This post is sponsored by Visit Omaha and Omaha Steaks.

Since travel is limited right now, Visit Omaha gave me a virtual culinary tour of the amazing food they have to offer in the cornhusker state. I got to visit with 3 amazing chefs from the Omaha area that have very different style restaurants, but one common ingredient – steak.

What is Omaha Known For?

The city of Omaha has a population of 900,000, and who knows how many cows!

The reuben sandwich was created there – not New York City like they seem to think.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is home to the world’s largest indoor desert and indoor rainforest. This Nebraska zoo is ranked the #2 zoo in the country and #5 in the world by USA today (in 2020).

Warren Buffet calls Omaha home for the majority of the year. He was born in Omaha in 1930 and after some time away, he and his first wife Susie returned to Omaha to raise their children there. He currently lives in the same home he bought there for $31,500 in 1958 (in today’s economy this would be about $250,000). And if you want to eat like the richest man in the world, his favorite restaurant in Omaha is Gorat’s. But forget the steak sauce – apparently it’s a no no in Omaha to put any sauce on your steak!

Stockyards

In 1864, the first stockyard was created in Omaha with 531 longhorn cattle. Currently, Omaha is 3rd in the US for beef production.

Of course, with all of that cattle around, it only makes sense that the steak scene in Omaha is unmatched. Omaha Steaks started off as The Table Supply Meat Company – founded by Lester Simon and his father B.A in 1917. The family escaped religious persecution in Latvia and came through Ellis Island, finally making home in Omaha.

A butcher by trade, their beef business was in the right location. Years later, they grew their business by making use of the railroads and shipping their meats from state to state.

Five generations strong (and a name change in 1966), the Simon family still owns and operates Omaha Steaks to this day. They’ve made quality meats accessible to families everywhere through their online ordering and shipping directly to homes nationwide.

Let’s Meet the Chefs

Steak Sandwich with Chef Nick Strawhecker of Dante

Did you know you can make a perfectly seared steak in a pizza oven? Well that’s exactly what Chef Nick Strawhecker of the restaurant Dante in Omaha, Nebraska did. He used a cast iron skillet and the super hot pizza oven in order to perfectly cook his bone-in ribeye steak for his tasty steak sandwich.

He sliced the ribeye against the grain in thin slices, then served it in tigelle bread with soft herbs (like dill), cheese, and morelle mushrooms.

Nick’s Steak Tip: Finish the steak off by basting it in butter and garlic before taking it out of the pan to rest.

Steak Salad with Chef Jake Newton of V. Mertz

Steak salad is such a great way to eat a steak, and Chef Jake Newton did it right! He also used a cast iron skillet, but his technique was totally different. I love that in my interview with him, he talked about how he uses leftover ingredients from his refrigerator in his salads – I do that too (and with stir frys)!

The secret to his steak was that he cooks the steak 3 minutes on each side and then takes it completely off the fire. Letting it rest, he says, allows for the steak to get that beautiful pink line of distinction when you slice into your steak instead of just a dull gray.

Jake’s Steak Tip: Don’t forget to salt the steak before serving. Salt before you cook it and before you serve it.

Steak for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with Colin & Jessica Dugan of Kitchen Table

Steak is always welcome – no matter the meal, right? Well that’s exactly what Colin Dugan prepared for his demonstration. For breakfast, he took a teres major steak seasoned with salt and pepper and served it with seasonal veggies and with two eggs over easy.

For lunch, he seasoned the steak with coriander, paprika, salt, and pepper and served it on a salad with pickles veggies and green goddess dressing.

Last up, dinner! For dinner, he used their in house jerk seasoning and make a tasty jerk steak with it.

Colin’s Steak Tip: Don’t be afraid of spice! Experiment with different flavors and have fun with it!

Ready to try it for yourself? Here’s how to make the perfect steak (on the grill) that’s flavorful, juicy, and out of this world!