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room temperature

beef cut into 4 portions, each pounded between plastic to a scant 1/4 inch + salt + black pepper — thickness is the whole cut argument settled: at a quarter inch the steak browns and cooks through in the same two minutes, so you never have to choose between a grey interior and a pale crust. Slice tomato, tear lettuce, slice olives now; once the pan is hot there is no idle time