tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44468268677486879282023-06-20T21:19:40.843-07:00SCOTTY THE CHEFscotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-50748887662257209612009-09-24T22:16:00.000-07:002009-09-24T22:27:30.334-07:00It's official - spring is here!Well spring is finally here! The days are getting a little longer, the nights not so cold, and all the beautiful flowers and blossoms are starting to appear in the fields. <br /><br />The best thing about spring is the fact that after a long cold winter, you can dramatically see the changes in the flavours and colors. Spring lamb are here, citrus is in full swing, artichokes are back, and one of my favourite products, asparagus (both white and green) has just appeared. Spring also means local morels...great!<br /><br />These new flavours are really brought to life with the use of softer techniques. Our venison is now poached rather than roasted, the fish is confit and grilled, and the king prawns are cooked in an escabehce. All fresh and vibrant - just what spring is all about!<br /><br />With the change of season comes a change of menu... Each spring I try to design a dish around the new season's milk fed baby lamb and this year is no exception! There is just something special about the animal itself, and the joy of working with a comlete beast (or baby…..). Braising the shoulder, confit the belly, slow cooking the neck, roasting the leg and saute the saddle, is just something I love to do!<br /><br />The accompaniments changes depending on what is in, but normally simple ingredients like broad beans, peas, organic single clove garlic and, of course, asparagus!<br /><br />It’s a fantastic time of year, one full of colors and new aroma's, shapes and sizes, and things I haven’t seen, well, for almost a year…scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-41599040869407235722009-06-10T19:09:00.001-07:002009-06-10T19:10:31.764-07:00Roast Rib-eye with winter root vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and horseradish cream<strong>Roast Rib-eye with winter root vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and horseradish cream</strong><br /><br />Ingredients:<br />1.5kg rib-eye (allow approx. 400g per person)<br />Handful of rosemary and fresh thyme<br />2 garlic cloves<br />Winter root vegetables (swede, pumpkin, turnip, parsnip, potatoes), chopped<br />Salt, pepper, olive oil<br />Horseradish cream (whisk together 1 tablespoon thickened cream, 1 teaspoon horseradish, pinch of salt and pepper)<br />Yorkshire pudding:<br />1 cup of flour<br />1 cup of eggs<br />½ cup milk<br />½ cup water<br />* Serves 4<br /><br />Method:<br />Preheat oven to 140˚C. Season beef with salt and pepper; heat 1 tablespoon of oil in large frypan and add beef when pan is very hot. Seal beef on each side, remove from frypan and place in oven. Slow roast for 45 mins or until internal temperature is at 42˚C. To test without using a thermometer, pierce meat with a metal skewer until at the centre. Remove and press skewer to skin (upper lip is best as it is most sensitive). Beef is ready when skewer temperature is comfortably warm on the skin. When ready remove beef from oven, cover with foil and rest for about half the time it was cooked for – in this case, about 20 minutes.<br />Increase oven to 200˚C. Warm some oil in a frypan, add root vegetables and toss through oil until coloured. Transfer to a shallow baking dish, add a handful of thyme and rosemary, whole garlic cloves, salt, pepper and a coating of olive oil. Place in oven.<br />Roast vegetables for 20 mins, or until browned. Five minutes before serving, place beef back in oven for another five minutes. Vegetables and beef will then be ready to serve together.<br />Yorkshire pudding:<br />Heat oven to 220˚C.. Half fill each cup of a muffin tin with beef dripping (or lard) and place in hot oven. Whisk wet ingredients together then pour slowly into flour, stirring constantly. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, hand whisk until mixture resembles a batter, with soft, firm peaks. When dripping/lard is bubbling in muffin tins, remove from oven and carefully ladle in batter until full. Bake on 220˚C. for 20 minutes then continue at 150˚C. for 10 minutes.<br /><br />To serve:<br />Carve beef and arrange on plate with a bed of roast vegetables, one Yorkshire pudding and a dollop of horseradish cream.scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-55515195649455097842009-06-10T19:05:00.000-07:002009-06-10T19:06:46.665-07:00Roast rack of pork with braised cabbage and caramelised applesGiven that we've well and truly plunged into winter in Melbourne, I thought it was time to share an all time favourite roast dish...definitely one to warm the soul during winter I reckon!<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Roast rack of pork with braised cabbage and caramelised apples<br /></strong><br />Ingredients:<br />1 eight-point pork rack (2.5kg – with bone on; 1 point per person)<br />½ savoy cabbage (finely shredded with veins removed)<br />1 x carrot; stick of celery; white onion<br />½ celeriac<br />1 white onion<br />2 cloves garlic<br />100g pancetta<br />Herbs: 1 bay leaf, 1 sprig sage and thyme<br />8 granny smith apples<br />1 cup x white wine vinegar; olive oil<br />Sea salt and pepper<br />100g butter<br />100g caster sugar<br />100ml dry white wine<br />* Serves 8<br /><br />Method:<br />Pork: Score pork skin to criss-cross pattern, rub with vinegar and leave in fridge overnight to dry. Pre-heat oven to 230˚C. Remove pork from fridge, rub with olive oil and salt then place in hot oven. After 15 mins, reduce oven to 160˚C and cook for further 35 to 45 mins, or until core temperature is 42˚C. Remove from oven, cover with foil and rest for 20 mins.<br />Braised cabbage: Whilst pork is cooking, dice all vegetables and pancetta. Warm 1 tablespoon of duck fat (or olive oil) in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, then add diced vegetables, shredded cabbage, crushed garlic, pancetta and a pinch of sea salt. Sweat vegetables for 5 – 10 mins or until the vegetables soften. Add white wine and herbs. Cook with lid on for 35 mins.<br />Caramelised apples: peel apples, cut into quarters and remove core. Melt butter in fry pan, add apples quarters and cover with caster sugar. Toss in pan to ensure apples are covered with caramel sauce and simmer for 15 – 20 mins, or until apples start to soften and produce juice. If caramel gets too dark, add a splash of white wine.<br /><br />To serve:<br />Carve pork between each point and arrange one chop per person on the plate, with a bed of braised cabbage and four apple pieces. Drizzle remaining caramel over pork.scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-25387270472213673922009-04-20T21:14:00.000-07:002009-05-04T18:08:53.625-07:00Reflections on the FestivalSorry its been a while since my last post, but now that things have finally quietened down a little after The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, Australian Grand <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Prix</span> and Easter are over - it gives me time to reflect about the past few months.....and share some of my thoughts....<br /><br /><br />The highlight for me was without a doubt the visit from my former boss Philip Howard. For the six days we had Phil ( and his current sous chef Mark <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kempson</span>, a lovely geezer)in the kitchen here it was a bit "like old times" for me. I felt like a Sous again - learning new tricks from the master and being let into the head space of someone I consider to be a genius.<br /><br /><br /><br />For me, the biggest win during Phil's visit was the refreshed inspiration it gave me. I learnt to reconsider that sometimes it's the simple and clean flavor combinations that are best. To also have another look at ingredients like the fabulous <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">brillat</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">savarin</span> that now makes an appearance as a cheesecake on our dessert menu, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">or</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">appreciate</span> the wonders of a game consomme again. Who would have thought I'd learn that deep down, some of the best years of my cooking life (certainly the hardest and most intense) had been my time in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">london</span> working with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">phil</span>. it made me <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">reminisce</span> about the past, and to truly marvel at a remarkable man, a true gentleman, and one of the worlds finest chefs. Not just from a food point of view, but someone who values life, people, and is considerate and generous in an industry that is full of rogues and misfits!<br /><br /><br /><br />Having Phil here was also a real bonus for our staff, across the board. The kitchen was a different place whilst Phil was present - the boys certainly picked up their acts and I'm happy to say this hasn't dropped!<br /><br /><br /><br />Overall, having Phil in our kitchen was an amazing experience for everyone involved and something which I'm sure will have a long-lasting effect.scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-72876841470358083132009-03-02T19:10:00.000-08:002009-03-05T18:41:06.491-08:00The Festival DawnsFor anyone involved in the wonderful world of food and wine in Melbourne, March is often manic as The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival descends on the city...much to the delight of foodies and imbibers, such as myself, across the state.<br /><br />The Festival brings with it a host of international chefs - including my mate and mentor Phil Howard - and many other chefs that I hope to catch up with or maybe just catch a glimpse of! Having so many world renowned chefs in my home town is not only rare, but also inspiring.<br /><br />For more than a week we'll have Phil Howard and his Junior Sous Chef Mark Kempson cooking in our kitchen, which is such a great opportunity to show our team what it means to work at a two star Michelin level. A few of the boys in the kitchen have worked overseas, but for those who haven't, it'll be like working in one of London's best kitchens, alongside one of the country's best chefs. That's the standard I've come from and one I want my team to understand.<br /><br />I suppose the major difference between Australian and European kitchens would probably be the "intensity" that exists in most great kitchen's you step into. The brigade seems to be more focused, a little bit more dedicated and normally work a lot more hours than we do here!<br />I'd say that overseas most of the guys are exposed to more early on and have opportunities that unfortunately just don't exist in Oz. That's why it's so important for us to bring international chefs out here and support Australia's next generation of chefs...<br /><br />The Festival also gives us a chance to get the best out of our events team. This year, we're hosting a range of events: a seven-course degustation gala dinner (The Point Gets Squared); a NZ vs. OZ wine match (The Bledisloe) and a lakeside family BBQ (The Family Fair Day). That means we have to organise everything - from premium international wines and West Australian marron to a Maori hakka team, face painters and jumping castles. We're really putting their organisation skills to the test this month, but I've got complete confidence we'll pull it off without a hitch!<br /><br />We are also hosting a special chef's industry dinner, cooked by Phil and ex-square boys that are now living and working in Melbourne, so a pretty special event also...we don't really have the time to all catch up these days very often, so it should be lots of fun, great banter and probably a few quiet beers enjoyed afterwards!<br /><br />For me and the team, March also means Grand Prix. This curious mix of food, wine and fast cars (three of my favourite things) often leaves us satisfied and exhausted, carrying a few more kilos and a hearing a little less, but also saying "bring on April"...scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-38984583019483180392009-01-21T22:12:00.000-08:002009-02-17T00:33:20.750-08:00Phil Howard - my mentor and my mate - comes to MelbourneA few years ago I was lucky enough to work at The Square, a two star michelin restaurant in Mayfair, London, under Chef and co-owner Philip Howard.<br /><br /><br />Having worked shoulder to shoulder with Phil for over three years, I developed a strong friendship that's based on a mutual love of food and a similar approach to cooking. I have a deep respect for the man who taught me not just new techniques and flavour combinations, but a whole new food philosophy.<br /><br /><br />Last year, Phil agreed to visit us at The Point during Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in March. It's only a few weeks til he gets here - he arrives on the 17th March - so we're 'all systems go' at the moment, preparing for the arrival of my mentor and mate.<br /><br /><br /><br />We'll be pretty flat out during his visit too - a fair few people are keen to meet the man, and have him cook for them!We have a couple of special dinners planned,and we'll also be running a Square inspired menu in the dining room that week, but i'll talk more about that closer to the date. I just hope he's not expecting a holiday...scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-2044337199890929872008-12-17T20:25:00.001-08:002008-12-17T20:44:18.576-08:00Summer Pudding with MascarponeA Christmas-time classic, this recipe is incredibly simple and presents beautifully. The vibrant, fresh summer berries make it the perfect way to round off any Christmas feast.<br /><br />Ingredients: serves 4<br />1 loaf white sliced bread<br />1 punnet each of summer berries: could include raspberries, red or white currants, blueberries, mulberries, blackberries, strawberries or logan berries.<br />250g good mascarpone<br />Mint tips<br />500ml mixed berry coulis: Blend leftover or frozen mixed berries (3 cups) with equal parts water and sugar, adjust consistency and flavour by adding more/less of each ingredient or a squeeze of lemon.<br /><br />Equipment:<br />4 x soufflé moulds / deep ramekins<br />1 x large tray<br /><br />Method:<br />Step 1: Preparation<br />Cut 24 slices of bread to the size of your soufflé mould or ramekin and place on a large tray. Cover with three quarters of the berry coulis, or until it absorbs most of the sauce and changes to a deep red.<br />Step 2: Assembly<br />Line souffle mould with cling film and place a disc of bread on the base. Place a few mixed berries on top and drizzle with coulis from bread tray. Repeat this layering until the souffle mould is full, finishing with a layer of bread.<br />Cover each mould with cling film and place a light weight on top of puddings to compress. Refrigerate overnight.<br /><br />To serve:<br />Remove the puddings from the mould by turning upside down. Garnish with mixed berries, a dollop of mascarpone, remaining berry coulis and couple of mint leaves.scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-61874602428642748382008-12-17T20:22:00.000-08:002008-12-18T19:50:30.841-08:00Turkey tenderloins with chestnut, cranberry and sage farceSee a video of this recipe at: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwo6dXCEKRA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwo6dXCEKRA</a><br /><br />By using only the tenderloins (or breast fillets) of the turkey, this recipe prevents you having to buy, store and roast a whole bird on Christmas Day, making it a great time and space saver. The ‘farce’ (French for “stuffing”) is on the outside of the breast and keeps the breast tender during cooking. You can prepare the fillets the day before by “stuffing” and steaming them, then covering and storing them in the fridge over night.<br /><br />Ingredients: serves 4<br />4 x turkey breast tenderloin (skinless)<br />10 x peeled, chopped chestnuts (fresh, if available, or frozen/tinned are a good alternative)<br />3 x tablespoon cranberries (dried or fresh, if available)<br />Handful of fresh sage, chopped<br />4 x cups of chicken mousse*<br />1 x medium-large sheet crepinette **<br />Roast potatoes, sautéed spinach, roasted chestnuts and glazed onions to serve<br /><br />Method:<br />Step 1:<br />Pre-heat oven to 200˚. To make chicken mousse: using a food processor, blend four chicken breasts, four eggs and 200ml cream until it resembles a thick, creamy paste.<br />Step 2:<br />Stir chopped chestnuts, sage and cranberries through chicken mousse until evenly dispersed.<br />Step 3:<br />To prepare crepinette, cut into squares approx. 20cm x 20cm and lay flat on cling film. Place fillet in middle of crepinette and spread a generous amount of farce on top. Peel crepinette away from cling film, starting at the top, wrap it over the breast and tuck in to fillet underside. Fold all edges of crepinette in under the breast to make a neat, contained package.<br />Using the crepinette can be avoided altogether – simply wrap the breast in cling film and steam until the farce has bound to the breast, which should take 8-10 minutes.<br />Step 4:<br />Place wrapped fillet into a steamer for approximately 8 minutes. Remove from steamer (and take off cling film if used) and panfry with a tablespoon of olive oil or turkey stock (can be substituted for chicken stock) until golden brown. Place in oven and cook for a further 6 minutes, or until firmly bound together.<br /><br />To serve:<br />Remove from oven and slice into four rounds. Serve with roast potatoes, sautéed spinach, oven roasted chestnuts and gravy, and fried sage leaves and fresh cranberries to decorate.<br /><br />* Chicken mousse: a binding agent for the stuffing<br />** Crepinette: pig’s stomach lining – a traditional way to keep ingredients together, for example in sausages, it can be bought from most butchers. Crepinette should be kept moist by storing it in brine or its own juices.scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-53286016625683131922008-11-27T15:16:00.001-08:002008-12-17T19:53:29.592-08:00Summer's Coming...And it's Best Enjoyed with Fresh Seafood!<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, summer's almost here (three days, and counting!) so I thought I'd share a couple of my favourite summer recipes with you... Aussie crayfish is always a favourite and this dish, laden with citrus as it is, really brings out its best flavours. I've also added a nice Asian lime dressing - it's so easy and is a great match for most summer seafoods. I've paired it with oysters here, but it's also make a nice dressing for a summer salad or ceviche.</span><br /><br /></span></span><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Grilled King Island crayfish and summer citrus salad<br /></span></strong><br /><em>Ingredients: </em><br />One crayfish (approx 500g per person)<br />1 x lime<br />1 x orange<br />1 x ruby red grapefruit<br />1 x lemon<br />1 x mandarin<br />1 x blood orange<br />1 bunch watercress<br />Medium-sized witlof (red or yellow)<br />Mixed fresh herbs: your choice of chervil, tarragon, chives, parsley or dill<br />1 fennel bulb (shaved finely)<br /><br /><em>Vinaigrette:</em><br />75ml mixed citrus juice<br />200ml quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil<br />1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard<br />Pinch of sugar<br /><br />Split crayfish lengthways using a long sharp knife. Remove the "inners tube" and rinse crayfish clean. Brush the meat with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place flesh side down on a char grill or directly onto the BBQ. Cook for approx 7-8 mins, turn and cook shell side down until meat comes away easily from the shell when touched. The flesh should be slightly opaque at the thickest point – you want it cooked to "medium" not overcooked or dry. In a bowl, combine citrus segments, picked herbs, shaved fennel and witlof dress. Dress with citrus vinaigrette; season with salt and pepper to taste.<br /><br /><em>To serve:</em><br />Place 1/2 a crayfish per person, flesh side up on a large plate<br />Place citrus salad into head cavity and drizzle the remaining citrus and olive oil dressing directly over flesh. Garnish with a lemon or lime cheek.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Fresh shucked oysters with Asian lime dressing</span></strong><br /><br /><em>Ingredients</em>:<br />3 limes; juiced<br />150ml peanut oil<br />25ml Mirin<br />30ml rice wine vinegar<br />30ml good light soy sauce<br />Knob grated ginger<br /><br /><em>Method</em>:<br />Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously until combined. Drizzle over oysters and garnish with fried shallots and freshly chopped coriander.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Our Sommelier, Tim Cohen, tells me these dishes are best enjoyed with a zingy Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Gris.</strong></span></span>scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-77149648211188863272008-10-29T17:39:00.000-07:002008-10-29T17:56:27.312-07:00Best Steak Restaurant in Australia - well done boys!At the risk of looking like a bit of a bragger, I just had to tell you all about our most recent win at the Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence, who crowned us <em>"Best Steak Restaurant in Australia"</em>.<br /><br />As you can imagine, the boys and I were stoked with this recognition, particularly as it is judged by the general public. They're the people we want to impress - everyday people who walk through our doors - and I feel that this award is a true reflection of what we are acheiving in the restaurant everyday.<br /><br />We're pretty serious about our meat at The Point and really strive to deliver the most diverse and in-depth beef experience to guests. We source premium-grade meats from some of the country’s most reputable suppliers, dry age them in on-site facilities and prepare the cuts in a range of traditional and contemporary styles.<br /><br />As you can tell, I'm pretty proud of our craft! And am stoked to see that our customers are too. Thanks to all those who voted....scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-25689258100128639952008-09-25T18:52:00.000-07:002008-10-28T00:15:01.041-07:00Congrats to my team...Last month the boys and I entered the Fonterra Food Services Culinary Challenge at Fine Food Australia and I'm thrilled to say we won!<br /><br />No small sum either - we shared the $10,000 between us (Jade Brandreth, Alan Davies and myself) and I was quite happy to spend my share on a holiday in Sydney.<br /><br />We were up against the best in the business, competing against teams from Hotel Sofitel and Atlantic Group, and were judged to the highest standards. Our temporary kitchen was no larger than 10m squared and we had to prepare everything from scratch - nothing was allowed to be brought in from off-site aside from the odd condiment.<br /><br />Whilst the boys and I are certainly accustomed to preparing top-quality food for large functions, doing it in a small, temporary kitchen with judges hovering near by certainly tested our under-pressure skills!<br /><br />For the two-course a la carte menu for 30 pax we chose:<br /><br />· Butter poached Western Australian marron, foie gras and chicken liver parfait, apple jelly and Sauternes reduction<br /><br />· Assiette of new season lamb, white asparagus, minted pea puree, rosemary and morel velouté<br /><br />The dishes are on our spring menu, so I invite you all to come in and sample the winning dishes!scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-74819278715785805372008-08-18T19:56:00.000-07:002008-10-29T17:39:26.378-07:00KING ISLAND BEEF TARTAREHow many people could say that they have ever prepared beef tartare (or have prepared it and confidently served to guests...)? It's a dish that lots of people shy away from, following the logic of "it's raw; it must need a professional to prepare it", but I've got to tell you it's so easy! (And don't stress with the number of ingredients - I guarantee you'll have at least 95% of them in your cupboard already...)<br /><br /><u>Ingredients</u><br />2 anchovy fillets<br />2 cloves garlic, chopped<br />3/4 teaspoon sea salt<br />1 teaspoon capers, drained<br />2 large egg yolks<br />2 tablespoons Dijon mustard<br />1/4 cup olive oil<br />1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper<br />1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce<br />1/4 cup shallots-finely chopped<br />1 tbsp tomato sauce<br />1 tbsp barbecue sauce<br />2 tbsp chopped fine herbs<br />Splash Tabasco<br />1 tbsp soy sauce<br />500g freshly diced grass beef tenderloin<br /><br /><u>Method</u><br />Put anchovies, garlic, capers and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a chilled medium-size mixing bowl. Mash to make a paste. Whisk egg yolks through paste with fork first, then mustard. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking constantly until incorporated. Stir through remaining salt, black pepper and all sauces.<br />Add beef and mix well with a wooden spoon. Taste to determine seasoning.<br /><br /><u>To serve</u><br />Mound beef tartare in the center of a large cold plate, place an egg yolk in the centre and garnish with croutons or chargrilled sourdough.<br /><br /><u>Tip</u><br />It is also delicious with a simple mesculun salad dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.<br />This is a slight deviation from a classical recipe, if you like your tartare slightly spicier, just add more off the different sauces!!<br /><br /><u>Yield</u><br />about 8 appetizer servingsscotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446826867748687928.post-48885328076218893862008-08-18T19:39:00.000-07:002008-08-25T16:41:52.928-07:00Top Tips for a Tops SteakI've got a bit of a secret that I want to share with you guys, because honestly...everyone deserves to know how to cook a good steak. I've had my fair share of average steaks, so hopefully sharing some tips will ensure that fewer people have to suffer through that chew-it-fifty-five-times-before-you-swallow-it agony... So here we go:<br /><ol><li>Season meat: a smear of olive oil and a nice grind of salt and pepper blend (I recommend using black, white, pink and green peppercorns)</li><li>For medium-rare: cook it 3min lengthways on a fairly hot grill, then turn it at a right angle across the grill to get the criss-crossed charcoaled pattern. Cook for another 3 mins. Repeat on reverse side. Cook for 12 mins tops.</li><li>Rest: loosely wrap in foil and rest of 7-8 mins before serving.</li><li>Eat! Alyways with a great cab. sauv. or a nice Bordeaux</li></ol>scotty the chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10575074747978297543noreply@blogger.com