My sweet husband made a beautiful spread of food for a Saturday date night, and I just had to share it with y’all!
He got a bunch of “cooking toys” (his words…) for Christmas: this Breville smoke gun (super cool – it “smokes” food by lighting wood chips on fire and running smoke through a hose that you point at your food….you can smoke cheese, popcorn, cocktails….anything!), a sous vide, and a new carbon-steel fry pan. He’s been waiting for this trifecta of tools to re-create a t-bone steak and spanish cider meal we had in San Sebastian on our honeymoon.
He got the steak from Central Market (Salt and Time, our go-to butcher shop, didn’t have any in store that day) and cooked it in a sous vide bath until it was nice and pink. I have no clue about the temp/timing on this….I was sipping wine in the living room and reading a book while he did all this!
Then he cooked it in his carbon steel pan until it got a nice, even sear on it. The fat cap on this particular cut of meat wasn’t as intense as the one we devoured in Spain, so it was a little less rich, but I was in a little less of a food coma after eating it… Haha!
Meanwhile, he made an appetizer of Pan con Tomate, the classic Spanish pre-dinner snack that we ate at nearly every restaurant during our two-week stay. (If you’ve been to Spain, I’m sure you’ve eaten this many times!)
Nate used an Italian white loaf from Easy Tiger (best bakery in Austin!!), which he toasted in the carbon steel pan, smothered in a grated tomato/garlic mixture, and drizzled with olive oil. It’s so simple, and so yummy!
(Side note: I’d love to try making Pan con Tomate in the summer with some fresh tomatoes from our farmer’s market. I bet it would taste incredible!)
He used an Italian (Spanish wasn’t in season) olive oil from Con’ Olio, our local oil shop. This little bottle was about $6. The size (and price) is perfect for being able to enjoy the nuances in a different olive oil than we normally buy at the grocery store for everyday use.
Everything was washed down with a Basque cider, which Nate told me he picked up a few months ago at Whichcraft Beer Store.
A Basque cider is completely different than a typical American cider. They use wild yeast, so the tart character reminds me of a farmhouse ale (like you’d get at Jester King). It’s kind of funky, sour, and fruity all at the same time.
It completely brought me back to our trip to Spain last year. I love that Nate had been thinking about this meal for several months, waiting until he had all the “toys” he needed to make it perfectly. He’s really good at making sweet and thoughtful memories like that. (Ha – I’m more like…what can I throw together tonight for dinner that will take the least amount of time?)
I’m fully rested today and excited for my Wednesday. I’ve been sleeping extra well this January! In the past, I’ve typically woken up at least once or twice in the middle of the night; sometimes I never fall asleep again. I’m not sure just yet, but I think it might be due to my January resolution of meditating every day. I’m typically doing it at night (although sometimes I’ll do it in the morning), and my mind feels so calm and quiet these days.
If you want to read more about my monthly goals for 2018, it’s all in this blog post. I’m loving January so far, and I’m super curious to know more about this fascinating world of meditation. If any of you have good books/apps/podcasts to share, please let me know!
Thanks for stopping by!
Kelsey
It all looks amazing! I’m pretty basic in the kitchen, but I love to see how people create (recreate) some of their favorite meals! Also, olive oil – I love it.