenbuy.com/michigan-craft-beer-bar-road-trip-2/
via IFTTT

Michigan Craft Beer Bar Road Trip

This week I’m going to talk about a place I visited on my recent road trip. I was going to complete my little discussion about “What is Craft Beer”, but I wanted to get words to screen while this trip is still fresh in my beer-soaked brain. Don’t worry, if you’ve been on the edge of your seat waiting for me to give you the rest of the goods on that cliffhanger “what is craft beer” question…your patience will be rewarded next time.

Time For The Craft Beer Road Trip

So, I’d been eating up the miles on I-75 in Michigan. Just me, my truck, and a growing thirst as I barreled north toward the 45th Parallel (which is about the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole). My subconscious kept repeating “break time” and I wisely listened. In fact, since I was lusting for some ass kicking tasty craft beer for the last couple hundred miles I figured it was time to find a cozy spot for the night and knock back a few to slake my thirst.

The next exit was Grayling. A little town of under 2000 and home to three craft breweries. I can appreciate that! Sweet little downtown which was a little more than cross roads, I took a right and spotted The Paddle Hard Brewery.

The Paddle Hard had sidewalk seating, but since there was a chill in the air everyone was inside. As I walked in the rustic looking interior, there was schwag, mugs, and other paraphernalia tacked to the walls. I plopped down at the bar and started reading their beer menu which was on some vivid video screens above the back bar.

They had a selection of Michigan crafts, but I honed in on their namesake microbrews.

Of Vikings and IPA

Being a fan of both hops and raiding Norsemen, I started with the Paddle Hard Viking. The Viking is an Imperial IPA that has a kick in the pants 12.5% ABV. A strong brew is precisely what I needed to shake off those highway miles. They served it in a cute little glass. I could have knocked back the contents in one gulp but was worried that wouldn’t sit well with the bartender. Since I had already zeroed in on some other beers on the menu and I didn’t want to get cut off, I decided to sip it in a very un-Viking like fashion.

The Viking Imperial IPA was clear with a light golden color. Its mild hop aroma was spiked with, to my nose, a pleasant alcohol overtone. As the brew went down my hatch, the flavor mix of hops and robust alcohol cut directly through that road-weary thirst and put a smile on my face. Despite the high alcohol content, this was a well-balanced beer and I could have easily enjoyed a few more.

Milltown Java Porter Please

Since I figured that I’d never be in this brewery, in this town again, I tasted a couple other house brews in an attempt to get the full Paddle Board Brewery experience. I went with a pint of their Milltown Java Porter next. True to its name, this porter was coffee black with a healthy coffee flavor and it left an afterthought of molasses on my palate. Like the Viking, every sip of Paddle Hard’s 5.9% ABV Milltown Java Porter tasted like more. That’s a compliment considering my vast craft beer drinking experience.

I found out that the Paddle Hard Brewery had been around only since 2014. Their brewery was about a block down the street. All the beer they brew is sold for consumption in the Paddle Hard Brewery bar.

Happy Trails and Ales

After consuming a few myself, I settled in a nearby motel for the night and was back on the road early next morning leaving the Viking and Milltown Java behind. Pleasant memories and happy trails.

 

The post Michigan Craft Beer Bar Road Trip appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com http://www.thingsmenbuy.com/michigan-craft-beer-bar-road-trip/
via IFTTT

The Best Sports Bars in Miami Beach

Are you starving for sports action? Having trouble finding a sports bar with the kind of atmosphere you want? I’m here to help! Keep reading to find out about the best sports bars and deals in Miami Beach.

Confused About Sports Bars at Miami Beach?

For many, when they hear “Miami Beach” only one thing comes to mind and that is South Beach. South Beach is great and there’s always plenty of fun to be had there, but when it comes to the best sports bars in Miami Beach there are some great places in both South Beach and North Beach. Most sports fans don’t mind going a few blocks or more to find a great sports bar that fits their team attitude and gets the game day party going on all cylinders. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some sports bars up and down the beach.

Duffy’s: Sports Bar North Beach

If we’re talking football in Miami, pro football that is, then we’re talking the Miami Dolphins. Dolphins fans love congregating at Duffy’s Sports Grill at their North Miami Beach location. On game day this place will be packed with fans cheering the game and, most likely, cheering Duffy’s killer drink specials. They even have 2 for 1 deals! Not just a pigskin palace, Duffy’s is an all-around sports bar. No matter what you may be a fan of, you’re bound to find some sports action at Duffy’s.

Yard House for Sports in South Beach

Next up we have the Yard House in Miami Beach. Like Duffy’s there are multiple Yard Houses in the Miami area. I’m talking about the one on Lenox Ave near the Lincoln Mall. It is easy to find and convenient. The Yard House is a huge, lively joint with a full bar, plenty of craft beers and good eats. Add Happy Hours every day except Saturday, plenty of big screens, a party vibe and you have a good sports time anyone can enjoy in the South Beach area.

The Clevelander: A Sports Bar and More

How about a place that screams “Miami Beach” but with sports and deals for locals? Sound like too much to ask? Not at our next hot spot. It’s time to hit the Clevelander South Beach. The Clevelander is a hotel with a restaurant, a pool/patio combo, and Jack’s Sports Bar which features 15 HDTVs! Action, South Beach style is what the Clevelander is all about. There’s always something happening here and Jack’s Sports Bar at the Clevelander should be on every list of the best sports bars in Miami Beach. Take a local with you to score some great deals!

Norman’s-A North Beach Sports Bar

Jumping back to a northern beach location with a chill local vibe, Norman’s Tavern is the place to enjoy some sports action. The food is good and consistent. There’s always some sports on the screens. You can hang out at Norman’s, feel like a local, and eat and drink for not too much money.

Lost Weekend Sports Bar South Miami Beach

Finally, I want to mention Lost Weekend in South Beach. The name alone is bound to make you curious! Lost Weekend is a low key, no glitz and glamour sports bar in Miami Beach. There are sports on the TV’s plus pool tables, foosball and other games to play. It may be a bit of a dive compared to some places around, but it has a homey feel to it and you won’t have to up your credit limit when you order drinks.

There you have it. We’ve hit on some of the top sports bars in Miami Beach. I’ve talked about some South Beach and North Beach favorites. From big, banging joints to chill local hang outs when you’re in the mood for sports, you have plenty to choose from in Miami Beach.

Find out about more fun travel deals and choices here.

 

The post The Best Sports Bars in Miami Beach appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com http://www.thingsmenbuy.com/best-sports-bars-miami-beach/
via IFTTT

The Best Sports Bars in Chicago

Hey there fellow sports fans! If you ever find yourself traveling to Chicago and looking for a place to watch the game and throw back a few cold ones, hopefully you’ll remember this list of the best sports bars in Chicago.

 

Now we all know there are several different kinds of sports fans, but we all share one thing in common. We love good food, good drinks and most of all a good game! The bars I’ve rounded up here have all of that (no guarantee on a good game though… Looking at you Giants), and whether your baseball, football, basketball or whatever there’s a place for you to go on this list.

 

Up first, Sluggers World Class Bar and Grill: This infamous Wrigleyville is almost too good to be true. With good food and cheap beer you’d think its just your average bar, but head upstairs to the second floor at halftime and let off some steam in the kick ass gaming area (batting cages included!) Sluggers boasts honors from ESPN for being the #1 baseball bar in the Chicago and #3 in the U.S.A and you’d be doing yourself a favor stopping by and checking this one off your list.

 

If you find yourself longing for another inning after the game is over, never fear High Dive Bar in the Chicago’s Ukrainian Village has got you covered. In addition to their wide selection of beers on tap they’ve got the MLB extra inning package to keep you satisfied long after your favorite team has played their best.

 

All the hockey fans out there will be pleased to know that the Westend in the west loop will get you up close and personal with the game by either taking you there on their shuttle bus or having the fame front and center on one of their 33 plasma screen TV’s. And if that doesn’t do it for you, you can actually go to www.blackhawksbars.com where you can find team approved locations that are setup just for viewing the game where you can checkin, earn points, and even win cool prizes!

 

Basketball fans will find themselves right at home at The Boundary Tavern and Grill with it’s title of  of the “most basketball friendly bar in the city”. With over 120 craft beers and a handful of March Madness events you can definitely plan on enjoying yourself here with the guys.

From College football to NFL, Chicago has a ton of bars where football is King. Whether you’re just stopping in  to check the score, or you’re a diehard fan there’s a place for you in the city. Bears fans can head over to the Chicago Bears website to check out a list of the fan friendly and team approved Official Miller Lite Bears’ Headquarters Bars. NCAA more your style? A quick google search will reveal others in the hidden network of team specific bars where you can root on your favorite teams.

 

This is by no means an exhaustive list, because there are so many awesome bars in Chicago you could spend a whole season trying to visit them all. Hopefully some of these will point you in the right direction and help you enjoy watching your team try to take home the “W” next time your searching for some of the best sports bars in Chicago.

The post The Best Sports Bars in Chicago appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com http://www.thingsmenbuy.com/best-sports-bars-chicago/
via IFTTT

What is a T-bone steak?

When it comes to talking about steaks and your favorite cut of meat, many people say that porterhouses and T-bones are really just the same thing. Then again, many people also think that the earth is flat or you should put ranch dressing on pizza.

In fact, there is a distinct relationship between porterhouse cuts and T-bones. The confusion is understandable, considering that T-bones and porterhouses are cut from the same area of the cow, and they also contain the same kind of meat.

So what’s the actual difference between the two cuts? It really comes down to the size of the fillet. In fact, Porterhouse steaks are thicker and contain more meat – but are also priced accordingly.

According to the USDA’s Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications (say that ten times fast), the tenderloin portion of a porterhouse must be at least 1.25 inches thick. However, according to these same USDA standards, a T-Bone only needs to be 0.5 inches thick in its tenderloin.

Even restaurants, steakhouses and butchers sometimes get it wrong (or misrepresent!), calling large tenderloins T-Bones.

But there are many similarities, too, with both cuts coming from the short loin, and both steaks featuring a t-shaped bone with meat on each side.

But while porterhouses are cut from the rear portion of the short loin, and therefore thicker, T-bones come from the front part of the short loin, with a thinner tenderloin.

When cut away from the T-Bone, the smaller portion of meat is known as a filet mignon and often served on its own.

Remember, too, that T-bone steaks contain meat from both the tenderloin and short loin, two of the most revered and tasty cuts of beef.

T-bones are considered the highest quality steak you can eat – without the top tier prices of porterhouses. When picking out a T-bone steak at a butcher, look for a thicker cut that still is shy of the 1.25 inches that would classify it as a porterhouse (and send its price higher).

You also really need to know what you’re doing to grill a T-Bone correctly since it contains two different cuts of meat that cook at different rates. Expert grillers and restauranteurs manage to cook it equally and consistently by building a fire, setting the coals, or lighting the grill only on one side, with the strip section over that flame but the filet over a cooler grill, which will result in a rarer cook and a perfect T-bone!

The post What is a T-bone steak? appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com http://www.thingsmenbuy.com/t-bone-steak/
via IFTTT

What is a porterhouse steak?

Are you famished? In the mood for a good hunk of meat? Does the sizzling, smoky smell from a grill firing up get you visibly excited?

You desperately need a good steak, my friend – and for the hungry man (or woman), a porterhouse grilled the right way may be just the thing to curb your appetite.

What is a porterhouse steak?

The porterhouse is actually a specific cut of meat, originating from the area where the top loin and the tenderloin of the cow meet. It’s often referred to as an over-sized T-Bone steak, but the porterhouse can be characterized as thicker and contains far more tenderloin instead of the loin. In fact, if you cut out the bone and separated the two conjoined steaks that make up a porterhouse, you’d be left with a tenderloin and a top loin steak (also called New York strip). For that reason, a couple dining out often split a porterhouse steak (but we recommend you order two entrees and then take some home for the next day!)

How to pick out a great porterhouse

If you’re the undisputed heavyweight champion of your own grill and want to cook your own porterhouse, what should you look for? Go to a local or family-owned meat shop and look for a cut at least ¾ inch thick and preferably 1 inch. That thickness will be important for cooking it correctly without drying it out.

You’ll probably want to skip the generic supermarket for porterhouse because their butchers often sell “thin cut steaks” or special cuts, which are really not worth it and won’t offer the same porterhouse dining experience.

Make sure to have the butcher hand you the porterhouse cut in paper and examine it closely, looking for a rich, deep color. It shouldn’t have any gray tiny or coloring, or you don’t want that one. It will have a good strip of fat, but the fat should be white, not yellow. You’ll see significant marbling, especially in the loin part of the porterhouse.

The cost of a porterhouse

If you are looking to scrape and skimp on a good feed, a porterhouse might not be for you. Likewise, buying a porterhouse that is cut too thin, has a grayish tint or yellowish fat lines probably isn’t worth the price. But while a good dry-aged or prime grade porterhouse will cost you a pretty penny, it’s well worth it. However, to save a few bucks, try a quality “choice” grade steak that’s fresh – you won’t sacrifice flavor or texture.

Grilling your porterhouse

Porterhouse steaks are pretty versatile, in that you can grill them but also broil, sauté, or pan-fry these cuts of meat.

You probably don’t need a marinade, and only light seasoning is required, but use salt liberally. A porterhouse reaches its potential of flavor and texture in the medium rare range, but don’t cook it beyond medium-well. 

Porterhouse are best grilled quickly on a hot grill, searing the surface sufficiently. A couple of minutes before it’s ready, drop a pat of butter on the center of the steak, a common restaurant trick that really brings out the richness and flavor!

Enjoy your porterhouse!

 

The post What is a porterhouse steak? appeared first on ThingsMenBuy.com.

from ThingsMenBuy.com http://www.thingsmenbuy.com/what-is-a-porterhouse-steak/
via IFTTT