The Hunter's Table
Chef Richard Blondin designed The Hunter’s Table for the home cook, so I approached it that way, asking myself how it would feel to prepare his recipes on a chilly fall Saturday while friends, the kin...
Thurn’s Specialty Meats sells double-smoked bacon locally. If using a grill pan, make sure to wipe off the bacon grease between grilling tenderloins.
Ingredients
SERVINGS: 4 as a main course Serving(s)
- 16 thin slices of double-smoked bacon
- 16 large fresh sage leaves
- 4 venison tenderloins; thick, cylindrical cuts if possible (about 6 ounces each) (substitute wild boar, elk, or pork tenderloin)
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Good kitchen twine
Preparation
If grilling outdoors, prepare coals. If grilling on the range-top, lightly oil the grid and heat just prior to preparing the tenderloins.
On a cutting board, place 4 slices of bacon lengthwise with edges overlapping, to make a rectangle. Repeat until you have 4 rectangles, one for each tenderloin.
Press a fresh sage leaf on each slice of bacon, then place the tenderloin atop the sage leaves. Season with freshly ground pepper, then carefully roll the tenderloins inside the bacon to achieve a cylindrical shape. Secure each with 3 or 4 lengths of kitchen twine and brush with canola oil.
Grill the tenderloins for about 4 minutes total for rare to medium-rare doneness, rolling them constantly with tongs so that they cook evenly.
When done, quickly clip away the twine and slice each tenderloin into medallions, ½–1 inch thick. Arrange the slices on the plate and top each with a large pat of butter.
Yields 4 servings, as a main course.
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