Updated post.
I’ve become vegan since this post was published.
I’m recently back and just about recovered from, an incredible time at the Cannes Film Festival. If you missed my post all about the films, fashion and general fabulosity (that’s a word, right?) of Cannes, you can read it HERE.
Truly exquisite food and films were consumed during my time there along with the most glamorous parties I’ve been to and this was my third and so far, most favourite time at the festival.
One of our most visited restaurants there had to be L’Espelette and this fillet of beef in red wine jus was mouth-wateringly divine. So tender and flavoursome, I had to recreate it at home on my return in a bid to try and relive the gastronomic experience.
I didn’t ask the owners for the recipe (they were always so busy with a packed restaurant each time we visited) but below is my take on this classic.
….My gorgeous friend Nicci Topping, above, a casting director, joined me for lunch on this day on the riviera and insisted on paying too the naughty lady! We enjoyed our food al fresco with crisp rose wine in the sunshine. What more can you ask?! Pure perfection!
Fillet of beef in a red wine jus! Love the chic presentation!
Ingredients:
60g butter, melted
1 garlic clove
3 shallots, sliced
1 rosemary sprig
1 thyme sprig
Olive oil to shallow-fry
200 lean beef trimmings
1 200g beef fillet steak
75cl bottle dry red wine
1.2l fresh beef jus (or beef consommé)
Method:
Melt the butter in a saucepan on a medium heat. Add the garlic, shallots and herbs, and cook on a medium heat until they become golden. Heat the olive oil in another frying pan. Season the beef trimmings and fry until browned. Place the meat with the garlic and onions in the other pan.
Pour 1-2 glasses of red wine into the pan in which you have cooked the trimmings. Bring this to the boil, and add a little boiling water if you like, stirring in the meat juices and residue from the pan. Pour the liquid into the pan that contains the meat and vegetables. Slowly add the rest of the wine and reduce.
Add the beef jus, bring to a simmer and cook gently for 45 mins to 1 hr. Taste regularly and season more if necessary.
Sieve the meat and vegetable in a muslin sieve and keep to one side.
Heat a pan until hot, drizzle the steaks with oil and cook them, turning once, 3-4 mins for rare, 5-6 mins for medium, 7-8 mins for well done. Serve with a crisp salad or mashed potatoes and green beans.
Nicci had an Thai style beef dish with a delicate sesame oil sauce and diced courgettes and carrots which was delightful!
Cheers!
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[…] which is being hosted by Eat Your Veg and run jointly with Bangers and Mash. I’m also entering Tasty Tuesday which is hosted over at Honest Mum. Finally I’m entering A Mummy Too’s Recipe of the […]
Beef & red wine are a match made in heaven – gorgeous dish:-)
Camilla @FabFood4All recently posted…Flavours of Brazil Turkey Burgers with Bacon & Pineapple
Thanks Camilla, it was heavenly x
ooooh i bet that beef was as tender as anything and i love the simplicity of the dish – just letting the great ingredients speak for themselves x
@Jenny Paulin you are so right, simply perfect x
All looks yummy! I now fancy it for dinner tonight!
Hayley recently posted…Lock Stock And Two Roast Ciabatta
@Hayley thanks very much!
That looks divine! So glad you had such a good time in my old neck of the woods 🙂 You can’t beat a good steak so we’ll be trying this one out soon x
P.S. you’re welcome for hosting last week 🙂
Sophie at Franglaise Cooking recently posted…Ratatouille
Thanks again Sophie, it was delicious! x
It looks like you had a fabulous time and the beef looks gorgeous
Alison recently posted…Raspberry and Elderflower Nests
Thanks Alison, we really enjoyed every minute and the food was amazing x
Wow! The beef sounds fabulous and the trip to Cannes too.
Julie’s Family Kitchen recently posted…Banana Cinnamon Smoothie
Thanks Julie it was perfect, the food and the festival!
This look like a great meal! Thanks for hosting #TastyTuesdays
Ellen recently posted…Easy Prawn Curry
Thanks Ellen, it was divine!
WOW food looks amazing as do you! I am so jealous of your cannes film festival trip. I have always wanted to go. Our friends live there and we visit often but never have had the chance to go while the festival is on. one day hopefully! Sounds amazing and all the food sounds fantastic too. Thanks for sharing and thanks for hosting tasty tuesday my lovely. if you are ever on vacay again I am always here to host the linky if you ever need!!! 🙂 lol
That’s really kind thanks Jenny. The festival is amazing, do check out my other post in more detail to get a real feel for it. You have to be accredited to attend the festival and they are pretty strict but if you get to go it is unbelieveable. Speak soon!
Thanks for hosting. Looks like you had a fab time and the food looks yummy
Yet Another Blogging Mummy!!! recently posted…Pilgrims Choice Crumbles review and meals
Thanks @Yet Another Blogging Mummy! Seriously fab time and the food was delicious! x
This looks so good! I love fillet so it would go down a treat! Fab photos 🙂 all linked up x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins recently posted…Berries and Cherries Panna Cotta
Thanks Kirsty, could eat it every day x
Yum – you can’t go wrong with such a delicious list of ingredients,
Angela @ My Golden Pear recently posted…Raspberry and White Chocolate Cheesecake
@Angela I know right!
Oooh this looks scrumptious. I love beef so much, must try this one xx
PottyMouthedMummy recently posted…What Feisty Females Teach Me
@PottyMouthedMummy thanks, it was amazing x
Lovely gorgeous photo’s of food and you! Oscar’s has been baking again at the weekend so I thought I share his recipe this week again! x
Ali recently posted…Oz’s chocolate & orange scones
Fantastic photos! Looks like you had an amazing time and that beef fillet looks yummy!
@Michelle thanks, we really did, food was amazing too!
Whoo yummy food, lovely pictures. Looks like an amazing time 🙂
Claire recently posted…Butlins : Bognor Regis Review…
Sounds like a beautiful retake on the original. Nice touch too with a story in your food post… & fantastic pics. I’m thoroughly convinced you had an amazing time in Cannes 🙂
Steph @MisplacedBrit recently posted…Sweet Potato & Apple Artisan Bread Rolls
Thanks @Steph, it was truly amazing x
Oh I am just LOVING the Cannes photos!!!!!! Lush food lady! xx
Capture by Lucy recently posted…Fishing Birthday Party • Sammy’s 5th Birthday
Thanks darling Lucy, it was wonderful! xx
We don’t often eat beef because we eat mostly our own meat and we do not have cattle. Hubby is extremely fond of it though so I think I might make this for him as a special treat sometime. My recipe is also French but from up here in Normandy!
Rosie @Eco-Gites of Lenault recently posted…Teurgoule – Normandy Rice Pudding
@Rosie how wonderful, looking forward to reading your recipe, think your husband will appreciate this x
My boys love a bit of stake, a great recipe. So glad you had such a wonderful time at Cannes, – a home away from home?
Emily Beale recently posted…Rose Petal Eclairs with Chantilly Cream
@Emily thanks darling, I would love that, in fact trying to encourage husband to move there in a few years…maybe one day x
Looking very glam – you’ll have to change your blog name to Gorgeous Mum !
Cheryl – Madhouse Family Reviews recently posted…Sunuva UV swimwear and beachwear review
Aw thanks Cheryl, you are too lovely x
Oh yum! Both your version and the one you had in Cannes. I love beef carpaccio – haven’t had it in too long though xx
Mummy Tries recently posted…Thrifty Tips for June
@Mummy Tries thanks darling, this beef is cooked, utterly dreamy x
My husband would love this! Looks like a fabulous lunch 🙂
Sara (@mumturnedmom) recently posted…Cook: quick enchiladas
@Sara it really was thanks x
Fillet of beef, what’s not to love. A great jus to go with it too.
Coombemill recently posted…From Tree Tops to Tree Roots
@Coombemill thanks, it was delicious!
Beef fillet, wine, herbs, shallots, garlic…. what’s not to love about this? x Mel
Mel recently posted…Silent Sunday – 1st June 2014
Thanks so much darling, longer post up too if you fancy a peek! x
honestmum recently posted…Beef Fillet with a Red Wine Jus
Looks like you’ve had such a fab time! Looking at the name of the restaurant, maybe they had a bit of Piment d’Espelette in their jus 🙂 x
Mel recently posted…Silent Sunday – 1st June 2014
Ooh maybe Mel, what does that mean though?! Ha x
It is a spice – dried chilli peppers from Espelette – adds nice flavour without the heat. x
Mel recently posted…Silent Sunday – 1st June 2014
Oh wow sounds amazing, the food there was incredible x
Yum! I love beef fillet. Your photos are amazing too lovely – not just of the food – you look fantastic. Glad you had a brilliant time xx
Mummy Says recently posted…Rock Pool – Children’s theatre review