Tenderloin with Sake-Mirin Butter

• Recipe by Doug Stonebreaker

Doug Stonebreaker says the cultural diversity of San Francisco convinced him to settle there. It's also inspired his cooking: Here he slathers beef with a Japanese-style butter sauce.

Ingredients

1. 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
2. 2 garlic cloves, minced
3. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4. 2 tablespoons sake or dry sherry
5. 1 tablespoon mirin (sweet rice wine)
6. Salt and freshly ground pepper
7. Four 6-ounce beef tenderloin steaks (3 inches thick)

Directions

1. In a small skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Add the garlic and cook over low heat until fragrant but not browned, about 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in the butter until melted, then add the sake and mirin. Season with salt and pepper; remove from the heat.
2. In a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season the steaks with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat until browned outside and rare within, 7 minutes per side. Transfer to plates, drizzle with the sake-mirin butter and serve.