For the bunch of "value" investors around here, here's a "value" recipe, so you can cook steaks at home without paying "steak house" prices.
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February 24, 2007
How to Cook a Perfect Steak
A step-by-step guide from a pioneer in a
booming category: the star-chef steakhouse
By
SHIVANI VORA
February 24, 2007
THE CHEF: Laurent Tourondel, executive chef and partner of the fast growing BLT (Bistro Laurent Tourondel) empire. After working in classic French restaurants like the Michelin three-star Troisgros in Roanne, France, and Cello in New York, he decided to open BLT Steak in New York, his take on an American steakhouse, with more ambitious appetizers and desserts, no tablecloths and a casual vibe. "We want people to come in jeans," he says.
KNOWN FOR: Helping to drive the star-chef steakhouse trend that started in Las Vegas, with Charlie Palmer, Jean-George Vongerichten, Emeril Lagasse and Tom Colicchio. There are now three BLT Steaks -- New York, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Washington -- with three more set to open this year. Recently Michael Mina, Bobby Flay and Rick Tramonto have also opened steakhouses.
THE MEAL: A perfectly cooked porterhouse or ribeye steak, with poached and pan-seared mushrooms and that classic steakhouse side dish, creamed spinach. Like many chefs, Mr. Tourondel first sears his steak, then finishes it -- just to rare or medium rare -- in a hot oven. A heavy cast-iron skillet is ideal.
STEAK SHOPPING: Buy a bone-in steak -- "Steaks that are cooked with a bone have a richer flavor" -- that's on the thicker side, 1½ to 2 inches. "That allows you to sear it for long enough to form the perfect crust and not overcook it at the same time."
KITCHEN TIP: Wash spinach in lots of water. Lift the greens from the water and place in a colander, then drain the water. Repeat until the water is clear.
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The Perfectly Cooked Steak
Yield: 4 servings
Active preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: About 20 minutes for rare or medium rare
4 to 5 pounds porterhouse or bone-in ribeye steak, 1½ to 2 inches thick
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
• On the stove top, heat a large, dry skillet until it is very hot. Season the steak well with salt and pepper and sear for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until it has a dark crust.
• Place skillet in preheated oven for about 14 minutes for a 1 1/2-inch steak. Cook to between rare and medium rare, because residual heat will continue cooking the meat while it is resting. To test for doneness, press your finger to the meat; it should yield to the touch but not be too soft. The chef says a thermometer will pierce the meat and allow the juices to run out.
• Rest steak for at least 5 minutes before slicing or serving.
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