To Anchovy, Or Not To Anchovy....

July 23, 2012

To Anchovy, Or Not To Anchovy....

I have to make it a point to venture out of my comfort zone. I, certainly, can be a creature of habit. Bon Appetit magazine is a great way to force myself to try new types of recipes and ingredients. But look, I still have to ease myself into these things. I found a recipe in the June 2012 issue that seemed right up my alley. Grilled Flatiron Steaks with Tomatoes and Tapenade. Nothing crazy there, right? Ummmm...not so much. In the tapenade, they call for an anchovy filet...I am quite sure anchovies are delicious. And how big and potent could one anchovy filet be? I decided if I could find them in the grocery store and they weren't cost inhibitive, then I would try it. I mean, the writers of the recipe did say in parenthesis "optional" beside them. Always looking for that out clause...

Grilled Flatiron Steak with Tomatoes
(hold the tapenade and anchovy)

I found the anchovies, they weren't expensive, and they seemed very innocuous packed in their little can. So, I bought them. I don't why. I was thinking in my head the whole time that I didn't have to use them.

The recipe had me make the tapenade first...I did every thing up to the anchovy. I opened the can. They were just so sad and oily looking. I know I was mind over mattering myself. I blame the Bon Appetit people...they should not have written optional, if they didn't want me to option out. They had to have written that for a reason, right? There is something in an anchovy that must be different or strange that people feel strongly about.... I don't know. I was feeling a bit of anxiety. Do I put one in or don't I? When in doubt, pour an adult beverage. Mulling my options, drinking wine, staring at the tiny little filets. I went out and started the grill (got it on the first try this time) and when I came back in, the kitchen smelled of anchovy. And my cat, Lucy-Fur, is apparently an anchovy lover. Well, that decided that. The anchovy was no longer an option. (It probably didn't help that I placed them by her food bowl....but that's neither here, nor there)

The steak, however was fantastic! And so easy. I wasn't expecting that. The tomato salad was also easy and light and bright. The tapenade was just okay. I would probably skip it altogether next time. To be honest...it probably needed anchovy.