The "Chef"'s Way to Hubby's Heart

So enticing is the beef, you'll even fish for it, if need be

Australian men have an intense love affair with red meat. It seduces their sense of manhood when it’s paired with a richly potent red wine. But if you think they’ll be content to stand by the barbecue pit a couple of times a week to grill the slabs of air flown well marbled beef, you’ll quickly be sadly mistaken. The way to their hearts is by demonstrating the culinary finesse of serving up this succulent meat in a diversity of ways.

So romance your hubby by beginning the week with an Australian favourite: beef and mushroom casserole, generously drenched in what else but an extra dry red! That will definitely put him in the mood for what you’ve put on the menu come Wednesday - a healthier choice of grilled fillet of beef with gremolata. He’ll be cheerful about stoking the charcoal to build a hearty flame, while you’ll have the simple affair of tossing together the freshly chopped parsley with lemony juice and zest. All that you’ll need to remember is being gentle in garnishing the medium rare steaks that he’s prepared, and he’ll yet again offer a toast to your culinary skills.

Then he’ll be in the loving mood for dining in Fridays. So entice him further by looking international for divine inspirations. Sautee the sirloin in the Greek fashion – with sherry soaked horseradish and crush peppercorns. This brewing “potion” will put him in the mood for taking you dancing till the wee hours of the morning.

Well then, the perfect dish for Saturday night is a ribeye shot through with an over-load of caffeine. That’s right, good old expresso! But let’s not leave out the kirsch. It takes nothing more than an added second for that topping to whip up his appetite for seconds. Oh, both are absolutely vital in perking him up to take you on a candle-lit stroll around  MacRitchie Reservior.

And you’ll have won him over to try a Lebanese take on preparing a steak the week following these. Serve it piping hot on olive ciabatta, freshly baked by da Paolo Gastronomia, and he’ll be eating out of your hand.