Simple Surf & Turf for Your Sweetheart

"Keep it simple!" Chef Tony said, when I asked for advice on a Valentine's Day dinner. I wanted a unique spin on surf and turf — scallops — instead of more typical lobster. With a few suggestions and an easy but mouthwatering recipe from the chef, Valentine's Day will be pure perfection.  Continue Reading

Do you believe in magic?

We’re talking serious culinary alchemy, folks… and it’s the perfect choice for any special occasion dinner. I’m going to be making this again for Valentine’s Day. (This just in from the Department of Understatements: I’m pretty sure my husband will approve.)  Continue Reading

Surf and Turf – classic, elegant, simple

In my mind, surf and turf — that classic pairing of steak and lobster — is reserved for a restaurant. (A swanky one, with an old-school cool factor.) It’s definitely not the kind of thing I’d whip up on a Thursday night for the kiddos before soccer and basketball practice. But Valentine’s Day or another special occasion with my better half? Hmmmm… bring on the cattle and crustaceans!  Continue Reading

Ribeyes with Classic Steak Butter

Forced to choose one cut of beef, ribeye would be my steak of choice. It’s flavorful but not fussy. It’s one of the most tender cuts. A well-marbled ribeye is incredibly juicy. And let’s not forget that tasty morsel of meat at the end — the spinalis. When you’re looking at a traditional ribeye steak the spinalis, or ribeye cap, is the …   Continue Reading

Seeing RED this Valentine’s Day

For the latter half of the last decade, diners around East Fourth Street in downtown Cleveland have enjoyed an embarrassment of riches when it came to their restaurant options. With one James Beard award winner and Iron Chef, another multiple-time James Beard finalist and a Food & Wine Best New Chef finalist all within a …   Continue Reading

Step-by-step Steak Au Poivre

I love dining out: the elegant surroundings, courteous servers and of course, no dish duty. The thing is it’s cold — really cold! — here in Ohio and the thought of venturing out into the frigid, dark night on Valentine’s Day has me shivering in my wool sweater. So I thought this year we could …   Continue Reading

Fine dining at Seattle’s El Gaucho

Celebrate love at first bite and join us on a journey to exquisite taste. Step inside the best restaurants in the country. Sharpen your chef knife and prepare an amazing meal at home. Whether your sweetheart prefers fine dining or homemade extravagance, you can make it a Valentine's Day to remember!   Continue Reading

Dinner for your dearest

After years of research, I have determined the ideal Valentine's Day offering is not a box of chocolates, nor a perfectly composed poem — or even a new power tool. My beloved would be over the moon if, instead of platitudes, I served him a sizzling hunk o' boeuf.  Continue Reading

Steaks for your sweetheart

Valentine’s Day is hours away. Are you prepared? Do you have a plan? We can help And your taste buds — and your sweetheart’s!— will thank us. Step 1: Decide if you’d rather a) dine out or b) prepare dinner at home. If b), skip to the next paragraph. If a) spend a night on …   Continue Reading