Intended to be an amuse-bouche (a French term that, roughly translated, means “to please the mouth”), this small one- to two-bite savory treat is a great way to start a meal. The acidity of the rice wine vinegar and saltiness of the soy sauce used in the vinaigrette are what help to wake up a diner’s taste buds in preparation for the tasty food to come.

With a few minor substitutions and additions, this recipe also works equally as well as a tuna tartare, if you prefer, or, if you are serving pescetarians. To make the recipe conversion, use sushi-grade tuna instead of beef tenderloin, fried wonton skins instead of baguette slices and add a simple avocado-lime-salt puree on top of the quenelles of tartare before garnishing with the scallion.

* Please note: While not likely, as with any raw meat/fish consumption, there can be a small amount of inherent risk to those eating this dish. This is especially true if you are feeding young children, the elderly, or those with immunodeficiency issues. Always use the freshest of protein from reputable sources and make sure your hands, tools and work surfaces are, and remain, sanitary during preparation.

BEEF TARTARE with JALEPEÑO-RED ONION RELISH on CROSTINI

SESAME-SOY VINAIGRETTE

INGREDIENTS – Yield: 8 Pieces

115 g (4 oz) beef tenderloin

8 thin slices baguette, toasted

1 scallion, cut on the bias, for garnish

For the Relish

30 g red onion, cut in brunoise (fine dice)

15 g jalapeño, cut in brunoise (fine dice)

2 tsp (10 ml) rice wine vinegar

¼ tsp (1.25 ml) honey

For the Vinaigrette

1 T (15 ml) soy sauce

¼ tsp (1.25 ml) sesame oil

1 tsp (5 ml) rice wine vinegar

1 tsp (5 ml) honey

3 T (45 ml) canola oil

PROCEDURE

Combine all ingredients for relish, mix and reserve for 30 minutes.
While the relish marinates, lightly toast baguette slices.
In another bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar and honey. Slowly drizzle in canola oil while whisking to form vinaigrette. Set aside.
Just prior to service, thinly slice beef tenderloin and then cut into brunoise (fine dice) and combine with relish. Dress mixture with 1 T (15 ml) of the vinaigrette.
Using two spoons, shape a quenelle of the combined tartare and place on each slice of baguette. Garnish with thinly sliced scallion and dress the plate with additional vinaigrette.

hun-ger [huhng-ger]

-noun

1. a compelling need or desire for food.

2. a strong or compelling desire or craving.

-verb (used without object)

1. to have a strong desire

[Origin: before 900; Old English – hungor]

Synonyms: appetite, lust, itch

Perhaps since I received a light bulb-powered EasyBake Oven as a child (certainly, at least, for as long as I can remember), cooking has been a meaningful, if not significant, part of my life. Sure…I now recognize most of the tastiest things in life can’t be cooked in a four-inch round pan under 60 watts of Edison power, but back then, who was going to stop me from trying? In retrospect, I’ll reluctantly admit it may have been best to stick to the prepackaged box cake and brownie mixes that came with the oven…(my apologies to family members who had to taste test choke back any of my “I-just-found-this-in-the-pantry” concoctions)!

However, whether casually or formally, personally or professionally, the desire to explore my five senses through food, wine, flavors and the business of restaurants definitely endures some 25+ years later; the tremendous satisfaction I receive by helping to not only nourish myself, but others, through food I’ve cooked is second to none. And, even when that satisfaction is experienced vicariously through front-of-house diners I never meet or talk to while toiling away in hot, hectic restaurant kitchens, it’s worth it. Simply knowing they enjoyed their meal by seeing a cleaned plate or gnawed-on chop bone come back to the dish tank is more than enough.

Regardless of class, society or background and across cultures that span the globe, food is used to comfort, nourish, celebrate and commemorate special occasions and people’s lives – even during the most difficult times of personal grieving and wakes. Potluck, promotion, or proposal; Birthday, bar mitzvah, or barn raising; The occasion may change, but food always plays a prominent role. You may not remember what you were wearing, what the weather was, or, perhaps, the specific date – but I bet you can tell me, in mouth-watering detail, about the best meal you ever ate. Probably the top few, even…

Let’s dig a little deeper…What about the best steak ever served to you? Favorite family casserole? How about your go-to comfort food, or even a killer dish you prepared? It doesn’t really matter if I know your specific answers, only that I know food, especially good food, punctuates all of our lives. It certainly has mine…I also recognize taste in food is uniquely personal and the act of eating food is extremely intimate – it’s something we ingest into our bodies…To be a welcome, memorable part of that experience for friends, family or even strangers is a high honor, indeed.

As a career-changing former magazine editor-turned NYC line cook, dailyhunger.com exists as an apropos, creative outlet to explore and document a strong or compelling desire to better know and share my own passion for food, wine, flavors and the business of restaurants. Cooking is something I think about and do on a daily basis and, since graduating with distinction from The French Culinary Institute in 2009, now have the ability to claim is my profession – no longer just a passionate, lifelong hobby.

From classic flavor combinations to new food finds, to interesting ingredients and the recipes they inspire – if it crosses my plate here in NYC, it will be a candidate for consumption at dailyhunger.com.

Hungry for more? This will be your glimpse into my world of food…

Cheers,

Jeff Feighner - Editor, dailyhunger.com

Beef Tartare with Jalepeño-Red Onion Relish on Crostini, Sesame-Soy Vinaigrette

From EasyBake Beginnings