Tag: Private Dinners

Our Favorite Instagram Shots from Winter 2017

Our Favorite Instagram Shots from Winter 2017

Just in case you missed them on Instagram, here are a handful of our favorite pictures from the cold season (and maybe a few new ones)…. In no particular order:  

Dinner for Adele

Dinner for Adele

This time of year we get really busy and a lot of great things happen around the BLC&K compound that do not get broadcast to the outside world. Although we are constantly looking forward to our next event I thought it would be slightly amiss…

The Tomahawk

The Tomahawk

We talked to our butcher about cutting some big steaks for us.

Asked to create a menu to pair with an iconic Napa Valley Cabernet, we met the challenge by offering a dry-aged, prime beef bone-in ribeye steak for 4 grilled over mesquite wood. The steaks, AKA the ‘Tomahawk’ cut, are taken from the largest part of the rib area, three bones thick but with only the middle bone left on for presentation. The entire piece weighs in at about 4 pounds and measures from tip to tip about 18 inches long. Impressive to look at no doubt, but, when cooked correctly, is by far the juiciest, most succulent and flavorful piece of the entire beast.

When working with a raw product such as this, restraint is paramount and simple is better when it comes to the chef’s process. Using just a a couple of key flavoring agents in the marinade, we let the boldness of the beef and the heat and smoke from the fire take the starring roles on the table that night.

Herbs are key in our cooking process and we consider the fresher the better. We harvest our bay leaves from the tree in front of our kitchen and we use them both green and dried. For this particular marinade we combined bay, black pepper and olive oil.

Bay Leaves on the Tree
Bay Leaves on the Tree

This may not look very big in the picture, but know that this steak was sitting on a full sheet pan…

A 4 Pound Tomahawk Steak with Bay Leaf-Peppercorn Marinade
A 4 Pound Tomahawk Steak with Bay Leaf-Peppercorn Marinade

Here we stacked the steaks in an attempt to show how massive they were.

The Steaks in the Marinade
The Steaks in the Marinade

An important part of the process was to use real wood logs to grill the ‘Tomahawks’. Real wood smoke and real wood heat is much harder to control than charcoal but the pay off for the guests was huge.

Mesquite Logs Catching Fire under the Grill
Mesquite Logs Catching Fire under the Grill

A few days before Spring, the rain clouds parted and left a lovely view before the crew as we cooked.

Mt. St. Helena as Seen from the Grill
Mt. St. Helena as Seen from the Grill

As we were ready to load the steaks onto the grill, we couldn’t help ourselves. Just one shot to put these massive steaks into perspective…

Sometimes its OK to Play with the Food
Sometimes its OK to Play with the Food

Mesquite wood burns incredibly hot with amazing smoke. It also burns quite quickly which allowed us here to sear the steaks on both sides before letting them finish as the fire and coals dropped slightly in temperature.

Cooking 'Tomahawk' Steaks Over a Real Mesquite Wood Fire
Cooking ‘Tomahawk’ Steaks Over a Real Mesquite Wood Fire

After a good resting period, the warm steaks are then taken to large wooden cutting boards; and, one at a time, sliced before being plated for family style service.

Rested and Sliced, the Steak with Bay Leaf Branch Awaits its Platter and Trip to the Table
Rested and Sliced, the Steak with Bay Leaf Branch Awaits its Platter and Trip to the Table

Each steak was presented with the bone, finished with sea salt and easily fed four hungry diners.

A Perfectly Medium Rare Steak is Presented on its Platter for the Table
A Perfectly Medium Rare Steak is Presented on its Platter for the Table

The Winners Circle

The Winners Circle

We were extremely pleased to prepare hors d’oeuvre and dinner for a small group of wine aficionados in early March ’16 at Winner’s Circle at Vine Hill Ranch. The house and grounds are stunning and the views are a great example of what makes people…

Stone Fruit Chutney in January

Stone Fruit Chutney in January

Remember all of the wonderfully seasonal stone fruit you put up in jars last summer? The incredible peaches, plums and nectarines you bought in bulk at the farmers market in August and spent an entire day making perfect in Ball jars? Well here is a…