Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and we’re all looking for something special to do. However, V-Day happens to fall on a Friday this year, guaranteeing high prices, insane crowds, and well – not the most relaxing or romantic of circumstances. So, why not skip the mad rush and cook a homemade steakhouse dinner for that lucky man or lady in your life instead?

In this post, I’ll show you how to whip up filet mignon cooked “restaurant style,” creamy mashed potatoes, and spinach salad with a warm bacon vinaigrette. This is a (relatively) simple meal to make, but will impress the socks off anyone you cook it for. Even if you’re currently single (ahem, me, 99% of the time), this would be a great dinner to make your roommate on her birthday, a friend you want to thank for picking you up from the airport, or your younger sibling who’s in town for a college visit.

I’m going to go ahead and warn you about this upfront – filets mignons, even from Walmart, aren’t exactly cheap. They usually run around $25 a pound. The good news? You’ll need just a little less than a pound to feed two people. So, if you are cooking this for a significant other, suggest that they bring the wine or dessert – then you’ll both be contributing to your special meal.

Sidenote: Single ladies, be sure to check back next week – the post will be all about yummy party foods that are easy and fun to cook with friends. The perfect recipes for a Girl Power party, if I do say so myself.

Let’s get cookin’!

Table of Contents

Restaurant-Style Filet Mignon

What You’ll Need

• 2 filets mignons. Sometimes grocery stores (like Target and Walmart) sell portioned filets, but they often call them “beef tenderloin.” Another option is to go to the butcher section of your grocery store and have them slice you some, so they’ll be the perfect size. A 6 to 8 ounce portion per person is perfect.
• Olive oil
• 1-2 tablespoons of butter
• Salt and pepper

How to Make It

Pre-heat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. In a frying pan, melt the butter and heat up a heavy pour of olive oil on medium high heat.