Valentine's Day Dinner

First course with champagne - Wild Little Neck Clams with applewood smoked bacon and leeks with a crusty baguette.
Second course with HL - Filet mignon for 2 with baked potatoes and roasted broccolini.

Clams - saute bacon in a pot (preferable one with a lid). Add in well cleaned sliced leeks and thinly sliced garlic. Cook until the leeks are wilted. Add in clams and pour in white wine (I used sake). Covered until the clams open. These were big guys and took about 8 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F - place clean russet potatoes directly on the rack (8-10 oz. potatoes take about 45 minutes)- Steak - prepped and seasoned with salt and pepper at room temp. Heat up the cast iron skillet. Add a pat of butter and place the filet in the pan. Cook 4 minutes, turn cook another 3 minutes. Place in the oven along with the potatoes and a sheet pan with cleaned and trimmed broccolini seasoned with olive oil, salt, red pepper flakes and a crushed clove of garlic. 7 minutes for medium rare. Try to time it so that the potatoes and broccolini are done about 5 minutes after you remove the meat (needs time to rest). Serve with a big red like Herb Lamb Vineyards - http://www.facebook.com/herblambvineyards