Valentine’s Day Special: Steak Dinner from our Food Editor

Suzanne Corbett, Food/ Travel Editor

I’m loving February. What’s not to love about February? Spring training is beginning.  The Cardinal’s home opener is weeks away, and, of course, it’s Valentine’s Day.  A day to treat all those you love to something special.

Beyond taking your loved ones to Jupiter, Florida to indulge in a pre-season game and great Floridian seafood, there are lots of creative places to take your Valentine to all month long.  Starting with a cozy night in or out toasting each other.  I’ll toast my valentine with a great cocktail at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton where its Avec Amor Season is running until April 30 with its Avec Amour getaway that includes perks as  breakfast for two at Café la Vie, macaroons, a Build-Your-Own Kir Royale Cocktail Kit for two, and overnight self-parking.

February 14 is also National Ferris Wheel Day. Named in honor the birthday of the wheel’s inventor, George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.

Ferris’ lofty creation was a centerpiece of the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis’ Forest Park. He debuted his Wheel at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago before reassembling it for the St. Louis fair. Today’s observation wheels, including the St. Louis Wheel, are a modern take on Ferris’ high-flying creation.

The St. Louis Wheel at Union Station will be lighted in red and pink themes for Valentine’s celebrations. Riders can cozy up to their loved ones in the Wheel this weekend in temperature-controlled gondolas.  Before or after a spin on the wheel po in for dinner at  into the Train Shed’s latest pop-up urber cool dining venue where spring flowers, especially violet-colored blooms. Guests can enjoy steaks and shrimp cocktails – the prefect culinary love match – while dining under candlelight from tapers suspended from the ceiling. The experience is open through February.

For those wishing to cook for the love of their life I recommend sharing a great cut of steak as a filet, strip or ribeye. My favorite cut is the ribeye.  Seared sprinkled with an herb rub or simply with course salt and pepper with a flavored butter on the side. Give it a try along with the  recipe for  Le Meridien’s Hibiscus Royale. A lovely pair you can treat you and your love to anytime of year.

Rib-Eye Steak Butter Duo

Garlic Rub:

1/4 cup minced garlic

2 teaspoons cracked pepper

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 teaspoons. onion powder

1 tablespoon dry mustard

2 eight-ounce rib eye teaks

olive oil

Mix all the rub ingredients together. Rub steaks with seasoned rub and allow to set for an hour. Grill over direct medium hot coals until desired doneness is reached. While steaks grill, brush lightly with olive oil to prevent meat from drying out. Serve steaks with sun-dried tomato seasoned butter.

Sundried Tomato Butter

1 1/2 sticks butter

1/4 cup minced shallots

1 Tbsps. minced garlic

1/4 cup finely chopped oil packed sun-dried tomato

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons minced flat leaf parsley

Mix all he about together. Chill until ready to use.

Hibiscus Royale

Glass: Champagne flute
2 teaspoons Hibiscus tea syrup*
Champagne or sparkling wine
Pour hibiscus syrup into a flute glass, top with Champagne or sparkling wine.
*Hibiscus tea syrup: Dissolve 1 part sugar to 1 part water, add hibiscus tea bags and steep for 05-07 minutes

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