I love dining out as much as the next food lover, but for Valentine’s Day, I tend to avoid the crowds and dine in. For some reason, my Feb. 14th meal generally always involves steak. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the Midwest, where the quintessential special-occasion entrée had to be steak—and tenderloin at that. I’ll also admit to caving to stereotypes here: Most men in my life have always dug a great steak, and my husband (Mr. Sportcoat) is no exception.
Of course, my love for France compels me to add a few French touches. Here, then, is my go-to Valentine’s Day recipe. It’s been a favorite for years—and I hope it becomes your favorite, too.
Beef Tenderloin Steaks with Shallot-Brandy-Mustard Sauce
This recipe, from The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Spendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day, serves four, but you can easily cook just two steaks. Use a smaller skillet—but don’t halve the sauce ingredients. Why not enjoy extra sauce, as long as you’re making it? After all, it’s a special occasion.
4 6-ounce, 1-inch-thick tenderloin steaks
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup finely chopped shallot
1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
1/2 cup brandy, Cognac, or Armagnac
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves
Season both sides of the steaks with salt and pepper, to taste. In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium-high heat. Add the steaks and cook, turning as needed, to the desired doneness (10-12 minutes for medium-rare). Reduce heat as necessary if the meat browns too quickly.
Transfer the steaks to a platter and cover with foil to keep warm. Add the shallot to the skillet and sauté briefly until translucent. Remove the pan from heat and add the broth and brandy, taking care not to let the liquid splatter.
Return the pan to the stove and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring with a whisk to loosen any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Boil until the liquid is reduced to 1/3 cup, about 2-3 minutes depending on the stove and the pan size.
Whisk in the mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Then, whisk in the remaining butter. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Arrange the steaks on 4 dinner plates, spoon the sauce over the steaks, top with the parsley, and serve.
Make It a Menu
Here’s what I’d serve with this recipe:
• Endive Salad with Blue Cheese and Walnuts
• Steak with Brandy Mustard Sauce (recipe, above), with Pan-Fried Potatoes.
• A Cheese Course. See my piece on How to Serve a Cheese Course.
• Trio of Profiteroles with a Duo of Sauces (page 370 of the Bonne Femme Cookbook). The great thing about these is that you can freeze profiteroles in advance; just reheat them in a 350°F oven until crisp, about 5 minutes.
Enjoy! And to keep up with what I’m cooking and great French finds, follow me on Facebook: Chez Bonne Femme.
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
Comments