America's Test Kitchen - Season 7 - Eps 15: Flambé at Home

2007-04-1425 min⭐ 6.9/10

We came up with a foolproof flambé method that doesn't intimidate the home cook. Fifty years ago, steak Diane, pan-seared steak in a rich, peppery pan sauce, was a hot menu item at fancy restaurants. Prepared tableside, it included a burst of pyrotechnics supplied by a match and some cognac. Sure, such theatrics might seem a bit dated and silly, but who can resist having a little fun—especially when entertaining? To give this old-school dish a modern twist, we wanted to find a more reasonable substitute for the laborious veal stock that is the traditional basis for the pan sauce. While we were at it, we wanted to slim down the sauce a bit—yes, we love butter and cream, but many of the recipes we tried were just too rich tasting. And, as for the flambé method, we'd need to come up with a foolproof process that wouldn’t intimidate the home cook. While we were on the flambé bandwagon, it occurred to us we could continue the theme with dessert in the form of crêpes suzette, a stunning dessert consisting of warm tender crêpes served in a bright orange-flavored sauce. But most restaurants that prepare this dish do so for just two. Could we adapt this classic to serve a tableful of hungry guests? We were ready to find out. Recipes: Steak Diane Sauce Base for Steak Diane—Demi-glaze Crepes Suzette Tasting Lab: Veal Stock Beefing Up Beef Broths Orange Liqueurs for Cooking Science Desk: Is Flambé Just For Show?

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About America's Test Kitchen

America's Test Kitchen

Title: America's Test Kitchen

First Air Date: 2001-08-04

Last Air Date: 2025-02-15

Status: Returning Series

Rating: 6.9/10 (from 10 votes)

Language: EN

Seasons: 26

Total Episodes: 638

Network: PBS

Genres: Documentary

Production Companies: Unknown

Synopsis

Equipment reviews, taste tests, and recipes from the test kitchen to the home cook. A team of test cooks that viewers have come to love and trust deconstruct recipes and reveal the test kitchen’s secrets to foolproof cooking at home.

Cast

Julia Collin Davison

Julia Collin Davison

Self

Bridget Lancaster

Bridget Lancaster

Self

Jack Bishop

Jack Bishop

Self

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