Flank Steak With Brie Fondue Food

STEAK AND BRIE BITES

Steps:

• Briefly toast the crostini crackers on each side in hot olive oil in a skillet until glistening and crisp. Remove and set aside.
• Preheat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
• Sprinkle the steak with salt and pepper, then rub with the mustard. Add the butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil to the skillet. Once the butter is melted, sear the steak until cooked to your preference, 3 to 5 minutes per side for medium rare. Allow to cool completely, then wrap in plastic wrap and chill. (This can happen anytime before.)
• When ready to build the crostini, thinly slice the steak against the grain. Press a wedge of Brie on each crostini. Top with the sliced steak, peppers, parsley and shaved Parmesan.

BRIE CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• Rub garlic all over the inside of your fondue pot. Then rub it in a saucepan, leaving the crushed pieces in the bottom. Add the white wine to the saucepan and heat over medium-low heat.
• Toss the cheese cubes in cornstarch to coat. When the wine is hot, add the cheese. Stir slowly with a wooden spoon at first and then use a whisk. Stir constantly to keep it from scorching on the bottom of the pot.
• When the cheese has melted, add green onion and remove pot from the heat. Grate in a little nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• The fondue should be smooth and coat a wooden spoon. If it seems to runny, add more cheese. If it is too thick, add a splash more wine --sparingly.
• Pour the cheese into your fondue pot and keep fondue warm over low heat.

CHIMICHURRI FLANK STEAK

Steps:

• For the chimichurri: In a food processor, combine the parsley, cilantro, oregano, garlic, shallot, cumin, pepper flakes, salt, red wine vinegar and honey. With the food processor running, slowly add the olive oil; the final product should be smooth but still have a bit of texture to it.
• For the rice and black beans: Heat the grapeseed oil in a pot over high heat. Add the rice and coriander and cook, stirring, to toast the rice, about 2 minutes. Add the vegetable stock and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cook, covered, until the liquid is absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Once the rice is cooked, remove it from the heat and fluff with a fork. Mix in the black beans, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper.
• For the smoked tomato salsa: Prepare a smoker with soaked wood chips (cherry or apple wood preferred) and heat to 350 degrees F.
• Place the tomato halves, onion quarters, garlic and jalapeno in a pan. Transfer to the smoker and cook until the onions are tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Dice half of the onions and half of the tomatoes. In a food processor, puree the remaining onions and tomatoes along with the jalapeno, garlic and the lime juice.
• In a bowl, mix the pureed sauce with the diced onions and tomatoes and the chopped cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• For the lemon aioli: In a food processor (or using an immersion blender) combine the lemon juice, mustard, egg, egg yolk and garlic; puree until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil to emulsify the aioli. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• For the flank steak: Cut the flank steak into six equal portions, slicing against the grain and on an extreme bias. With the back of a knife, tenderize the steaks by pounding them out on both sides. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet over high heat until smoking. Add just enough grapeseed oil to coat the pan. Working in batches, sear the steaks on both sides, about 2 minutes. Remove the steaks to a plate to rest before plating.
• To plate: Divide the rice and beans between six plates, mounding it in the center of each plate. Spoon about 2 ounces of the salsa over the top and then lay a steak over the rice. Drizzle some chimichurri over the steak.
• In a bowl, dress the watercress with lemon aioli. Top the steaks with the dressed watercress. Serve.

CHAMPAGNE BRIE FONDUE

Steps:

• Create a slurry with the cornstarch and Kirsch and set aside briefly. Cut the chilled brie into small pieces.
• Rub inside of a saucepan with the garlic clove. Over medium heat bring Champagne and lemon juice to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low and stir in the brie. Blend the cornstarch/Kirsch slurry into the cheese pot and stir for a couple of minutes until the mixture is smooth and thick. Transfer to a fondue pot over a flame and season with white pepper. Serve with bread cubes on fondue forks.

BRIE AND PESTO FONDUE

Steps:

• Place the basil, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and garlic in a blender. With the machine running, add 1/ 4 cup of the wine and process until thick. Set the pesto aside. In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the remaining 3/ 4 cup wine and the vinegar to a bare simmer over medium heat. In a medium bowl, toss the Brie cheese with the cornstarch. A handful at a time, stir the cheese into the saucepan, stirring the first batch until melted before adding another. Allow the fondue to bubble once or twice, but do not boil. Stir in the pesto and season with the pepper. Transfer to a cheese fondue pot and keep warm over a fondue burner. Serve immediately, with dipping ingredients of your choice.;

SAUTEED FLANK STEAK

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, blend the oil, balsamic, salt and pepper. Then pour the marinade over the flank steak in a pan. Allow the steak to marinade for 20 to 30 minutes.
• For the zucchini, heat a shallow saucepan over high heat and bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Reduce the heat and add the zucchini to the water and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the water and place in a colander to drain.
• To prepare the steak, heat a large saute pan over high heat until the verge of smoking. Remove the steak from the marinade and remove any excess marinade before cooking. Then reduce the heat and place the steak in the pan. Cook the steak on each side for 4 to 5 minutes, turning to avoid scorching. If the steak begins to crust or brown, reduce the heat. After cooking to desired temperature, remove from the pan and allow the steak to rest.
• To build the plate, add a portion of hot potatoes, steamed zucchini and steak, sliced on bias. Then finish with the veal stock.