Said here before we typically do Christmas early since two of our three children along with SIL’s have long trips to get to upstate New York (and the freaky weather we can get).
We don't have any grandkids. Not sure any of our kids are planning children, and we're fine with that. Their choices; not ours as potential grandparents.
Tradition has been a whole beef tenderloin roasted on the grill outside.
Got a great 9-pounder at Warehouse owned by former Commercial Restaurant Supply. At $15.99 for Angus, I almost took 2.....
As a restaurant cook I cleaned 100’s (1,000’s ?) of these for Filet Mignon like you’d see on a menu.
Since I roast them on the grill, I figured out early on I didn’t need to trim them so much. Like some fat on them and also leave the “chain” on. Chain typically goes in soup or the garbage.
That stinks when it’s so expensive, but it is what it is and we don’t really do any gifts, etc. without youngsters around.
I then add some rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, garlic, coarse black pepper and some olive oil to a large vacuum seal bag and button it up for a few days.
Will be ready to go Saturday onto a SCREAMING hot grill for about 15 minutes, then turned down to low/medium for another 20.
I shoot for an internal temperature of about 115-118, then let it rest.
For reference, this was last year’s Guest of Honor. Pretty close to what I shoot for.
Gives some medium rare and the tail allows some more done for folks that like it that way.
Can see the round “chain” on the right side of the tail piece. I don’t serve that to anyone.
When I was in the business I figured a tenderloin would feed 8 and we have 8 coming.
I’m not a big fan of beef tenderloin but my family loves it.
Give me a good Porterhouse any day, and I might work a couple of those in as well……the grill be going anyway.
This comes from a great young farmer that’s filling his Dad’s shoes after his passing unexpectedly several years ago. Probably a Highlander cross that is really good.