A late addition to my holiday gift list (Allen Brothers Steak)
Written By: Randy Torban on Wed, Dec 3rd 2008
Employees always enjoy receiving gifts from their boss’s. Not only does it show appreciation for their hard work, it can also show how well a boss knows their employees. The Classic Wines team recently reviewed the VP Assortment steak gift package from www.AllenBrothers.com and we haven’t been able to go back to our local market since.
Few things put a smile on a man’s face like a gorgeous piece of meat. That is why gift assortments from Allen Brothers make such wonderful presents; these assortments are made up of lovely, marbled USDA prime meat. Just thinking about it makes me want to fire up the grill â€" and it’s only 10am! When we opened the VP Assortment box and saw the sirloin strip steaks and filet mignons, our eyes lit up. And as a wine team, we then had to decide what wines would compliment such cuts of meat the best.
The filets were so incredibly tender; I made no effort with my knife to cut into them. And the flavor was so succulent it was almost sweet. We took special note of the marbling of the meat â€" the small amount of white fat intertwined in the red meat. The marbling is what really makes great steak stand out from the rest. With this tender cut, we choose the Alma Rosa Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2006. When enjoying a cut of meat with not too much fat, you want your wine to compliment, not overpower the nuances of the steak. A Pinot Noir is a perfect pairing with elegant filet mignon cut.
Also included in the VP Assortment are the USDA Prime sirloin strip steaks. We immediately saw the rich marbling of the meat and knew the pleasure that was awaiting us. Allen Brothers sirloin strip steaks go through a wet-aging process to give them their hearty flavor. Aging is critical to ensure you receive a tender product; wet aging is done in a vacuum package to improve meat safety and to ensure that the meat stays tender and juicy. Biting into one of these steaks is as close to heaven as I’ll ever get. And to compliment this cut, we chose the Buoncristiani OPC Napa Valley Claret 2004. The Claret is a more full-bodied wine that can stand up to the robust flavor of a sirloin strip steak. A Cabernet Sauvignon would also be a great pairing with this cut of meat, but make sure you have chosen an elegant bottle with silky tannins to accompany a robust steak such as this.
Although full after eating both a 10 oz sirloin strip steak and a 6 oz filet mignon, I was still disappointed there was nothing left â€" the Classic Wines team made light work of the 8 steaks in the box. But now I know one more thing to add to my holiday wish list AND now I don’t have to worry about what to get my father for his birthday! Thank you Allen Brothers for coming up with a great gift idea, and making my shopping a little easier this holiday season.
Snag your own VP Assortment today - www.allenbrothers.com/vp-assortment.html.
