Tag: pinot noir

Filet Mignon Stew with Spätzle

Filet Mignon Stew with Spätzle

Filet Mignon Stew with Spätzle

Quick, refined, and full of taste, this filet mignon dish proves that a luxurious meal doesn’t have to take hours to prepare. Jacques Pépin’s concept of a “quick stew”—his Instant Beef Tenderloin Stew—redefines what a rich, satisfying dish can be. The tender beef cooks in minutes yet delivers remarkable depth, showing that speed and finesse can coexist.

I’ve paired it with a simplified version of Wolfgang Puck’s Spätzle, sautéed in butter with a touch of parsley to complement the sauce beautifully. The result brings together two powerhouse chefs in one memorable dinner—balanced, flavorful, and a clear winner at our dinner party.

Filet Mignon Stew with Spätzle

What makes this dish so special is how each component is prepared separately to bring out its best qualities. The filet is seared just long enough to develop a rich crust while staying tender inside, the vegetables are cooked to maintain their color and texture, and the spätzle is sautéed in butter to carry the sauce without overpowering it.

By bringing everything together in a glossy, flavorful red wine–beef sauce, the dish achieves a perfect balance of richness, freshness, and finesse—all without simmering for hours.

Filet Mignon Stew with Spätzle

Filet Mignon Stew with Spätzle Recipe

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Porchetta Roast and Sandwich

Porchetta Roast and Sandwich

Porchetta Roast and Sandwich

Exactly fourteen years ago, I hosted a Porchetta Party at my home where we crafted a lovely porchetta roast and other porchetta dishes entirely from scratch. However, this time around, things are a bit different. I’m opting for convenience by cooking a pre-made roast from Costco. While it’s a simpler approach, the results are still delicious.

Porchetta stands as an Italian culinary masterpiece. It involves a dexterous process of hand-rolling and tying a free-range heritage pork loin and belly. This delectable creation is stuffed with a blend of spices, garlic, and lemon zest. Seasoned with a mix of salt, lemon juice, and white wine, the porchetta is then roasted to perfection.

Porchetta Roast and Sandwich

With its succulent savory interior and crave-worthy crackly skin exterior, Porchetta Roast makes an impressive and photogenic centerpiece. Leftover roast can be transformed into equally spectacular Sandwiches.

Porchetta Roast and Sandwich

Porchetta Roast and Sandwich Recipes

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Slow-Braised Lamb Shanks, Boursin Cheese Polenta

Slow-Braised Lamb Shanks, Boursin Cheese Polenta

Slow-Braised Lamb Shanks
Pomegranate-Fig Sauce
Over Boursin Cheese Polenta

As an old magician friend of ours used to say, “I’m going to blow your mind!”

How about a mouth-watering, restaurant-quality dish of braised lamb shanks with a pomegranate-fig sauce over boursin cheese polenta on the table in about 10 minutes?

Is it magic?

Slow-Braised Lamb Shanks, Boursin Cheese Polenta

Start the Clock

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Hatfield’s. Los Angeles.

Hatfield's Croque Madame

“Croque Madame”

What is it that makes one restaurant stand out from the rest?

Food:  Where every dish hits the mark. Imaginative, original. Expertly crafted. Executed with finesse. Harmony of color, texture, and taste.

Wine:  An interesting wine list that synergizes with the menu. The wine selection accentuates the food. The food selection accentuates the wine. Fairly priced. We adore a sommelier who listens to us describe what we are looking for in a wine, then nails it. “We’re in the mood for a pinot noir that is fruit forward, bright and juicy, complex. We would also love to try something new. In a white. No oak. No grapefruit flavors. Something rich.” (See below for the superb wine picks).

Service:  Professional service that is polished, warm and engaging without being overly chummy. Anticipatory with flawless timing. Ultimately knowledgeable.

Hospitality:  Gracious hosts. When learning of our crazed appreciation for food (maybe the camera gives it away?) we were invited for a peek behind the glass-walled kitchen at the end of the night.

Ambiance: An intersection of architecture, decor, tableware, lighting, and music. A room where we as guests feel comfortable, glamorous, appreciated.

We found a stand-out restaurant recently, in Hatfield’s.

What makes a restaurant stand out for you?

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ELEGANT PICNIC BY THE SEA

Elegant Heart Healthy Picnic by the Sea

Congratulations, you’re one step closer to becoming the next Food Blog Star!
Your entry has advanced to the next round of Project Food Blog 2010.
Your next challenge? “Road Trip.”


Challenge Prompt: For this challenge, you’re tasked with creating a delicious meal that will travel well and still look great. From picnics and school lunches to bento boxes, or any other meal on the go, you need to whip up a entree, side, drink, and dessert to enjoy after hitting the road. Be sure that your meal fits inside the Project Food Blog Road Trip Cooler. (from foodbuzz here)

Shall we go for a drive?
I want to show you where my secret favorite picnic table is located!

Often times, eating on the road can be less than healthful. On Taste With The Eyes I am always excited to share delicious foods that are also good for the heart. Heart healthy eating has two components. First, it is to eliminate foods that are high in cholesterol and detrimental to the heart, such as trans fat. Second, it is about adding food to the diet that is good for the heart, like those high in fiber and rich in omega-3s.  The delectable meal I prepared for our Road Trip is heart healthy and travels quite well. So – the weather is perfect! High 60’s with a slight breeze. And with those clouds, there is the promise of a breathtaking sunset. Let’s go down to the beach!

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