Steak Murphy

Steak Murphy is a New Jersey dish of unknown origins. “STEAKS, Scampi or Murphy, with Mushrooms, Hot Peppers & Wine” was an ad by Andrew’s Club 35 in the Asbury Park (NJ) Evening Press on October 16, 1970. Both “Steak Murphy” and “Chicken Murphy” were in a similar ad on June 25, 1971.
 
It’s not known who “Murphy” is. “Other delights are Steak Murphy, a 12-oz. Sirloin sauteed and stirred with hot peppers, smothered in onions and Risole potatoe, $5.95,” from Murphy’s Place, was printed in The Herald-News (Passaic, NJ) on September 9, 1972. However, Murphy’s Place was stated as being new. Tarantino’s Restaurant in Belleville, New Jersey, advertised “Home of Steak Murphy” in The Herald-News (Passaic, NJ) on June 27, 1980.
 
“STEAK MURPHY (Mushrooms-Onions-Hot Peppers)” was advertised in the Asbury Park (NJ) Press on October 12, 1979. “Chicken or Steak Murphy (small pieces sauteed with sausage, onions, mushrooms, potatoes and hot peppers with a dash of marinara sauce—baked to perfection) an extra-special taste treat” was printed in the The Shopper Newspapers (Paramus, NJ) on July 10, 1985.
 
 
Newspapers.com
16 October 1970, Asbury Park (NJ) Evening Press, pg. 16, col. 7 ad:
STEAKS, Scampi or Murphy, with Mushrooms, Hot Peppers & Wine
(Andrew’s Club 35, Higgins Ave., Brielle.—ed.)
   
Newspapers.com
25 June 1971, Asbury Park (NJ) Evening Press, pg. 24, col. 4 ad:
Steak Murphy
Chicken Murphy
(Andrew’s Club 35, Higgins Ave., Brielle.—ed.)
 
Newspapers.com
9 September 1972, The Herald-News (Passaic, NJ), pg. 6T, col. 1 ad:
A nostalgic, homelike atmosphere greets diners when they enter Murphy’s Place, 77 Route 46 West, Lodi.
(...)
Other delights are Steak Murphy, a 12-oz. Sirloin sauteed and stirred with hot peppers, smothered in onions and Risole potatoe, $5.95; ...
     
12 May 1978, The Record (Hackensack, NJ), “Dining Out: The Caged Lobster” by Mark Howat, pg. B11, col. 5:
Steak Murphy
For the meat eaters there is steak Murphy, a steak with onions, potatoes, mushrooms, and hot peppers all on top, or sirloin or filet mignon ($8.95).
 
12 October 1979, Asbury Park (NJ) Press, pg. B4, col. 3 ad:
STEAK MURPHY (Mushrooms-Onions-Hot Peppers)
(Smokey’s Italian-American Restaurant, 400 Broadway, Pt. Pleasant Beach.—ed.)
 
27 June 1980, The Herald-News (Passaic, NJ), pg. D-8, col. 7 ad:
Tarantino’s RESTAURANT
“HOME OF THE STEAK MURPHY”
140 Washington Ave.
Belleville, N.J.
 
5 September 1980, The Herald-News (Passaic, NJ), pg. D-4, col. 2:
DINING OUT GUIDE by R. Kaplan
TARANTINO’S BELLEVILLE
(...)
Tarantino’s is steadily building a loyal following, much of it is due to the “Steak Murphy”—the specialty of the house ($11.50). If you love steak, you are in for a splendid treat. It is a 12-oz. Kosher rib-eye steak with sweet peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, sherry wine and special seasonings that is topped with home fries and served sweet or hot. We ordered it. This more than filling entree was done to perfection.
 
10 July 1985, The Shopper Newspapers (Paramus, NJ), “When the heat is on, Villa Doria (of Saddle Brook—ed.) offers fabulous summer dishes,” pg. 28, col. 2 ad:
... and Chicken or Steak Murphy (small pieces sauteed with sausage, onions, mushrooms, potatoes and hot peppers with a dash of marinara sauce—baked to perfection) an extra-special taste treat.
 
23 July 1987, The Courier-News (Bridgewater, NJ), “Variety is order of the day at Cheers in Bound Brook” by Iris Naar, pg. D-1, col. 5:
One good selection, however, was steak Murphy served with hot cherry peppers, potatoes and onions.
 
2 September 1990, Courier-Post (Camden, NJ), “Dinner in a diner presents dozens of hearty choices” by Carol Leach, pg. 6F, cols. 3-4:
(Recipe from the New Geets Diner in Williamstown.—ed.)
Steak Murphy
2 tablespoons margarine
12 ounce sirloin steak
1/2 onion, cut julienne
1/2 green pepper, cut julienne
2 to 3 mushrooms, cut julienne
2 slices pimento
1 potato, pared, diced and precooked by deep-frying for 1 minute
2 tablespoons sherry wine
2 tablespoons beef broth
2 drops Tabasco sauce
4 drops A-1 steak sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
 
Melt margarine in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Put steak in pan and pan-broil on both sides (about 1 minute on each side for medium doneness). Place green pepper, onion, mushrooms and pimentos in pan alongside steak. Place potatoes on top of steak. Cook for 1 minute.
 
Remove from heat, drain off margarine. Add sherry, beef broth, Tabasco and steak sauce; return to heat for another minute to heat liquids. Place steak on serving plate and arrange vegetables on top. Makes 1 serving.
 
11 April 2001, The Shopper News (Lodi, NJ), “La Ferrovia Ristorante” by Rodi Alexander, pg. L19, col. 3 ad:
I often dine at La Ferrovia for lunch. Mungo’s Steak Murphy, with its fried potatoes and hot or sweet peppers, is a favorite of my companion who dines with me when having a “Steak Murphy” emotional moment.