Plaza III was one of my first true fine dining experiences, and one that I can truly say inspired my love for cooking and great wine today. My Mom would occasionally do “staycations” when I was a kid, and often that meant going out to eat for dinner and going some places we wouldn’t normally go. Plaza III stood out to me above all else. The steak was perfect, and while I was too young at the time to pair it with a memorable bottle of wine, the totality of the classic steakhouse experience is something I remember to this day. The crisp tablecloths, neatly dressed staff, and their attentive service coupled with the incredible flavors and smells of the steaks, side dishes, and dessert made a lasting impression on me.

After years in the restaurant industry working my way through design school, and studying abroad in another fantastic steak city – Florence, Italy – a great steak cooked over a wood fire has become one of my personal favorite dishes to cook at home (and always, always paired with great wine!). Steak has come to mean not only a way to celebrate an accomplishment (like a trip to a steakhouse is such a classic way to celebrate for so many) but signifies a celebration of life and the great memories made in those moments, sharing a memorable meal with those we love. To think, my Mom probably just thought she was taking us to a nice steak dinner, our first true steakhouse experience, all those years ago. She probably never realized how much that night at Plaza III would mean to me. I think I’ll mention that to her this Christmas…chances are it will be over a good steak and a glass of wine!

— Andrew Orwig