Well, the calorie count is up, my waistline is expanding and the chase for steak continues. So far I’ve had two culinary experiences that have sent the taste buds into overdrive and left me a little shaken at the thought of having to go even a couple of days without a steak!

As the days passed after visiting Lambert’s Vineyard I started to get depressed and anxious. When would the next fix come? I started getting severe ‘meat sweats’ and I often awoke to find myself chewing on my own thigh in the middle of the night craving my next meat fix. I needed steak and I needed it NOW! Who would help me?

Bingo bongo, the National Press Club of Australia in Barton answered the call and tempted me with a steak over a Friday lunch.

Having enjoyed such a lovely dinner date with Adam Wallace-Harrison last time, I decided to invite another forward to join me. This time it was the CA Brumbies’ new recruit, Mitchell Chapman’s turn to sample another of Canberra’s finest steaks.

‘Chappo’, as he is known amongst the team, has come to us from the Queensland Reds and plays lock and back row. While we have some outstanding players in both positions, Chappo’s a great signing and will definitely be pushing for a spot in our 2008 starting team.

What am I doing talking about Chappo when all you want to hear about is a Press Club steak!?

With my reservations about having dinner with another man all but gone, I was really looking forward to what the Press Club would dish up.

As we sat listening to the academic banter ringing off the walls, both Chappo and I posed the question “How do you access a place like the Press Club?”

Marietta, the Press Club Manager, dispelled any myths that the Press Club was a ‘Journalists Only’ venue and off limits to any Joe Public like me. Anyone can join or be signed in by a member to gain you access to one of Canberra’s best kept steak secrets.

After spending some time looking at the extensive menu I decided on a 300gm cut of Scotch fillet with an onion marmalade sauce with honey balsamic salad… and chunky steakhouse chips. After giving Chappo another 10 minutes he eventually decided on a similar size cut of the tenderloin. (While he may have been a great buy for the CA Brumbies, fortunately we won’t be revolving our game plan around Chappo’s quick decision-making during the season – bloody Queenslanders!)

After a couple of full strength cokes our mains came out. In the professional sporting world, full-strength coke is a no-no, and dieticians hit the roof if they find out. But with my steak craving about to be satisfied (combined with the side of chunky chips I was about to devour) I thought what the hell why not live a little?

Steak, glorious steak! Here was the answer to my prayers: a delicious cut of scotch fillet steak. I took my first bite and was not disappointed. It was flame grilled to perfection, sealing in all the flavour and creating a tender, juicy steak.

After rapidly becoming one of Canberra’s leading steak connoisseurs, I noticed a distinct flavour to the meat that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I called the waiter over and asked what it was. He must have known I was on the chase for Canberra’s best steak as he informed me that the meat is aged and marinated in the Press Club’s secret herbs and spices. When asked if he’d share the mix (for use at future Henderson family barbecues) he replied, “If KFC isn’t telling neither are we”. Gee whiz, the chase for steak is really getting competitive, I like it!

All in all it was one of the nicest scotch fillets I have had and the Press Club’s ‘secret recipe’ really sent the flavour scale rocketing.

The Press Club is a great place for a feed in one of Canberra’s prime business hubs and with their “famous steaks” on offer, it’s not hard to see why they won Best Restaurant in the Clubs ACT Dining Awards in 2003, 2005 and 2006. They are open late on Thursday and Friday for after work drinks which kick on, and with the live music they put on you can soon see why.

Stay tuned for next week’s review, where Brumbies star, Nic Henderson, will hunt down another one of Canberra’s best steaks!