Milk Steak From It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia Is Actually A Real Food
Iconic television shows often have food moments that resonate with fans. Take Walter White's pizza toss from "Breaking Bad," which occurred when the kingpin and frustrated family man vaults a pizza onto the roof after learning he's not welcome in the family home (for obvious reasons). And who could forget the tyrannical soup chef from "Seinfeld," who takes his profession so seriously that he bans Elaine from buying soup for an entire year due to her ordering transgressions?
Among the more inexplicable — and hilarious — food moments in modern television history occurred on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." A show known for its terrible characters and irreverent takes on serious issues, It's Always Sunny has often been described as a smart show about stupid people. Debuting in 2005 and running for 15 seasons (with season 16 currently in production), the show has the honorable distinction of being the longest-running live-action sitcom in the U.S. Perhaps its best food moment comes courtesy of Charlie Kelly, designated janitor, rat-killer, and self-proclaimed wildcard among the gang's cast of problematic characters.
An infamous dish that has taken on a life of its own
In an effort to help him get over his unrequited love for the Waitress, a beleaguered character subject to repeated amorous attempts despite her apparent dislike of Charlie, friends Dennis and Mac help Charlie create a dating profile. Upon asking about his favorite food, the pair is taken aback by Charlie's answer of milk steak. And when Charlie's date finally rolls around, Charlie flummoxes Dennis (posing as a waiter) when he orders, "Milk steak boiled over hard, with a side of your finest jellybeans, raw."
The scene is undeniably hilarious and perfectly illustrates that Charlie is playing by inscrutable rules of his own making. And while the show's creators are solely responsible for developing the concept of the questionable dish, ardent Sunny fans have since brought it to life. For instance, a TikTok user shared a video of their version of the dish while playing dialogue from the show. There are even helpful recipes to follow if you're inclined to make your own milk steak at home.
How to make your own milk steak
If you have a romantic occasion coming up and you really want to impress your paramour, milk steak might be just the thing for a most memorable evening. When it comes to boiling steak, specific cuts are better than others. Something like chuck or flank steak is best, as boiling helps soften the texture. Now that you have selected the perfect cut of meat place it in a very hot pan or skillet and pour ½ cup of milk over the steak. Set the stovetop to low/medium heat, then pour the rest of the milk into the pan before covering it. You'll want to cook your milk steak for about one hour for the perfect texture.
As for the jellybeans, Charlie very clearly specifies that they should be served raw. If you stick to the recipe, you can serve them on the side of your milk steak or use them as a garnish by placing them on top. If you want to impress your date (or cause them to run screaming from your home, depending on their tolerance for novelty food), you can try deep-frying them. In this case, you'll need a deep-fryer and funnel cake batter, which should lovingly surround the colorful candies once cooked to perfection. As for your beverage, a heaping glass of Fight Milk is just the thing to wash down this inspired meal.