Saint Valentines Day is nearly upon us. Many people enjoy
celebrating this day through recognizing the love they share with
each other. Activities include giving gifts such as cards,
chocolate and flowers. The pinnacle of the day’s activities is the
meal. Because it is such a special day for many people, Elizabeth
Gage, David Cox and I have come together to provide you the total
menu experience.
Saint Valentines Day is nearly upon us. Many people enjoy celebrating this day through recognizing the love they share with each other. Activities include giving gifts such as cards, chocolate and flowers. The pinnacle of the day’s activities is the meal. Because it is such a special day for many people, Elizabeth Gage, David Cox and I have come together to provide you the total menu experience.
Many people choose to go out to dinner on Valentines Day. I admit it: I enjoy leaving the grill every once in a while to visit a restaurant. It is very nice to sit down at a table, choose from anything you want and not have to cook it.
However, this is one of those days that I do not like to venture into restaurants. I have always thought that unless you plan very far ahead, it is nearly impossible to make reservations at your favorite restaurant. There is also the possibility of a limited menu with inflated prices and too many people. My advice: spend a quieter dinner at home with the one you love. Oh, and for the purpose of my column, you may want to invite the grill, too!
I know you probably do not want to cook on Valentine’s Day, but hear me out. The cost of going out to dinner on Valentine’s Day can be high. By the time you order an entree, wine and dessert, the bill is already enough – without adding tax and tip. But you can still have a fine menu if you have it at home.
It is my opinion that filet mignon is the most elegant of steaks. I often describe it as “buttery tender.” It melts in your mouth with every single bite. Some prime cuts and super prime cuts, such as Kobe style beef, do not require a knife to cut. For a day like Valentine’s Day, filet mignon is one of the most fitting steaks.
You can purchase two filet mignon steaks for less than the price of one filet mignon dinner. The South Valley has a variety of stores with a large price range for filet mignon. I checked local supermarket advertisements and visited a few supermarkets this week to research the price of filet mignon steaks. Prices ranged from $15 to $18 a pound. Save Mart Supermarkets – a chain based in the Central Valley with stores across the San Jose area – are the least expensive at $10 a pound this week.
Because most portions are about 8 ounces per person, the price per steak will range from $5 to $9! The simple lesson here is to shop around and do your homework.
I want to give caution about some filet mignon steaks. There is a brand that comes in a heavy plastic package. The package contains two steaks wrapped in bacon, and they look like hockey pucks. These packaged steaks usually have preservatives, such as salt, already added. This makes it difficult to season the filet mignon to your specific taste. And, with the addition of preservatives, you do not know how long the package has been on the shelf.
Grilling your filet mignon can become a Valentine’s Day gift too. Both men and women can impress their sweethearts with a wonderful dinner. If done right, dinner can become a very sexy event, too.
It is fairly easy to pick up a box of chocolates and flowers. However, grilling for your loved one is something truly personal that no one else can duplicate. It can become the ultimate gesture for the ultimate day dedicated to love. If you shop at least a day ahead of time and pick up all your ingredients, you can spend more time with your loved one.
Grilling filet mignon steaks is an ideal way to celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day. Follow the recipes from Elizabeth Gage for the rest of the meal and the wine selections from David Cox. All of our selections will give you a very balanced menu of taste and textures. The filet mignon recipe I selected is one of my favorites, Black Pepper Crusted Filet Mignon.
If you do not have a pepper mill to make the coarse cracked black pepper, use a mallet or rolling pin and crush the peppercorns in a heavy plastic bag. The pepper is generous but does not completely cover the whole surface of the steak.
Black Pepper Crusted Filet Mignon
From Mitch Mariani
Serves 2
2 filet mignon steaks, about 8-12 ounces each
2 tsp. fresh cracked black pepper
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
Step 1: Dry the outside of the filet mignon steaks so that they are not damp.
Step 2: Sprinkle each steak with 1/4 tsp. of kosher salt and 1 tsp. fresh cracked black pepper. Make sure the pepper is pressed into the surface of the steak. This prevents too much pepper from falling off during grilling.
Step 3: Grill the filet mignon steak for about 8 minutes on each side, depending upon thickness and heat of the fire.
Step 4: Serve with selections provided by Elizabeth Gage and David Cox.
