Ribs or Flat Iron Steak First Night?

[pnjkeith]

Pick one for me. I know the flat iron steak is offered every night, but do not let that influence your pick. If they are both only offered first night, what should I get?

 

Ribs, skip the flat iron.

[deltahog]

So, to sum up:

 

Some people like the flatiron steak, and some people don't.

Some people like the ribs, and some people don't.

Some people recommend the flatiron steak.

Some people recommend the ribs.

Some people recommend something else.

 

 

OP, hope your picture is cleared up by all the responses.....

[tonit964]

My 10 year old daughter had them on our last Carnival cruise and LOVED them so I will be getting them for the first time on the Spirit in about 10 days from now!

Toni

[MrPete]

Pick one for me. I know the flat iron steak is offered every night, but do not let that influence your pick. If they are both only offered first night, what should I get?

 

Order both. They don't charge you!

[highbridge5]

If you are planning a meal at the steakhouse, don't bother with the flat

iron steak in the MDR. The steak house has a far superior steak.

 

I was not impressed by the ribs in the MDR but they were better than

what you might get at Chili's or Outback or Lonestar or some other chain.

[1153rsmith]

Are the menus and the nights things are served similar from ship to ship, or is there a big variety? We are sailing on the Facination on Christmas Day for 5 night Nassau and HMC.

[Froufie]

I am getting the ribs in 2 1/2 weeks:D

And if any1 is sitting at my table, be forwarned - I will be picking them up with my fingers!!!:eek:

 

Too funny - I have heard such great things about the ribs and want to try them out- but did not want people to think I was a piggy on the 1st night eating with my hands!!!:p Now it seems I also have to order the Indian vegetarian plate (which also comes highly recommended) so I can look like an even bigger piggy!:eek:

 

So how do they compare to bar-b-barn ribs? :D:D

[MarkRosenthal]

Can't compare the two, the ribs were far better. Enjoy.

[BigDfromTN]

I'm more of a "rib purist". In other words, I take my ribs very serious. When I smoke my ribs at home it's a 2 day process. The first day is preping the ribs, putting on the rub and marinating. The second day is smoking the ribs at least 6hrs. If you get the right combination of smoke and rub you don't even need BBQ sauce. The only food I like to cook more than ribs is STEAK! So we won't even get started on what I think about the Flat Iron Steak in the MDR.

 

A cook after my own heart!;)

 

While they may not compete with the best restaurant ribs in Memphis or St Louis or..., they ain't bad.

 

Agreed!

 

I am getting the ribs in 2 1/2 weeks:D

And if any1 is sitting at my table, be forwarned - I will be picking them up with my fingers!!!:eek:

 

IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY TO EAT THEM???:confused::eek::D

 

To the OP, try the ribs or go for both! JMO

[deltahog]

While they may not compete with the best restaurant ribs in Memphis or St Louis or..., they ain't bad.

 

St. Louis?! St. Louis?! I think you have your Missouri cities mixed up, just because they call them "St. Louis ribs" (that's just a cut).

 

I live in St. Louis. I know St. Louis. I also lived for many years in Kansas City. And I can tell you with all certainty, that the only city up there with Memphis when it comes to barbecue, is Kansas City. St. Louis isn't known for it at all.

 

Just a show-me point of clarification.

[big_duck]

The first night menu has been a disappointment since they removed the lamb.

[jagsfan]

Can I get any of this wonderful stuff on a 4 day? Haven't been on Carnival in 3 or 4

years, and never on a 4 day. Can't remember what my favorites were.

[gtalum]

Can I get any of this wonderful stuff on a 4 day? Haven't been on Carnival in 3 or 4

years, and never on a 4 day. Can't remember what my favorites were.

 

Yes. Carnival uses a 7-day menu. Shorter cruises use the first part of the menu, up to the number of days of the cruise. IOW, 3 day cruises use days 1-3 of the 7 day menu. 9 day cruises use the entire 7-day menu and repeat days 1 and 2.

[Sargent_Schultz]

St. Louis?! St. Louis?! I think you have your Missouri cities mixed up, just because they call them "St. Louis ribs" (that's just a cut).

 

I live in St. Louis. I know St. Louis. I also lived for many years in Kansas City. And I can tell you with all certainty, that the only city up there with Memphis when it comes to barbecue, is Kansas City. St. Louis isn't known for it at all.

 

Just a show-me point of clarification.

 

I said St Louis cause Carnival says St Louis. They may well be better than any ribs in St Louis. the only restaurant that comes to mind when I think of St Louis is McDonald's. :p

[Sargent_Schultz]

Yes. Carnival uses a 7-day menu. Shorter cruises use the first part of the menu, up to the number of days of the cruise. IOW, 3 day cruises use days 1-3 of the 7 day menu. 9 day cruises use the entire 7-day menu and repeat days 1 and 2.

 

Not true.

 

If a ship does short cruises and 7 day cruises, then the menus can be a subset of the 7 day. If not, there are 4 and 5 day menus and probably 3 day menus as well. These will typically mix and match some of the best of the 7 day, but compressed.

 

9 day cruises absolutely do NOT repeat days 1 and 2. Carnival has at least a 16 or 17 day menu set to pick from for the longer cruises.

 

Here are the menus from the 16 day Carnival Dream Transatlantic, and no menu was repeated.

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/CarnivalDream/TA/Menus/MDR/mdr_pornTA.htm

 

Here is an 18 day menu set from Carnival Splendor from the SA voyage:

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/splendor09/menus/menus.htm

[kerrytens]

Steak. I've never been impressed with their ribs. No flavor in the meat, just some generic sauce splashed on.

Totally agree with Grady on this one, skip the ribs (mine were just OK). I quite enjoyed my flat iron steak but perhaps that was because I was able to eat it on my balcony - oh and don't forget that to die for mac n' cheese;)

[jrmende63]

OMG I am starving and just saw all the pics of the ribs and creme brulee! YUMMY...*we have the ribs every singls time they are on the menu! YUM~

[FlaGrl4Evr]

Too funny - I have heard such great things about the ribs and want to try them out- but did not want people to think I was a piggy on the 1st night eating with my hands!!!:p Now it seems I also have to order the Indian vegetarian plate (which also comes highly recommended) so I can look like an even bigger piggy!:eek:

 

So how do they compare to bar-b-barn ribs? :D:D

 

 

Froufie, don't worry about having to pick them up; they were so tender that they literally fell off of the bone when you touched them with your fork. The bone slid right off. Oh, BTW, they were such a large serving, that both times I ordered them I never even tried the side items---- way too full. :)

 

I have had Chili's, LoneStar, Texas Roadhouse and Sonny's ribs. These ribs blew the others right out of the water !

[LHP]

On a 7 day cruise, you can often get them THREE (3) times.

 

They should be available twice at night in the MDR - usually first and last nights, and once for lunch in the MDR (usually 2nd sea day)!

 

While they may not compete with the best restaurant ribs in Memphis or St Louis or..., they ain't bad.

 

You are correct!!

 

I am a person that is fussy about my sauce....and their sauce is good!!

[Texaspepper]

Ribs!!! I love steak but those ribs are to die for!

 

We have tried the Flat Iron Steak on 2 of our last Carnival cruises. It's OK, but it is not Rib Eye or the old New York Steak they used to serve. Here is the history on Flat Iron. I would prefer the Prime Rib, Rib Eye or the former NY cut. Found it a bit dry and tough. Here is the history.

 

The Flat Iron Steak (also know as a Top Blade Steak), now appearing in grocery stores and on restaurant menus was developed by teams at the University of Nebraska and the University of Florida. The problem that presented these researchers of the cow was what to do with a waste cut of beef from the shoulder of the cow. Though a flavorful and relatively tender cut of meat, the top blade roast has a serious flaw in the middle of it; an impossibly tough piece of connective tissue running through the middle.

 

So, after developing a method for cutting and presenting this steak, these friendly scientists have presented to us an amazing cut of beef. More than that, they have developed a nearly perfect steak for the grill. The Flat Iron (supposedly named because it looks like an old fashioned metal flat iron) is uniform in thickness and rectangular in shape. The only variation is the cut into the middle of the steak where the connective tissues have been removed.

 

Like any non-loin steak, the Flat Iron benefits from marinating and is best if it isn't cooked too well beyond medium. Depending on the particular cut you pick up you might find it more convenient to cut the Flat Iron steak in half because of the center cut through the middle.

This steak has a deep, rich flavor which makes it perfect not only on its own, but also as meat for many dishes. The Flat Iron is very similar to any of the Flat Steaks so anything calling for Skirt or Flank Steak will benefit from a Flat Iron Steak. This steak is best grilled over a medium high heat. I don't suggest going as hot as possible unless you pick up a particularly thin cut. I like to get them thick (about an inch or more) so I grill at a little lower temperature to keep from charring the outside before it heats through the middle.

 

If your butcher stares blankly at you when you ask for a Flat Iron steak, it might not be because he’s a bad butcher. It might be that this particular cut (or actually this particular name) hasn't caught on in your neck of the woods. Instead ask for a Top Blade Steak. But definitely track one down and give it a try. You might just find your perfect steak.

[nancydee]

So how do they compare to bar-b-barn ribs? :D:D

NOTHING compares to the Bar-B.:D They are not sweet, more like you would get at Jack Astor's or Le Cage Au Sports.

[beach410]

Have both and eat a bit of each, or just have ribs, flat iron on the menu everynight.

[Texaspepper]

Have both and eat a bit of each, or just have ribs, flat iron on the menu everynight.

 

Flat Iron is on the menu every night. Have tried it twice on our last two Carnival Ecstasy cruises and we are going on CCL Conquest in Feb 20, 2011 and don't think I'll order it again. Prefer a leaner cut of beef or some other dish from the menu. What about you? Have some of you tried the Flat Iron Steak? What ya think?

[WayTooCool]

Ribs!!! I had them and LOVED them, but they're only served the first night. Steak you can get any time. Same goes for the bitter and blanc dessert; only served once. Get that one too, when it shows up.

[GlendaleCruiser]

Ribs!!! I had them and LOVED them, but they're only served the first night. Steak you can get any time. Same goes for the bitter and blanc dessert; only served once. Get that one too, when it shows up.

 

Not every cruise is like yours.

 

On a 12-day cruise I asked about the ribs because I missed them the first night. The waiter checked with the chef and told me that they were following a 9-day menu and that I would get them again on Day 10.

 

And I did.