One star for claiming their roast beef is "Kobe Beef" even though the food is good. . .
. . .We rolled into town on the late side and while we were checking in at our hotel we asked the desk clerk if he could recommend someplace for a beer and some food. He suggested Gilligan's, it was close, so we tried it.
The beer selection which included many local and regional craft brews was varied and interesting. Our choices proved to be very tasty and they nicely complemented the food.
I ordered the "Kobe Roast Beef Sandwich" -- billed on their menu as the "filet mignon of roast beef." The sandwich was very good. The thin sliced roast beef was piled at least an inch and a half thick on my choice of bread (marble rye if I remember correctly). There was just the right amount of lettuce, tomato and mayo on the sandwich. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite.
But -- was it really, "Kobe Beef?"
I mean -- was it really, raised in Japan, pampered cow, genuine, "Kobe Beef?"
At. $9.50 a sandwich I kind of doubt it. Actually, I more than, "kind of doubt it, I"M SURE OF IT!!"
True "Kobe Beef" is licensed to be served at just eight restaurants in the entire United Sates. (1. 212 Steakhouse Restaurant, New York, NY; 2. Alexander's Steakhouse-Cupertino, Cupertino, CA; 3. Alexander's Steakhouse-San Francisco Restaurant, San Francisco, CA; 4. SLS Las Vegas - Bazaar Meat by José Andrés Restaurant, Las Vegas, NV; 5. Jean Georges Steakhouse, Aria Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, NV; 6. Nick & Sam's Restaurant, Dallas, TX; 7. Wynn Las Vegas - SW Steakhouse Restaurant, Las Vegas, NV; 8. Teppanyaki Ginza Onodera, Honolulu, HI.)
Then there is "Wagyu Beef," which may or may not hail from Japan, but must be from one of four Japanese breeds of cattle and must have a marbling rating of 6-9 (USDA prime marbling is rated 4 and true "Kobe" is rated at 10-12.) The last time I had "Waguu" beef was at a Michelin starred restaurant and the meal cost several hundred dollars per person. After just one bite of the "Wagyu Beef" at that restaurant I knew I was eating something special.
As good as Gilligan's sandwich was there was NOTHING about it that screamed, "This is the BEST roast beef available in the world!"
In Europe it is illegal to sell food branded as something that it isn't. You can't call cheese "Parmesan" unless it is actually cheese from Parma, Italy. You can't call bubbly white wine "Champagne" unless it is actually produced in the Champagne region of France. But in the U.S. food labeling laws are so lax that you can name food products just about anything your heart desires -- especially if it will result in better sales.
I would welcome comments from the management about these questions.
Who decreed the beef on your sandwich to be "Kobe Beef?"
1. The supplier? If so, can they certify that it actually is "Kobe Beef," or not? If they can, that's great. (In my opinion, restaurants like Gilligan's should be able to serve a perfectly fine roast beef sandwich without paying premium prices for their meat or calling it something that it isn't. And BTW -- If it actually is "Kobe Beef" from Japan then i'd suggest at least quintupling the price of the sandwich!) If not, "Shame on the supplier and a double curse on the supplier for setting the restaurant up to include a fraudulent item on their menu.
2. Gilligan's itself (or Gilligan's corporate management)? Again, if you can certify it to be "Kobe Beef", then good for you -- and see the previous paragraph about raising your prices or using domestic roast beef.) If it is not real "Kobe Beef" (and you have not been duped by your supplier) then, "Shame on you!" And please revise your menu, ceasing and desisting from using the term "Kobe Beef."
Sorry for my rant. The sandwich was good, the service was good, the beer was good. But I am a stickler for properly naming and labeling food and where it originates from.
Kobe and Wagyu are important trademarks of origin, breed, and quality and must be protected.
Any establishment that uses these names without proper certification, or worse, fraudulently, must be called out. (Note: Le Bernardin, a Michelin 3 star restaurant in NYC, was caught fraudulently serving "Kobe Beef" and forced to immediately change their menu when asked to prove their beef was in fact "Kobe Beef." Gilligan's should do the same.)
For more information see these articles:
From "Bon Apitite." https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/trends-news/article/kobe-wagyu-steak-myths
https://www.insideedition.com/headlines/16132-many-restaurants-with-kobe-beef-on-their-menus-are-not-actually-serving-kobe-beef read more