SteaKnight: Tenth Night, 4.19.2007

As the SteaKnight tradition closes in quickly on a full year of revelry, it was time for another low end night and what better place than the venerable GrubStake. Although many locations have been subjected to fierce criticism as to whether or not they are considered true "steakhouses", GrubStake was a universal consensus. Of course, with the Knights nothing can be totally straightforward so after dickering back and forth about the time the Knights finally had their date set in stone.

What the Knights immediately found most interesting about GS was the strong Portuguese influence on the establishment. Many a thirsty Knight took advantage of this by tipping back more than a couple Sagres, a Portuguese beer.

Once everyone had arrived, a semblance of order was established at the long dining table and the Knights went through the roll call. ATM was in the Crescent City, New Orleans for what many recalled to be the second time. The mood quickly grew heavy and dire as his absence for yet another SteaKnight was debated. Things blew over quickly as the excellent service swarmed in with some excellent appetizers...jalapeño cream cheese poppers! It was quite a tasty SteaKnight first.

As the Knights munched through their appetizers, several threads of conversation where heard by your alert and responsive correspondent. They were, among others:

• HEB has purchased a classic Twilight Zone pinball machine (quite the collector's item!) for a good price. There is some work to be done on the machine and he's hoping that some of the Knights can pitch in and help restore some of the niggling malfunctions that exist.
• One Knight remarked how SteaKnight has grown to be quite the diverse group. One this particular Knight we had in attendance 1 Filipino, 1 Chinese, 2 Jews and even 2 Gingers. Truly, SteaKnight is an equal opportunity affair.
• RMD and his betrothed are teaming up with some others to throw an engagement party for yours truly and his paramour. The event will feature bacon wrapped dates! Presumably the bacon will be brought in a bag to the event by HEB, who has a penchant for such duties as reflected in his contribution to most tailgate parties.
  
• RMD's bachelor party is fast approaching and a mini-SteaKnight in being considered for those who are attending. What will a Boise, ID SteaKnight entail? Watch this spot to find out soon! Also, the Knights will need to break with tradition and find another day in June to gather since many Knights will be out of town for RMD's event.
  
• MPH entered the fray will a long soliloquy on hot chocolate and it's many advantages. While not an officially approved SteaKnight beverage, it would be a sad Knight who has not quaffed their fair share of this soothing drink on a cold winter night.
• When measuring one's lady shanker, should one measure from the top or the bottom? Consensus could, unfortunately, not be reached so other sources will need to be referenced.
• It should be noted that JB has been seeing the same ladyfriend for 3 consecutive SteaKnights. Could this be love?
• HEB remained resolute in his preference of the woman's tittiano on women as opposed to her vagiliti. This still evokes a range of reactions from SteaKnights from confused stares to enraged bewilderment.

Soon the main courses arrived and conversation slowed as hungry mouths filled. Eventually your dutiful correspondent needed to relive himself of several consumed Sagres. On the way to the privy, he was fiercely interrogated by an older man and his even older female companion about the purpose and nature of our gathering. While SteaKnight is a thoroughly covert affair and its secretive nature must be defended every time the Knights gather, your correspondent apparently revealed too much to these unruly strangers as, upon his return to the table, the Knights all wanted to know why your correspondent had given up the ghost to the senior citizen ward. The Knights topped off the meal with a communal chocolate shake.

After a thoroughly enjoyable meal, the check arrived and the Knights had a surprisingly difficult time dividing up the bill equally despite the fact that there were ten Knights in attendance. When one Knight suggested moving the decimal point over one digit the response was "Which way?"

In light of aforementioned tragic breach of security the Knights kept a watchful eye about them while upon exiting this wonderful low end establishment and fading into the city night. It would not be surprising to any if the Knights ended up here on a future date, so well received was the evening!

Total bill: $339.10

HEB (ninth Knight)
STB (ninth Knight)

ATG (eighth Knight, first FalseKnight)
JB (eighth Knight)
RMD (eighth Knight, first FalseKnight)
MPH (eighth Knight)

JLM (seventh Knight)

ATM (sixth Knight)

FH (third Knight)

MP (first Knight)