August 25, 2025

Seriously The Best Steak (Without Leaving Home)

Steakhouse Who? Grill The Tastiest Thick-Cut Steaks at Home

My parents had invited us to a nice evening out at an upscale restaurant in Island Park, but by the time the day wrapped up, neither of us felt like getting dressed up and heading out with a one year old. You know those days where you’re just peopled out and a bit exhausted? That was us. So instead of forcing it, we decided to stay home. Broc ran to the store for steaks and came back with two-inch thick ribeyes (he said he just couldn’t leave them behind) —definitely not cheap, but still a whole lot less than what dinner at a restaurant would have been.

We invited our friend Laura over (she’s basically Aunt Laura to the kids) since it was just the two of us and there’s no way we were going to eat all that. Tinsley went with the rest of the family for a fancy night out. But honestly, sometimes the best restaurant is your own house.

Normally, ribeyes are a summer staple around here. Easy to grill, easy to share. But these were so thick we had to change up the game plan. First, we smoked them on the Traeger until they came up to temp, then finished them off with a quick sear on the grill at high heat to get that perfect char. No fancy marinade—just good quality salt, pepper, and a good hit of Garlic Scape Salt we’d brought back from British Columbia. We topped the steaks with a heap of homemade compounded herb butter (with fresh herbs from the garden) and let it melt right in. Add in a quick salad and some buttered ciabatta bread (we also tossed on the grill), and dinner was done. We even skipped the potatoes, which feels almost criminal in Idaho.

The best part wasn’t even the steaks (though they were pretty incredible). It was so easy going and relaxing. No waiting for a table, no keeping kids occupied while food took forever to come out. Just cooking together, total teamwork, and the simple joy of being home. Indie even melted into a little food coma after those buttered steak bites—totally zoned out in her highchair and had us all cracking up.

So here’s the point: you don’t always need a fancy restaurant to have a great meal. Sometimes the best night is right at your own table with good food, the people you love, and a pace that feels like your own. If you haven’t in a while, grab some steaks, fire up the grill, and try it yourself.