Amuse bouche: The finest ingredients

Beluga caviar. Saffron. White truffles. La Bonnotte potatoes. Domaine de la Romanee Conti. The best comes at a price. Sometimes the best is worth it; sometimes the best is more about hype or scarcity. In rare cases, however, the best can be quite readily within reach. That's the case with the best steak in the U.S. This might come as a shock from someone living in Texas, but the best steak comes from a butcher outside of San Francisco named Bryan Flannery. At Bryan's Fine Foods in Corte Madera, California, you can renew your appreciation for beef. The prices are quite reasonable -- it's better to call and order over the phone than place it online -- and the quality is unmatched. Pictures don't lie:

From Assorted Flannery

From Assorted Flannery

From Assorted Flannery

From Assorted Flannery

Steaks ship fresh on ice packs; even in the peak of summer, second-day FedEx has the meat arrive at your door refrigerator cold.