The meal was for the Christening of my friends new apartment at the Jersey Shore along with a celebration of my friend Derek's successful surgery. A little shopping at Wegmans and the whole thing came together quite nicely. This takes 2 hours to prepare, costs $70 and feeds 5 people.
Surf and Turf
2 - 2.5lb lobsters, boiled and deshelled
5 - 4 oz Filet Mignons
1 stick salted butter
Boil the lobster for about 10 minutes and let cool. Remove all of the meat from the lobster and split the tails in halves. Place all the meat back into a small sauce pan and top with a stick of melted butter. Cover and heat on low on the stovetop for five minutes right before serving.
Season and then pan sear the filet mignon for 3 minutes on each side on medium high heat. Place in a baking dish and cook in a 400 degree oven for 8 more minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Purple Cauliflower and Baby Cabbage
In separate pots of boiling water blanch the cauliflower florets and the baby bok choy for about 3 minutes and then plunge them into separate ice baths. Remove and let dry. Place florets in a baking dish with some finely diced garlic and shallots, olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.
For the bok choy just place it on a baking tray and heat in the oven 5 minutes before you serve.
Bearnaise Sauce
1/2 small shallot finely diced
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley (tarragon is traditional but I didnt have)
3 egg yolks
1 and 1/2 sticks of butter
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
juice from half a lemon
In a small sauce pan start shallots and vinegar on low heat. Let cook until most of the liquid is reduced and you have about 2 teaspoons of liquid. Remove from the heat and add the fresh herbs. Set aside until later. In a second small sauce pan start the butter on low heat. Once the butter is all melted a white foam will be on top. Use a small spoon to remove all of the white milk solids from the top. This is know as clarifying the butter. Remove from the heat and set aside. Now the tricky part; Create a double boiler, a small sauce pan with lightly boiling water and a metal mixing bowl on top. Add the egg yolks to the mixing bowl and whisk vigorously for about 3 minutes or until they double in side. Now have someone else SLOWLY pour the warm clarified butter into the eggs while you continue to whisk. Once the butter and eggs have come together add the remaining ingredients and whisk together. Keep the sauce in a warm place but not too hot or it will break. Use to top basically anything.
The food, wine and company were all amazing. Congratulations to Harout on the new spot, its going to be a great year there. Words can't say how impressed and proud I am of my buddy Derek who gave his kidney to his mother just one week before this event. Life is amazing everybody so enjoy it while you can! Buon Apetito!
