How to Throw a Steakhouse Dinner Party

Eating at Alfred’s Steakhouse in San Francisco inspired us to tackle that magnificent multi-course experience at home. First, we sent out invites with the menu (to make sure our friends knew to come hungry!) and enlisted one friend ahead of time to help with plating. Then, to make the cooking less overwhelming, we spread it out over several days (and there’s no shame in omitting a couple of the sides to make it easier!). Then, it was just a matter of relaxing together over all that good food, with Sinatra crooning in the background.

The Menu

Cocktail Hour

• Martinez Martinis
• Shrimp Cocktail

First Course (Individual Plates)

• Wedge Salads

Main Course (Family-Style)

• Grilled Steak Platter with Whipped Horseradish Sauce and Brown Butter Bearnaise Sauce
• Baked Potatoes
• Creamed Spinach
• Grilled Broccoli
• Maitake Mushrooms with Thyme and Sherry

Dessert

• Bananas Foster (individual bowls)
• The Grasshopper (dessert cocktail)

Your Advance Cooking Timeline

See individual recipes for more intel on how to make each dish ahead.

1 Week Ahead

• Order dry-aged beef (from flannery.com or your favorite butcher), grapefruit essential oil (from aftelier.com, for martinis), and an iSi canister (for Brown Butter Béarnaise Saucesauce to go with beef, from amazon.com), if using any of these; you might also want to get an inexpensive butane burner for flaming your Bananas Foster (find at restaurant supply stores and several sources online).
• Make brioche croutons for Bananas Foster.
• Toast breadcrumbs for Creamed Spinach.

4 Days Ahead

• Shop for everything else except beef (if using fresh vs. dry-aged).
• Make cocktail sauce for Shrimp Cocktail.
• Cook diced bacon for Wedge Salads and Creamed Spinach.
• Make rest of toppings for Wedge Salads: Champagne Vinaigrette, Buttermilk Blue Cheese Dressing, and Pickled Red Onions.

3 Days Ahead

• Make Bacon Béchamel for Creamed Spinach.
• Mix Martinez Martinis in mason jar and chill.

2 Days Ahead

• Shop for beef (if using fresh vs. dry-aged).
• Make Whipped Horseradish Sauce for steaks.
• Brown the butter for Brown Butter Béarnaise Sauce for steaks.
• Make Creamed Spinach through Step 2 (without topping).
• Set dining table, set up bar/cocktail area, and set up a small cart or table for flaming Bananas Foster.

1 Day Ahead

• Crush ice, poach shrimp, and grill lemons for Shrimp Cocktail.
• Make Grilled Broccoli through Step 1 (blanch and grill).
• Unwrap steaks and let air-dry in refrigerator.
• Make Brown Butter Béarnaise Sauce for steaks.
• Make Maitake Mushrooms with Thyme and Sherry (through Step 3).
• Scoop ice cream into bowls and top with lime zest; freeze for Bananas Foster.
• Prep and chill lettuce, blue cheese, and chives for Wedge Salads.
• Peel bananas and store at room temp, wrapped in plastic, for Bananas Foster.

Your Party Day Timeline

Follow the steps in sequence now.

Morning Of

• Think about where you’ll assemble each of your recipes, and set up everything you’ll need for each “station” so the finishing and plating will flow smoothly.

2 Hours Ahead

• Put potatoes for Baked Potatoes in oven, then let sit in a warm spot once done; prep the toppings.
• Prep seasonings for Grilled Broccoli.
• Prep toppings for Baked Potatoes.
• Prep sauce ingredients for Maitake Mushrooms with Thyme and Sherry.

Take a bath and relax!

45 Minutes Ahead

• Take steaks out of fridge and season with salt.
• Take Grilled Broccoli out of refrigerator.
• Put Maitake Mushrooms with Thyme and Sherry on stove in its pan, ready to finish.
• Put Creamed Spinach on stove, ready to reheat.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Heat a grill to high (600° to 650°).
• Assemble shrimp cocktail; when guests arrive, set in crushed ice to serve.

About Halfway through Cocktail Hour

• Set Brown Butter Béarnaise Sauce in a hot-water bath to rewarm (unless you’re holding it in an iSi canister); keep in bath till serving.
• Sear steaks, then pop in oven to roast while you have your first course.
• Assemble Wedge Salads (enlist a friend to do this while you sear steaks).
• Reheat Creamed Spinach (without toppings); let sit, covered, during first course.

After First Course

• Finish steaks over high heat on grill, then let rest.
• While steaks rest, crisp up Baked Potatoes on grill.
• Once steaks have rested, ask a friend to slice them.
• Reheat Maitake Mushrooms with Thyme and Sherry on stovetop and make sauce in pan.
• Top Baked Potatoes.
• Top Creamed Spinach.
• Whisk Whipped Horseradish Sauce to loosen and fluff.
• Plate everything and serve.

Relax and enjoy dinner! You earned it.

For Dessert

• Slice bananas and make Bananas Foster.