There is something very charming about Châteaubriand. I love serving this dish when entertaining at home! It is probably among the most flavoursome and tender meat concoctions, especially when done right. Personally, I prefer meats blue (a step below rare). Honestly, a proper meat cut needs no more than, good olive oil, black pepper, salt and a good searing all over. That is it, and just allow the meat to speak its own volumes about its goodness. This is the thing about good produce, really you need not do much with it. However, if you prefer meats a notch more cooked, then go for rare, or even medium, but do not kill it with overcooking! Especially with a Châteaubriand, you lose the goodness of this cut and this awesome dish with an overcooked meat. It is a crime!
What is Châteaubriand?
Châteaubriand is a recipe utilising a particular cut from the beef tenderloin (watch the video to learn how to prepare your ownChâteaubriand cut). Connoisseurs insist that the term refers to the quality of the beef bred around the Châteaubriant town in the Loire-Atlantique, France. They might even suggest that unless that specific meat is used, the dish cannot be classified as authentic Châteaubriand! However, the tenderloin from other breeds have been used in the making of this dish, and some critics argue that as long as the right cut from the right part of the tenderloin is used, the dish is by all means a Châteaubriand. Therefore this cut of meat has become known as the Châteaubriand cut.
Despite the technicalities of the meat cut, the story of this recipe goes way before the classification. It’s been known that this recipe was developed by personal Chef Montmirail, for the French author François-René de Chateaubriand. François-René was The Secretary of State for two years for Louis XVIII as well as a diplomat serving Napoleon. Because the recipe was developed for such high ranking personality, as well as its use of a more expensive meat cut, it has always been associated with luxury dining.
Châteaubriand is classically served with a reduction of white wine and shallots, softened with demi-glace, then mixed with butter, herbs and lemon juice. Nowadays, it is traditionally served with – and best complimented by – a Béarnaise sauce. Also traditionally, some boiled vegetables are slightly cooked with the remaining butter from cooking the Châteaubriand, and then all are served surrounding the meat, sprinkled with finely chopped herbs.
This is a Classic French Recipe that is exceptionally good and always impressive to serve. And since we are going for less-traditional Festive Dinners this season, I thought I must include this marvelous dish to the repertoire of recipes on this website for you to try.
Festive or any other occasion, you will love serving this beautiful dish of exquisite meat surrounded by assorted accompanying vegetables complimented by the delicious Béarnaise sauce.
Here is how it’s made…
- If you have access to a gourmet independent butcher, then all you have to do is ask for a Châteaubriand. They will know what you are talking about, and will give you exactly that. If you don’t and your Butcher is clueless, ask for the thick part of the Beef Tenderloin, otherwise watch the video and prepare your own cut. Go for the best quality meat available, because at the end of the day, the meat is the star of this dish.
- I have gone for roasted vegetables as a side. Roast the vegetables separately, simply sprinkle with salt, black pepper and drizzle olive oil all over them. Add 2 tbsp DS Pickled Zaatar and rub all over. Roast in a preheated oven (450 F) until slightly browned and cooked through, making sure to turn throughout.
