Beef Tenderloin

The roast can be prepped one day ahead. What to drink: A robust, medium- to full-bodied red, such as an Italian Barbera. Susan Simon also recommends a Carlo Hauner 1998 Rosso Antonello (made with Sangiovese and Nero d'Avolo grapes); it's produced on the Italian island of Salina.

Here's a special-occasion roast enhanced with classic Provençal seasonings. Roasting two large ends of tenderloin instead of one whole piece ensures even cooking. (The meat needs to be coated with its aromatic rub, then chilled for at least six hours before roasting.) Serve this elegant dish with <epi:recielink id="2999">Scalloped Potatoes with Goat Cheese and Herbes de Provence</epi:recielink> and a sauté of green beans, zucchini and red bell pepper. Uncork a sophisticated Rhône red such as Hermitage or Crozes-Hermitage.

This recipe was created to accompany Garlic, White Cheddar and Chipotle Mashed Potatoes. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

José Ramón Andrés Buey con Cabrales Como le Gusta a Mi Madre My mother and I were born in Mieres, Asturias, the most beautiful region you'll ever see in Europe and the home of Cabrales, a great blue cheese made in the Asturian mountains. When I was young, we moved to Barcelona. Whenever my mother was homesick for Asturias, she'd eat a little piece of Cabrales to bring her closer to Mieres. To this day, every time I want to feel like I'm in Asturias, I eat some Cabrales, by itself or in this beef recipe.

Use a blended Canadian whisky (purchased legally, of course). It is slightly sweet and will help balance the peppery sauce that naps the roasted beef tenderloin. Team the beef with some roasted potatoes, sautéed spinach and a favorite bottle of Pinot Noir.

This quick, rich entrée is terrific served over buttered noodles.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 50 min

One of the most-requested items on the lunch menu at the Chicago Chop House. The restaurant adds roasted red-skinned potatoes and sautéed mushrooms, too.

Cumin, chili powder, garlic and fresh lime juice are combine in the easy-to-make spice paste. It adds lots of flavor to the beef in this recipe, but can also be used on chicken, pork, shrimp or firm fish like halibut, swordfish and shark.

Beef roasted in a kosher salt crust is tender and juicy. Once removed from the oven, the meat will remain hot for up to an hour.

Here's a quick and delicious version of a French-inspired dish.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Medallones de Filete con Mantequilla de Tres Chiles Gaia, a beautifully restored house-turned-restaurant, located in one of the country's oldest cities, blends Mexican and Mediterranean cooking. One of the best dining spots is upstairs overlooking the patio and garden. If you get a chance, take a peek at the bottom of the pool. Legend has it that the mosaic of the fertility goddess was created by Mexican artist Diego Rivera for Mario Moreno (known as Cantinflas), the famous Mexican actor who once lived in the home. At Gaia, french fries sprinkled with cayenne pepper accompany the beef.

Transporting this dish is easy: Stack the fillet slices together and wrap them in plastic wrap; pack the arugula, onions, beans, and dressing in separate containers. Then toss everything together just before serving.

All the flavors of a downhome barbecue sauce combined in a dry "rub" that won't mask the flavor of the steaks.

This Russian dish has been around for several centuries, but it wasn’t until the fifties that it became all the rage in the United States (despite our fear of Communism). Here is a delicious rendition that pays tribute to the "gourmet" chafing-dish dinner party. Now, as then, beef stroganoff is a good thing to cook in front of a small crowd.