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Beef Cheeks Boeuf Bourginion + Wine Giveaway!

May 17, 2011 by Jennifer Che 63 Comments


Beef cheeks are so underappreciated. I first tried beef cheeks in Napa Valley at a lovely dinner at Nickel & Nickel Winery during the S. Pellegrino 9th Annual Almost Famous Chef Competition. I fell in love with the ultra soft texture, collagen-rich texture of the meat. It was much less dry, much less stringy than any meat I’d ever enjoyed. Later, I found out that beef cheeks are really really cheap, because no one wants them! Our local upscale market (Savenor’s) sells them for $2/lb (unprocessed), or $6/lb processed.

Around the same time, a Spanish wine company called Tapeña (derived from the words Tapas (small plates) and Peña (close group of friends)) contacted me asking whether I would be interested in trying some wines that were designed to go with Spanish tapas.

Well, we ended up making a French dish to pair with the Spanish wine, so maybe you can call this a European fusion meal?

I mentioned earlier that beef cheeks are a lot cheaper if you buy them unprocessed. Please note that it takes A LOT of work to process the cheeks. You literally get this “flap” that’s the entire cheek. You have to do a lot of work to cut away all the fat and connective tissue surrounding the cheek meat. I personally think it’s not worth the effort and I’m happy to pay $6/lb for the cleaned version (pictured above).

Since we were having wine, I invited my wino friend Peter (he’s written a few guest posts on this blog) to come over. I figured I could finagle a blog post out of him. I always love cooking with Peter and his wife Chia Chi because they really enjoy good food and do not mind cooking time-consuming meals with me in my tiny kitchen.

We decided to make Boeuf Bourguinion straight from Julia Child’s book (a la Simply Recipes). By now, this is probably one of the most popular food blogger recipes because it’s the first dish that Julie tried to make in the movie Julie and Julia.

Of course, we put a slight twist on the Julia Child recipe since we were using beef cheeks instead of normal beef chuck (thanks to this blog‘s inspiration).

 The final dish turned out great! Yes, you have to cook beef cheeks for a long time before you break down the connective tissue. However, because of its slightly higher fat content, the texture of the final product is deliciously soft.

Since I basically just followed Elise’s and Ryan’s recipe, I will not be reproducing it here.

And how did the wines taste with our fantastic meal? 

Here’s Peter . . . .

When Jen invited me to try three “Tapas” wines under $10, I was skeptical. While there is no correlation between price and quality above $20 (Matt Kramer of Wine Spectator asserts that the cost of making even a top quality wine is $15 a bottle), wines under $10 tend to be designed for mass market appeal and few are produced with the level of care and precision needed to be outstanding.

Also, I admit that I am a bit of wine snob. If a wine does not garner 92 points or higher from a reputable rating system or come recommended by a person whose palate I trust, I typically don’t even consider it. Why waste the opportunity when you could drink something better? But to be a true lover of food and wine, sometimes you have to put aside your prejudices and judge a product on its own merits.
 
Our beef cheek experiment gave us the perfect chance to try the three Tapena wines and find the best match. The normal pairing with Boeuf Bourginion is a red Rhone, Burgundy, Beaujolais, or Saint Emilion Bordeaux. But the Tapena wines are from Spain, so the available varieties are Garnache, Verdejo (the Spanish version of Sauvignon Blanc) and Tempranillo.

Not surprising, the Verdejo does not pair with the beef; but in a standalone taste test, it is the hands down winner of the three wines. The fresh white has the most complexity with a nose of melon, apples, and peach. Not overly dry or acidic, it has the balance to satisfy a large audience and would be a crowd favorite at any summer party.

Typically fruity and spicy, Garnacha usually pairs with ethnic foods with a kick. The Bourginionm with its earthiness, poses a real challenge for this wine. With a nose of cherry and red fruit, Tapena’s Garnacha is surprisingly sweet and tasted strongly of red fruit. While not spicy, it is too jammy for the hearty beef dish.

The violet Tempranillo is the most hearty of the three competitors. It has nice dark red color bordering on violet. With an interesting nose of peppermint and crushed rocks, the wine smells fairly herbaceous. On the palate, it carries a hint of spice but also has a nice earthiness that makes it the best pairing of the three.

Thanks Peter!

Giveaway!
Tapeno has been generous enough to give one lucky Tiny Urban Kitchen reader ingredients and supplies to host your own “Tapas” Party! The winner will receive the following ($150 value):

THREE bottles of wine: Garnacha, Tempranillo, and Verdejo  
TAPAS PARTY SUPPLIES! Coasters, Olives, Nuts, a Corkscrew, Pens, a Tapas Book, an Ice Bucket, and a Spice Pack

To enter, check out Tapena’s extensive recipe collection of Spanish tapas! Pick your favorite and mention it in the comments below. For additional chances to enter, please tweet (one additional entry) and/or put on facebook (one more entry) a link to this post. If using Twitter, please mention @tinyurbankitchn in your tweet.

Example:
Giveaway! Throw a tapas party! Win three bottles of Spanish wine plus tapas ingredients @tinyurbankitchn http://bit.ly/jDGiNs

Please comment below letting me know if you posted something on facebook and/or twitter.

Maximum number of entries per person: 3

Contest ends THIS FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011 at midnight EST.

Good luck!

©2009-2014 Tiny Urban Kitchen
All Rights Reserved

Filed Under: Beef, French, Meat, Recipe, Spanish, Sponsored, Wine

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Comments

  1. Natalie A says

    May 17, 2011 at 1:04 am

     Almond stuffed hot dates are one of my favorite foods!  So happy to have found a recipe here!

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  2. yining says

    May 17, 2011 at 1:49 am

    hi Jen! thanks for hosting this awesome giveaway! i loved reading about which wine pairs the best with the Boeuf Bourguinion since it’s my favorite dish to make for guests! i’m also a complete novice when it comes to wines so it’s good to know the Tempranillo would be a suitable choice.

    i’m a huge fan of spanish tapas and the roasted fig wrapped in bacon is on my MUST make list if not tomorrow night then definitely the following night.

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  3. Nicolle says

    May 17, 2011 at 4:17 am

     The lamb ragu cups sound delicious!  =)

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  4. ginger and scotch says

    May 17, 2011 at 5:39 am

     I have to check with our butcher to see if we can get beef cheek in dubai – would love to try making it a la Beef Bourginion.

    Log in to Reply
  5. Laurie says

    May 17, 2011 at 6:58 am

    TheSmokey Eggplant and Fresh Tomato Salad look incredible! 

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  6. La Chapstick Fanatique says

    May 17, 2011 at 7:21 am

     I would choose the Patatas Bravas. They remind me of this tapas place I went to when I visited Barcelona while studying abroad. I am crossing all my digits to win!

    http://lachapstickfanatique.blogspot.com

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  7. Bianca Garcia says

    May 17, 2011 at 9:33 am

    I love beef cheeks too. Using them in boeuf bourginion sounds great. I have yet to make Julia Child’s recipe!

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  8. Han says

    May 17, 2011 at 9:43 am

     Thanks for the link! 🙂

    I love tapas, and the sweet and savory Pumpkin Empanadas are yummm <3

    Log in to Reply
  9. Katya says

    May 17, 2011 at 9:43 am

    It’s a good thing we’re allowed to leave three comments because after living in Spain for a semester, it’s impossible to pick a single “favorite” tapa! Of course, it’s nearly just as difficult to pick just three, but I’ll do my best. One of my favorites is so simple – just marinated olives, dipped in some fresh crusty bread.

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  10. Katya says

    May 17, 2011 at 9:44 am

    Another favorite of mine is anything with scallops – scallops in saffron cream sauce, or the scallops and shallots mentioned in the recipe list. Especially in cities by the ocean, Spain makes some delicious scallops!

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  11. Katya says

    May 17, 2011 at 9:45 am

    And last but not least…. wintergreens and chickpeas, or as they say in Sevilla, espinacas y garbanzos! Que rico!

    Log in to Reply
  12. Oh My Yum says

    May 17, 2011 at 10:02 am

    Roasted figs wrapped in bacon … is it gross to crave these at 9am??
    Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway!

    Log in to Reply
  13. matt k says

    May 17, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Scallops and Shallots

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  14. Nichole says

    May 17, 2011 at 11:22 am

    I want to make the Grilled Pork Mahon Cheese Medallions plus olives & spices nuts! 

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  15. Elva says

    May 17, 2011 at 11:27 am

    The Chorizo Shrimp Stacks sound amazing, and super easy to make! 

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  16. Elva says

    May 17, 2011 at 11:32 am

    I just tweeted about your contest at ElvaEats; it’s also linked to Facebook. 

    Log in to Reply
  17. Meredith says

    May 17, 2011 at 11:50 am

    Chorizo Shrimp Stacks….mmmmmm 

    Log in to Reply
  18. FunandFearlessinBeantown says

    May 17, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    What a great giveaway!  I’d like to try the piquillo pepper dip! 

    Log in to Reply
  19. FunandFearlessinBeantown says

    May 17, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    I tweeted! 

    Log in to Reply
  20. Swimmons8605 says

    May 17, 2011 at 2:00 pm

    I tweeted! @swimmons8605 

    Log in to Reply
  21. quadlink says

    May 17, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    figs and bacon. because what I really need in my house is an ice bucket.

    Log in to Reply
  22. EmandM says

    May 17, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    ooo Easy Empanadas! =)

    Log in to Reply
  23. Valwilly says

    May 17, 2011 at 2:15 pm

     Yum, they all sound great but the Roasted green beans and shallot tortilla sounds really good!

    Log in to Reply
  24. Valwilly says

    May 17, 2011 at 2:16 pm

     I linked the article to Facebook.

    Log in to Reply
  25. Lamwickert says

    May 17, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    I would try the Patatas Bravas recipe to see if it’s anywhere close to the delicious dish that we had in Barcelona! 

    Log in to Reply
  26. Dee says

    May 17, 2011 at 3:34 pm

    The Mixed Grilled Vegetables sound delicious!

    Log in to Reply
  27. Vicki says

    May 17, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    I made beef bourguignon with cheeks once, it was so good! For the tapas, I’d have to go with the sardine cakes with salsa verde.

    Log in to Reply
  28. Peggy Labor says

    May 17, 2011 at 4:48 pm

     This recipe sounds so interesting!  

    As for the tapas, I’d definitely love to try that White Bean Dip!

    Log in to Reply
  29. Julia E says

    May 17, 2011 at 4:59 pm

     Looks like a ton of fun! And what a great little collection of tapas recipes. I love quince/membrillo, so I couldn’t go past making the quince, arugula, and manchego dish. I’d also like to try the Potato Mushroom Torte and the Roasted Artichoke and Shallot Salad. Deliciosos!

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  30. Lillian L says

    May 17, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    I’d make the Chorizo Shrimp Stacks! Delicious!

    Log in to Reply
  31. Beata says

    May 17, 2011 at 5:19 pm

    bahahaha, i can’t believe you called Peter a wino! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wino

    that aside, i’m going to have to try making beef cheek sometime… it’s awesome in tacos.

    Log in to Reply
  32. Lillian L says

    May 17, 2011 at 5:20 pm

    Facebooked this giveaway under my boyfriend’s account too!

    Log in to Reply
  33. Janet Wise says

    May 17, 2011 at 5:36 pm

    Sardine Cakes with Salsa Verde sound great.

    Log in to Reply
  34. Shannon says

    May 17, 2011 at 5:50 pm

    the melted goat cheese spread has my name all over it 🙂

    Log in to Reply
  35. Charlene says

    May 17, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    The minted goat cheese spread sound divine!
    Great giveaway!

    Log in to Reply
  36. IttyBittyFoodiesMama says

    May 17, 2011 at 7:14 pm

    Would love to try the Sardine cakes with salsa verde! i’ve never cooked with sardines before! great tip on the beef cheeks being a cheaper cut. i’m going to look for them too at the butcher as I think they are delish 

    Log in to Reply
  37. IttyBittyFoodiesMama says

    May 17, 2011 at 7:17 pm

    I tweeted! And I did facebook too!

    Log in to Reply
  38. Kat Polkadot says

    May 17, 2011 at 8:28 pm

     The Smokey Eggplant and Fresh Tomato Salad sounds really good!

    Log in to Reply
  39. slin says

    May 17, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    I’d love to try the ham and mushroom croquettes!

    Log in to Reply
  40. Sandy says

    May 17, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    The Lemon Crusted Shrimp looks delicious!

    Log in to Reply
  41. Marissa M. says

    May 18, 2011 at 7:23 am

    The Caramelized Onion Bread Squares sounds REALLY good.

    Log in to Reply
  42. Linda Crowe says

    May 18, 2011 at 7:40 am

     The lemon crusted shrimp sounds wonderful.  

    Log in to Reply
  43. Yin says

    May 18, 2011 at 9:09 am

    The Spinach Tortilla Espanola seems really easy and tasty 🙂

    Log in to Reply
  44. Shewanna says

    May 18, 2011 at 9:41 am

    The Artichokes with Chorizo sounds addictive and yummy!

    Log in to Reply
  45. missMaegan says

    May 18, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Artichokes with Chorizo  

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  46. Desi says

    May 18, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    I would try the Scallops with shallots. I am a scallop kinda gurl 🙂

    Log in to Reply
  47. Cassiana says

    May 18, 2011 at 2:11 pm

     I think I had two favorites out of them. The potato mushroom torte and the caramelized onion bread squares. Yum!

    Log in to Reply
  48. Jenn says

    May 18, 2011 at 2:38 pm

     Stuffed mushrooms–although the Mushroom quesadillas are also quite tempting…I think I need to get me some shrooms!

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  49. Lily says

    May 18, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    Sardines!  I shared this on Facebook too!  Thank you! 

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  50. Czekolady Blog says

    May 18, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    Oh, I’m just readding the book about Julia Child :))
    http://www.blogczekolady.blogspot.com&nbsp;

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  51. My Scene and Herd says

    May 19, 2011 at 9:26 am

    What a great presentation on those vibrant greens. 

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  52. Channon says

    May 19, 2011 at 8:22 pm

     Your adventerous palate never ceases to amaze me.  I wish I was as daring as you are when it comes to meat.
    and I would LOVE to able to throw my own tapas party on Tapeno.  Pick me pick me 🙂

    Log in to Reply
  53. margie s says

    May 20, 2011 at 10:37 am

    Quince, Manchego and Arugula sounds fabulous!  

    Log in to Reply
  54. Claire Anderson says

    May 20, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    I’m on an artichoke kick this season, so I’d have to go with the artichokes and chorizo!  Thanks for the great giveaway!

    Log in to Reply
  55. Dan Schneeman says

    May 20, 2011 at 2:05 pm

    As good as many of the recipes look, I’ll have to go with the Savory Lamb Meatballs ! yummy.
     

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  56. Tastsiptravel says

    May 20, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    Love the savory lamb meatballs! yum!

    Log in to Reply
  57. Liz says

    May 20, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    Honeyed shrimp with citrus salad — it sounds so summery and we need some sunshine in Boston!

    Log in to Reply
  58. Kathryn says

    May 20, 2011 at 7:28 pm

    My pick would be marinated olives. LOVE them!

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  59. Kathryn says

    May 20, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    Just tweeted about the giveaway!

    Log in to Reply
  60. Angela Roberts says

    May 20, 2011 at 11:48 pm

    Shrimp and  Parsley Toast caught my eye. I think anything with shrimp would, but your dish is daring and beautiful. 

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  61. Michael Richardson says

    May 22, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    Late to the party… But have to give beef cheeks a try

    Log in to Reply
  62. Christinapzhou says

    May 23, 2011 at 2:04 am

     Mouthwatering…what kind of pasta is with the beef?

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  63. angie says

    May 25, 2011 at 11:32 am

    the dish looks so good. i want to try some beef cheeks now, too. but preferably yours. 😀 haha

    Log in to Reply

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Welcome to Tiny Urban Kitchen!

JenChe

Hi, my name's Jen and welcome to my cooking, eating, and travel site! I am a Boston to Hong Kong transplant, born and raised in Ohio with parents from Taiwan. Feel free to head on over to the About page if you want to learn more about me, or just explore away, maybe starting with the Recipe Index or one of the travel pages! I hope you enjoy this site!
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