If you
are like us here at L’Andana, your Independence Day celebrations this year are
going to center around food. And what food is more American than a tender,
juicy cut of steak? We sat down with Executive Chef Marvin Posada and asked him
to share all of his secrets to choosing and grilling the perfect cut of meat.
The
first and most important step is to begin with the right piece of beef. Finding
a local butcher is an investment that will be worth both your time and money.
The USDA grades beef on three different levels, select, choice, and prime. Unlike
your neighborhood supermarket, a respective butcher will have more access to
prime cuts of beef. Prime beef is produced exclusively from young, well-fed
beef cattle. Let’s just say this is not your grandmother’s meatloaf…
Another
aspect of choosing the right steak is to determine the type of cut. For
example, a filet cut is the more lean and tender of the options. However, Chef
Marvin’s personal favorite cut is a Prime Rib Eye! He explained to us that the
fatty marbling in this cut helps to give it the flavor that any steak lover
craves. Chef Marvin says that to really bring out the flavors of this prime cut
of meat, you want to use a simple seasoning and if possible, a wood-grill,
which accentuates the flavor the meat.
Beginning
with a room temperature steak, drizzle over a mixture of olive oil, salt,
pepper and lemon zest. Resist the temptation to fuss over the meat, to retain
its juicy tenderness…hands off the merchandise. Grill on medium heat, turning
90° every 2-3 minutes. After the meat
has completed a 360°
turn, flip over and repeat. You will then move the steak to low heat, cooking 4
minutes per side. Let rest for 6 minutes off the grill, drizzle with olive oil
and top with fresh parsley and sea salt!
Here at L’Andana we serve our
steaks with a salt baked potato and grilled romaine with gorgonzola. Although on the 4th of July, you
can never go wrong with a sweet ear of corn on the cob! We would love to hear
about some of your favorite foods to fire up on the grill. Have a wonderful,
safe and delicious holiday weekend!
