The world’s “best steak” has arrived on the menu in a Dublin steakhouse for a limited time priced at €90 per person.
FIRE Steakhouse and Bar in the centre of Dublin is currently the only place in Ireland to serve what has been officially titled as the world’s “best” steak.
Jack’s Creek sirloin steak – from the Wagyu black Angus breed – which hails from New South Wales, Australia, secured the accolade last November at the World Steak Challenge in London
The annual competition aims to “find and recognise the best” in the world.
Hundreds of applicants enter the competition, and it usually takes the producers two years by the time they decide on the chosen cut of meat to then getting it to the stage of competition.
Last year, after two days of judging hosted at Vlees & Co Steakhouse in Amsterdam, 80 independent industry experts then gathered to score all of the 2023 entrants according to both the raw and cooked criteria before deciding on the Jack’s Creek’s entry as the winner.
Culinary director at FIRE and Dublin native, Richie Wilson, played a key role in both the service and judging process of the competition last year – making sure each steak was cut, prepared, and cooked in an identical fashion.
Looking back on the experience, Wilson said: “The World Steak Challenge is the search for the best steak on a global scale and stage, so being a part of that really is special.
“With so many Irish steaks winning medals, and with a team of Irish craft butchers preparing all entries for judging, it certainly makes me proud to be Irish.”
Wilson’s own culinary philosophy is one that centres around sustainability and Irish producers.
He has said that he takes pride in following the farm-to-FIRE and sea-to-SOLE approach right through.
Although Jack’s Creek sirloin steak may have emerged as the 2023 winner of the global competition – with judges praising the balance of the heavily marbled cut and the “superior flavour” of the meat, many Irish entries did not go home empty handed.
Hannan Meats from Co. Kildare won a gold medal for their fillet steak and their sirloin, and a silver for their ribeye.
Irish Hereford Prime from Co. Meath was awarded a gold medal for their ribeye steak, and two bronze for both their fillet and sirloin in the competition.