When I first heard the title of this cookbook: Steak and Cake, I thought how amazing a combination is that!?! I love cake. And I love steak. And I think it’s possible that Elizabeth Karmel is a genius. But then I read the table of contents. New York Strip with Homemade Confetti Birthday Cake? Bob’s Steak au Poivre with Poppy-Seed Cake? My Mother’s Beef Steak Stroganoff with Baked Ricotta Cheesecake? An Indoor/Outdoor Tomahawk Steak with Baked Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnut Puffs??!!
I was wrong when I said it’s possible Karmel is a genius. I’m certain of it!
The steak recipes range from ones you’d find in a traditional American steakhouse to ones you’d find in France, Italy, or Mexico. The cooking instructions are written in a way to take beginner steak cooks to confidence, and confident steak cooks to experts. There are also lots of tips for choosing and using the right pans, dressing up steaks with sauces and compound butters, handling raw and cooked foods with tongs, and knowing the right steak knife to use.
And of course, you can’t have a steak dinner without sides. From Bloody Mary Salad to Steakhouse Spinach, from a traditional Yorkshire Pudding to Garlic Smashed Potatoes, Karmel has you covered. You’ll be able to serve a delicious steak dinner for a quiet family Sunday or host an impressive dinner party with all the combinations you can create. And of course, there are a couple of recipes for cocktails to boot.
Karmel’s years in restaurants and teaching contribute to her deep understanding of cooking and baking. As a Southerner, she grew up understanding good food, grilling, and cake, thanks to the women around her who also cooked and taught. In fact, her grandmother was the chef for President Gerald Ford. Despite his requests, she never shared her recipe for her carrot cake outside of her family. Fortunately for us, Karmel has included it in Steak and Cake.
With a primer on steak that includes an in-depth look at all the different cuts and where they come from, and a primer on cake that gives you an equal amount of insider information on cake ingredients, Steak and Cake can help you take your dinner game to a higher level. But be prepared, the gorgeous photos and the delicious descriptions will make you want to head straight for the kitchen (or the grill) to make your own steak and cake dinner. It is mouth-watering, incisive, inventive, and frankly, just the best idea ever!
Galleys for Steak and Cake were provided by Workman Publishing Company through NetGalley, with many thanks.