Where's the Beef?

Yesterday, I was treated to a lovely lunch at BLT Steak.

Here is what I had:
N.Y. Strip Steak (16oz): $42.00
Asparagus: $8.00
Iced Tea: $3.50
Peach Cobbler w/ Almond Sorbet: $10.00

So like me, you are probably wondering why a steak would cost so much. Well thanks to the folks at Wikipedia.org I have learned all about this special cut of meat.

“The strip steak, Kansas City or New York strip steak, is one of the highest quality beef steaks on the market. Cut off of the back of the cow from the strip loin, the strip steak consists of a muscle that does little work, and so it is particularly tender. Unlike the nearby filet mignon, the strip loin is a sizable muscle, allowing it to be cut into the larger portions favored by many steak eaters.” (Courtesy of Wikipedia.org)

I did some more research and found out that you can buy a live cow for $1.17 per lb. That is quite a mark up right? In comparison, if I bought 16oz of Gold that would cost $10,036.80, so it looks like I got a bargain.

On a side note, because the strip steak is cut from a part of the cow that is close to the spinal column, it has been one of the steaks that attracts the most concern with regards to Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, AKA Mad Cow Disease. Like that will ever stop me from eating it, right?