The Original Mortons-6 Years and Counting
I was thrust into hosting duties about 36 hours before the dinner. As you can imagine finding a reservation for 7 this close to the dinner leaves you with limited options. Luckily I was able to secure a reservation at Mortons. This was the location of arguably the most notorious steak night ever so it seemed like an appropriate venue for the 6 year anniversary.
I showed up for drinks shortly after 7:00 with Cizzle to find Brad and Scotty chatting about their kids and kids on the way. A lot happens in 6 years, when Steak Night started no one in the group had kids and I don’t think anyone was married, perhaps Jevon and Scotty were newlyweds. Nonetheless it provides some perspective on how long we have been doing this and is a testament to all involved. The rest of the crew arrived and we were off and running.
Appetizers included bacon wrapped scallops and New Orleans style shrimp. Shrimp were awesome; wish we ordered more of those. The leftover sauce did provide an excellent dip for the bread. I got the lobster bisque which was great, it had some zip and less of a sherry flavor, plenty of lobster. Usually I don’t get additional seasoning or flavor on my steaks but I like the Cajun ribeye at Mortons. It was tremendous, the Cajun flavor complimenting but not over powering the steak, cooked to perfection, delicious steak all around. Sides included au gratin potatoes, mac & cheese, creamed spinach and horseradish mashed potatoes. Honestly the sides were just ok. Closed the meal with some carrot cake.
The highlight of the dinner conversation revolved around Cartwright and what he does when he is bored at work. Lets just say it is a little different then going to ESPN or checking Facebook. The low light of dinner was most of the group getting up and leaving the table to watch the end of the Bulls game. I realize when you have an iconic player like Michael Jordan playing for the Bulls it is can’t miss TV, oh wait he is retired. But when you have a former MVP like Derrick Rose leading the Bulls in the playoffs you have to see that, oh wait he is still not playing. A bunch of no names playing Brooklyn, that is can’t miss TV. Almost the entire table getting up to watch the end of the Bulls game was one of the lamest moments in the history of steak night. Props to Scotty for staying at the table and not following the crowd.
Speaking of Scotty that poor bastard had to do a shot of the groups choosing for violating the recently realized “cancel within 24 hours” rule. Of all things we settled on some sort of chartreuse for the shot. I don’t know a lot about chartreuse but it looked like the Green Goblins piss and judging by Scotty’s reaction when consuming it tasted like it too.
Hans capitalized on his March Maddness win to eat free. Jevon raided Chris Berman’s closet and provided ESPN swag as a token of the 6 year anniversary. Huge crew for after dinner drinks at Bull & Bear and then a nightcap at Crossing.
On to 7 years and beyond.
Cheers,
The Drunk Idiot
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Coming in from a chilly May evening, the slow walk down the steps to the bowels of Morton’s evoked memories of a time gone by. While this night was not the same as July 2009, it too had its moments of hilarity and bliss. Kudos to Rick for stepping up on short notice and filling the shoes of Cole and Martin. While the cardboard cut out of “daily specials” left me wary, Morton’s found its old stride and smoothed out the hitch in the giddy up.
We had a great round table, situated in the corner, just off the open kitchen. I was a tad over hungry and indulged in too much of the fine onion bread that is served upon seating. Next, I dipped into a fine French Onion soup, a first at steak night for me.
The apps were tasty, agree, the shrimp sauce is out of site.
Sadly, the sides that came with dinner were some of the worst to date. Potatoes with horseradish were like cardboard, mac n. cheese had velveta on top and the creamed spinach was soggy. While my filet was good, i had serious envy of Scott’s cajun rib eye. He was nice enough to share and provided incredible taste.
Dessert was carrot cake and although we were all incredibly full, it hit the spot.
Zach proved a fine waiter, offering Bulls score updates throughout.
6 years of red meat bliss. I am grateful for the group and the incredible tradition.
Yeah, good work by all – especially TDI considering that he was “thrust” into the dinner reservation mode so abrupty at the midpoint of the week. That said, surely Morton’s was happy to have rec’d the reservation because the place was about as dead as Kriss Kross the whole night.
That said, basketball was in the air and for certain was another Bulls let down. I do agree, though, that the group getting up to see Nate Robinson miss jump shots at the end of the meal was not a sight worth being so blatantly rude about.
The food – found the scallops to be a bit undercooked, the bisque lacking flavor (although the half lobster claw in the soup was generous) and the meat to be pretty good. Sides complimented well. All in all though, taking the food in with the atmosphere and I’d say there is little reason to go back here soon. Then again, if you don’t want to be seen with an ex, current lover, or the like – definitely put this place on your list.
The shot I was forced to do is awaiting Mr. Cole at the next event and it was absolutely horrific. Had a soft name like Chartreuse and delivered a rock solid body blow. I was steps from the bathroom after that one.
Enjoyed the ideas being thrown around about upgrading the site and taking it to an official “steaksandcigars.com 2.0” level. Maybe Cartwright would be willing to post some news about it on his hot websites…
It should be no surprise that the 6th anniversary of Steak Night showcased Don Cole making dinner reservations and then having to bail on them – some things never change! The baton was passed to Rick Ray and he delivered Morton’s the original – an apropos selection for this special evening.
Knowing I was to flip the bill for drinks this time, I wanted to make sure I was prompt to the bar. With that, Scottie Markets and I showed up just prior to 7 and were the first in what was an almost empty bar and restaurant.
The group made there way in and proved gentle on what could have been a far worse bill for me to pick up. We took a seat and dove right into the apps with bacon wrapped scallops and a southern style shrimp. The shrimp was excellent however the scallop just average. I passed on soup or salad to save my appetite for what is the best Cajun rib-eye in the city.
When the steak came, the seasoning was perfect and delivered with full flavor, as expected. However, the medium rare temperature held true through about ¼ of my steak then got rare (which I am fine with) and then too rare. Not sure how they missed on the temperature. I am a pretty hard guy to undercook a steak for – but parts of it were cooked blue, rendering it unable to be finished.
The sides at Morton’s are just OK. The creamed spinach is below average – too much cream and not nearly enough spinach. The au gratin, mashed and Mac and cheese are good, but nothing to write home about. Some carrot cake for dessert with cream cheese frosting which is always a hit. Hans walked free from his March madness victory.
Finishing the meal was the shot Martin had to take, at the groups choosing. J-Cizzle and I went to the bartender and asked for a recommendation and what came back was “Green Chartreuses”…never heard of it. But after one smell I knew Scottie Markets would be battling that horrific liquor. He took it down like a man.
Props to thorzeen for the ESPN swag! I will be wearing mine on the course well this spring/summer!
Here’s to another 6 years.
On extremely short notice, TDI came up with a winner for Steak Night’s 6th Anniversary. Morton’s was the choice, and it’s never a bad time at one of the quintessential Chicago steak houses.
Rick and I showed up to find Scotty and Brad talking marriage, new kids, and other adult things. Rick and I quickly brought some immaturity to the conversation. Drinks were on Brad and he kindly obliged, having missed the last required post time last month.
After sitting down, we all downed some of the best onion bread, or any bread, anywhere. I had a wedge salad which was probably the largest plate I had all night. Solid charred bacon bits I might add.
Apps were Southern Style Shrimp and Scallops. The shrimp and sauce were great. Scallops were just okay. And I loved how they made a point to serve us all individually with the apps.
I had the cajun rubbed ribeye and it was great. We actually had them do the rub after it was cooked instead of the normal pre-marinade version, as to not be too overpowering and it was perfect. My steak was overcooked a little but it was great nonetheless. The sides were completely forgettable.
Since Scotty cancelled within 24 hours of dinner last month and didn’t tell everyone via group e-mail, an old rule was invoked which required him to do a shot of our choosing. Green Chartreuse was the choice by Gimms and myself after careful deliberation with the bartender. It was awful and Scotty took it like a man.
The night ended with carrot cake and Hans claiming his NCAA tourney winnings. We made a night of it this time at Bull and Bear and then a nightcap at Crossing.
All in all a great night and looking forward to the summer and year seven with this fine crew.
This post is a protest. I posted within the required time however this website devoured it like a petite filet. I call foul, but will purchase cocktails tonight since I am a gentleman.