Well, as you know, everyone here at Culinary Crafts LOVES the holiday season (I mean, who doesn't?)!  We especially love that this time of year really inspires friends and family to gather together over great food!  Another reason why we are especially excited for the upcoming holidays?  You might have heard that our New Year's Eve pop up is coming up and, oh man, the menu is going to be OUT OF THIS WORLD!  Chef Ryan Crafts has spent months putting together a decadent over-the-top menu that is a foodie's dream.  And one of the AMAZING elements he's bringing to your plate is fantastic Dry Aged Beef.  *queue the drooling* So, what's so special about Dry Aged Beef? you might ask.  As Ryan Crafts puts it, "This is the epitome of beef."  Well, I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty darn good! Basically, the beef is kept in a temperature, wind, and light controlled room for anywhere from 28 to 200 days. Over time, the water in the beef evaporates which concentrates the flavor just like reducing a sauce would. With prime cuts of beef this flavor is even more amazing the longer the beef ages (like a good cheese or a great wine).  It also allows for enzymes to start working on breaking down the muscle so the meat gets more and more tender with each passing day. After the desired amount of time (60 days for Ryan Crafts) the beef is butchered and trimmed away of all the jerky-like outer edges and you are left with, perhaps, some of the best tasting steak that money can buy. This process takes a lot of know-how and time to make sure you end up with something truly special - which is why it's such a special menu item!  Plus another fun fact?  We started aging the beef for our Pop Up in October in a facility in Vegas who also ages beef for the likes of top chefs like Guy Savoy and Jose Andres. We are SO excited to spend New Year's Eve with our foodie friends and can't wait to dazzle your taste buds with ALL of the amazing courses.  If you haven't gotten your tickets yet though, make sure you get them soon!  They are going fast!  Plus, wouldn't this make the perfect gift for someone special in your life?  (Hint: The answer is yes!)  Happy eating, everyone!   For tickets to the pop-up, check out the pop-up page on our website. First two photos from Fine Cooking, last photo from Pat LaFrieda Home Delivery.