Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Pear, Potato and Bacon Salad and a Rosemary Mayonnaise

 
 

This is yet another recipe that I am revisiting from a page in the history of Spork or Foon?  The last time I wrote about this recipe, back in April of 2009, I discussed the friendly cooking competition that took place between Jack and myself.  Jack was an incredible cook. He was the reason I started cooking. But I never wanted to admit to Jack that sometimes his dishes were, in fact, better than mine for two reasons: 1. he's likely to rub it in a lot and 2. I'm a big baby. 

Well, since April of 2009, Jack has completely stopped cooking.  His reason, he states, is because "Why would I cook when I have a girlfriend who cooks everything perfectly?" 

First of all, I don't cook everything perfectly. I make mistakes. I'm human.  And if people tell me the food is good, I don't believe them.

But it is nice to hear.

Jack has gone so far in his self-imposed cooking strike that he doesn't even help me prep food anymore.

"Hey, Jack can you chop this onion for me?"

"I don't know how."

So. Ridiculous.

So when I was searching my archives for a meal to prepare for dinner and came across the aforementioned blog post, I had to chuckle to myself.  And I wonder, what do I like more?  Not being told that I come in 2nd place in this household or not having someone help me chop an onion.

It is a question for the ages. 

At least this dish is as good as ever.  I actually forgot how good it was.  It is another Top Chef Recipe, this time by Dale of Season 3.  It features a deliciously moist pork tenderloin perched atop a salad of roasted potatoes, crisp haricot verts, diced onions quickly cooked in red wine vinegar and a bit of sugar to give it a wonderful, almost-pickled flavor, sweet and tender pears and bacon. Sweet, sweet bacon. And of course, the incredible rosemary mayonnaise flavored with woody rosemary, soy sauce, and delicate honey that adds the perfect finish to an already wonderful dish.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin - from Top Chef

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Pear:

2 pork tenderloins, silver skin removed

2 pears, peeled, diced

2T butter

Salt and pepper to taste

Potato & Bacon Salad:

1 lb new potatoes, cubed (in water until use)

4T extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 lb haricot vert, blanched, shocked

1 red onion, diced small

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

8 slices bacon, cooked to crisp

3T sherry vinegar

Rosemary Vinaigrette:

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup sherry vinegar

1T Dijon

1 cup grapeseed oil

1/4 cup rosemary (ground in spice grinder)

2t soy sauce

1t honey

Salt and pepper to taste

Potato & Bacon Salad:

Toss potatoes in olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast at 450 degrees until golden but not overcooked, about 1 hour. Cut blanched and shocked haricots into bite-sized-pieces. Place diced red onion in nonreactive pot with red wine vinegar and sugar; bring to boil and remove. Let cool and strain. Cook bacon until very crispy and drain on paper towels. 

Rosemary Mayonnaise:

Place yolks, vinegar and Dijon in blender. Slowly drizzle in oil until thick. Add in other ingredients and season to taste with remaining ingredients.  (If you want, you can use pre-made mayonnaise and just add rosemary, honey, and soy sauce).

Pork:

Grill pork until done, about 2-3 minutes on each side, depending on size of the tenderloin.  Saute pears in butter until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Season with Salt and Pepper.

To Serve:

- Season pork tenderloins and grill until desired doneness. 

- In a large bowl, toss roasted potatoes, haricot verts, onions, bacon and pears with sherry vinegar.  If it has cooled, heat up potato salad. 

- Top with slices of pork and rosemary mayonnaise.

Comments

[5 Star Foodie]

Yum! I love the pear, potato and bacon salad and rosemary mayo is fantastic!

[Jessie]

beautiful dish, everything looks tasty too I love the rosemary mayo that's something I gotta try sometime :)

[Jennifer]

This looks so tasty-and what a wonderful story. I wonder if I could sub in thyme for rosemary????

[Nicole]

That dish looks amazing! My husband can follow a simple recipe, but rarely cooks. Last time I gave him a recipe to follow he shared with me he didn't know how to properly cut an onion and it happened to be true. He covered by saying he thought the onions should be "rustic" for the recipe :)

[DailyChef]

I'd love to be the judge for one of your cooking competitions. Do let me know if that position opens up please! ;)

[Phyllis]

Definitely worth revisiting this gorgeous dish. And your boyfriend is a lucky guy indeed :)

[jenn (Bread + Butter)]

Oh, Jack. hahaha...

Delicious tenderloins. Perfect pairing with the salad. Definitely trying that mayo. Mmmm...

[grace]

a question for the ages, indeed. i just love reading your posts, teanna--i always chuckle at your pithy humor. great dish, by the way. i was always a fan of dale. :)

[Sabrina]

Looks great, as ALWAYS!!! My boyfriend likes all my cooking and thinks i can do no wrong. Little does he know!
It does feel good to know that your cooking is appreciated though! :)

[Chef Fresco]

Awe man those little taters look insanely delish! Nice work on the mayo hereis one of our favorite pork dipping sauces.

[Chef Fresco]

Shoot it did not link the text... here it is.

http://www.cheffresco.com/2009/03/almond-crusted-pork-with-mustard-soy.html

[Joan Nova]

this is a really nice menu with lots of levels of flavor in each item

[Stacey Snacks]

T,
I love this recipe.
Pork tenderloin is so versatile.
It always comes out great.

[Eliana]

sounds glorious Teanna :)

[Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction]

Reading this post made me laugh. My hubby has also stopped cooking in the last year or so. He used to be the one who had to do the grilling (since it was manly) but now he claims that he doesn't do it right and leaves everything to me. It must be a "men" thing :)

[Tracey]

Haha Jack cracks me up. My husband has never been much of a cook (outside of grilling and macaroni and cheese from a box) but he is willing to help prep if I ask nicely. Chopping veggies is not on that prep list though - his knife skills leave a lot to be desired :)

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i like this part of the post:"Sweet, sweet bacon. And of course, the incredible rosemary mayonnaise flavored with woody rosemary, soy sauce, and delicate honey that adds the perfect finish to an already wonderful dish." is very good

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Last time I gave him a recipe to follow he shared with me he didn't know how to properly cut an onion and it happened to be true.