Anyone try Kobe beef?

[CRUZMISL]

I'm curious if it's worth the expense and then if it is, where the hell do I find it?

Thanks,

Joe

[Jason Perlow]

Well, you can effectively get the same thing if you get Wagyu beef. Wagyu is the breed of cattle that is used. When its raised in Japan it gets certified as Kobe.

You can get Australian Wagyu from Lobel's of New York:

http://www.lobels.com/store/main/wagyumain.htm

Its very expensive, and its VERY, very good. You can get Wagyu in various cuts, the strip steak and the filet is the best. Lobels even makes hot dogs out of it.

[Feather]

Yes, Kobe is definitely worth it! It looks like bacon while you're slicing it! (yum!)....I believe Kobe is available out of a farm from from Ohio (the name will be forthcoming)...Kobe is unavailable from Japan (mad cow) until 2009!

[Schneier]

I had it once in Japan. It's very good, but honesty I would rather eat a piece of dry-aged Chicago beef and get the massage and beer for myself.

Bruce

[Jason Perlow]

BTW here is a pic (extreme closeup of a single slice) of the Wagyu Lobels strip steak I tasted at a Lobels tasting event:

[torakris]

Like it has been mentioned before "true" Kobe beef must be born and raised in Kobe, Japan and thus is quite difficult to obtain overseas. Though i have never tried them I have heard some good things about the Kobe style beef produced in the US and Australia.

Kobe beef is just one of the black haired wagyu cows here, some beef in Japan swear that Matsuzaka beef is even more tender, then there are the others like Omi, Yonezawa, Maezawa, etc that are giving them bot a run for their money.

I have had the real stuff and think it is great, but personally don't find it worth the price and find myself quite happy with most of the no-name wagyus here.

[howard88]

Jason: Your picture of the Lobel's strip looked so inviting I now have fork marks on my new Dell monitor. Was the taste as good as the picture?

[Jason Perlow]

Jason: Your picture of the Lobel's strip looked so inviting I now have fork marks on my new Dell monitor.  Was the taste as good as the picture?

Oh yes.