Date Night with Steak and Tagliata in the Wood-Fired Oven

So today was another fun day, right here in the Fontana Test Kitchen of our own backyard. Why not make the most of it? The kids all have something planned for the night, and we are going to take advantage of the culinary magic we will create in the wood-fired oven. Let us show you the very simple steps to making a delicious meal for a relaxed dinner date, without ever stepping out of the house.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 T- bone steaks
• Coarse Sea Salt to taste
• 1 Lemon
• 1 package fresh baby Arugula
• Olive Oil
• Parmesan Cheese (enough to shave over Tagliata)

Prep Work:

*One or two hours before heating the oven, take the steaks out of the refrigerator and allow them to reach room temperature.

Make a roaring fire inside the oven and let it burn until hot coals are created.

With the help of a turning peel, evenly spread the coals across the oven floor.

Place the stainless grill inside the oven, directly across the hot coals, and allow it to heat up.

As the oven is heating up, prep the steaks.

DIRECTIONS:

Generously salt both steaks on each side with coarse sea salt.

Lightly pat the salt into the surface of each T-bone.

With heavy oven mitts, pull the grill out of the oven.

Carefully set the steaks on the hot grill.

Slide the grill and steaks into the oven, over the hot coals.

*Make sure not to overcook the steaks, considering that the heat is distributed from above and below.

After about 2 minutes, pull the grill out of the oven. With tongs flip each steak.

Once again, place the steaks over the hot coals.

The T-bones are ready to come out of the oven.

*Allow one of the steaks, reserved for the Tagliata, to rest for five minutes before slicing

TAGLIATA

With a sharp knife carve the meat away from the bone.

Slice the steak diagonally, and against the grain, into 1.5 to 2 cm thick portions.

With the help of a knife, arrange the slices over the bed of fresh arugula.

Using a peeler, shave thin slivers of Parmigiano Reggiano over the slices of the Tagliata.

Drizzle the meet with good quality extra virgin olive oil.

Serve the Tagliata on a plate accompanied by a wedge of lemon, a baked potato or a vegetable of your choosing.

We love to squeeze a little fresh lemon juice on top of the meat. So delicious!!!

STEAK

You can choose to either cook both steaks at the same time, or grill the one for the Tagliata first. This will allow you to slice the Tagliata and place it on the bed of arugula while the other steak is grilling. If you choose to grill both steaks simultaneously, take one out and cover it with aluminum foil in order to keep it warm, until the Tagliata is ready to be served.

Finally ready to eat!

Now it is time for our peaceful date night, on the back patio next to the crackling sound from the pizza oven.

So good to do life together!

It is not always necessary to go out to eat for a special night.

What is your favourite date night meal at home?