A compound butter is one of the easiest ways to turn a piece of meat into a meal. It can be as simple as bottarga or garlic and fresh herbs mixed through butter, or as complex as the most famous version: beurre Café de Paris. This popular butter, believed to include over 20 ingredients, was created by Monsieur Boubier in Geneva in the 1930s. He entrusted his secret recipe to his son-in-law, Arthur-François Dumont, to use at his Brasserie Café de Paris on Rue du Mont-Blanc near Geneva railway station. Monsieur Dumont used his father-in-law’s recipe to make his restaurant famous serving just one dish: entrecôte Café de Paris. Today the restaurant is called ‘Café de Paris – Chez Boubier’ and still serves the secret butter on entrecôte steak. Entrecôte (meaning literally ‘between the ribs’) is also called ribeye steak and sometimes sirloin or Scotch fillet. While entrecôte Café de Paris is the classic version, you can use this tasty butter on any steak. Regardless of the cut, you’ll need plenty of crusty bread or French fries to soak up all the delicious Café de Paris butter. I like to add a simple green salad for balance and colour too. In my opinion, it’s hard to beat a glass of Leuconoe Yarra Valley sangiovese alongside entrecôte Café de Paris. See the video below for highlights of my small-group Swiss food & wine tour where you’ll discover more classic Swiss dishes.

Serves 4

Ingredients
  • 4 x 200g entrecôte or sirloin steaks (7oz)
  • Café de Paris Butter, for serving
  • Extra virgin olive oil, for rubbing
  • Salt flakes, to taste
  • Crusty bread, for serving
Method
  1. Remove steaks from the fridge 30–60 minutes before cooking, to allow them to come to room temperature.
  2. If butter has been frozen, remove it from the freezer at the same time.
  3. Slice 4 thick discs from the butter and set aside, returning any remaining butter to the fridge or freezer to use another time.
  4. Heat a barbecue or large char-grill pan over high heat until very hot.
  5. Rub steaks well with oil and sprinkle with salt.
  6. Cook for about 4 minutes each side for medium, or to your liking.
  7. Remove entrecôte from the pan, place a disc of butter on top of each steak and set aside for a minute or 2 until the butter starts to melt.
  8. Serve with crusty bread.

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Swiss Food & Wine Tour Highlights

What Other Travellers Say

Andrea (Adelaide, SA, Aus)
Andrea (Adelaide, SA, Aus)
Switzerland with Roberta was all I hoped and expected – she takes control of all the things I no longer want to decide. Roberta plans the itinerary to such an amazing extent – the food choices and venues always showcase the region we’re in and never disappoint. The small group works extremely well, with enough downtime to do your own thing but beautifully combined with an itinerary which encompasses all the things you want to see and more. My trip to Switzerland was my second adventure with Roberta – my first was Emilia-Romagna and I’ve already booked my next one to Scotland.
Belinda (Balmain, NSW, Aus)
Belinda (Balmain, NSW, Aus)
I had such a blast on the Swiss food and wine tour with Roberta. As a solo traveller, I loved the friendly small group vibe and the fact that all meals and transport were taken care of. I got to explore amazing villages and wineries and cheese producers that I would have missed if I'd been travelling on my own. It was so much fun that I've already booked my next tour with Roberta.
Teri (Pokolbin, NSW, Aus)
Teri (Pokolbin, NSW, Aus)
Thank you Roberta for organising such a wonderful Swiss tour! It felt like going from gem to gem – and your knowledge and passion for the places we visited and the people you introduced us to was evident throughout. Starting in the most charming village and finishing at such a grand and beautiful location, I remember thinking at our farewell lunch: “it doesn’t get much better than this!” Thank you, and I am already looking forward to my next trip with you.
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